Choosing PDF file checking software
Between manual checks and professional prepress tools, there's a third way: PDF checking software designed to be used without prepress expertise. Here's what to look for.
Check your first file.The wrong tool costs more than no tool at all
A poorly chosen checking tool creates its own problems:
- Too complex for everyday use
- Requires dedicated training or expertise
- Reports unreadable for a non-specialist
- Disproportionate cost for the actual file volume
- Adopted, then abandoned for lack of simplicity
What good checking software should offer
Beyond error detection itself, several criteria make the difference:
Results understandable without prepress training
Thresholds adapted to the substrate (offset, digital, large format)
A report you can share with the client or printer
Simple integration into your existing workflow
Pricing suited to regular use, not one-off checks
Updates that track evolving print standards
PrintCheck: PDF checking designed to actually be used
PrintCheck checks resolution, colors, bleed, TAC, ICC profiles, and PDF/X compliance — and translates every result into a clear recommendation, understandable without prepress expertise.
A shareable report, thresholds adjusted to your substrate, and pricing built for regular use rather than a one-off audit.
Check your first file.