Understanding Preflight

Preflight is the first quality check performed by Convert2Print.

Before a file is converted, the system analyzes the uploaded artwork and determines whether it is suitable for print production.

Think of Preflight as a safety inspection before your file enters production.

What Does Preflight Check?

Convert2Print automatically checks:

✓ Ready

The uploaded file passed all essential checks and can be processed by Convert2Print.

No critical issues were found.

The file can be converted according to the selected workflow.

✓ Ready for Print

The file already meets common professional print requirements.

Typical characteristics:

The file is generally suitable for professional printing without major corrections.

⚠ Needs PDF/X-4 Conversion

The PDF can be processed, but it is not currently a compliant PDF/X-4 file.

This is common and usually not a problem.

Convert2Print can generate a new PDF/X-4 version during export.

Typical reasons:

✓ PDF/X-4 Detected

The uploaded file is already a PDF/X-4 document.

This is one of the most widely accepted standards for professional printing.

The PDF already contains information required by modern print workflows.

Warnings do not necessarily mean the file is unusable.

They simply indicate that Convert2Print found something worth reviewing.

In most cases the system can still generate a print-ready output.

Preflight checks technical quality.

It does not evaluate:

Always review the preview before final export.

Preflight answers:

"Can this file be processed safely?"

Metrics answers:

"How good will the final print be?"

Together they provide a complete overview of production readiness.

If Preflight shows Ready and Metrics shows Excellent, your file is typically ready for professional print production.