In this article, you will learn
- which processes are executed when uploading Print Data,
- how automated Data Checks and Fixups are carried out,
- how you can analyze Print Data yourself, and
- which parameters are available in the Print Data View.
1. Introduction
The analysis of Print Data enables users to comprehensively check uploaded files before further processing. In this step, the Print Data is automatically analyzed and checked against defined criteria. This allows potential errors or deviations to be detected at an early stage, so that targeted corrective actions can be initiated. In addition, the analysis provides you with detailed information on the structure and properties of the print file, which serves as the basis for error-free production.
2. Upload and Normalize Print Data
When Print Data is uploaded into the application, specific processes are executed as part of the check-in and normalization procedure. The most important processes are:
- Store Original File – the original data is stored unchanged in the application as the base version of the underlying Article or Print Item.
- Convert to PDF – all Print Data that is not available as a PDF is converted to a PDF without modification.
- Data Check – the print data is checked for certain constructs in the PDF file based on the checks set in the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates.
- Data Correction – the Print Data is corrected according to the selected standard corrections specified in the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates and saved as corrected version 1.
- Preflight Report – a Preflight report is generated based on the performed check and the corrected errors.
Steps one and two are executed by default; this means that the administrator cannot modify them. The results of steps three and four depend on the selected options.
2.1. Data Check
When Print Data is uploaded, it is checked for potential errors using checks defined in the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates. This Template can be defined under Administration > Settings > Preflight / Fixup in the tab Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates [1]. The Workflow Default Preflight [2] is selected by default. This Preflight Profile contains common checks used in the printing industry to identify production-critical constellations.
If you want to create a user-defined Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template, you can do so using the functions available in the header bar. A detailed description of Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates can be found in the chapter Normalizing Print Data. Information on which checks are available can be found in the article Checks for Normalizing Print Data.
Figure 1: The tab Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates in the menu Administration > Settings > Preflight / Fixup
2.2. Data Preparation
In addition to checks, predefined Fixups can also be applied during upload. This ensures that the print file is normalized during upload and brought in line with the internal standards. Details on which Fixups are available in a Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template can be found in the article Fixups for Normalizing Print Data.
Additional Fixups are available under Administration > Settings > Preflight / Fixup in the tab General. Any Fixups activated here are also applied to all Print Data during upload.
Figure 2: The tab General in the menu Administration > Settings > Preflight / Fixup
Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template is applied after each modification
Please note that the selected Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template is reapplied to the corrected file after each modification – for example, when a Fixup is executed. If new errors occur as a result of a modification, they will be displayed in the Preflight results.
2.3. Preflight Results
If Information, Warnings or Errors are detected during the Data Check, they are displayed in the Detail View of an Article/Print Item in three different locations:
- Document Information [4] – the Preflight results for the entire document are displayed here. If it is a multipage document, all results for all pages are displayed here.
- Page Information [3] – the Preflight results for the currently displayed page are shown here. The hits found during the check are displayed in the Preview Image as soon as the corresponding hit is selected.
- Print Item Editor [5] – in the Print Item Editor, the tab "Analyze" provides a dedicated area where the Preflight results for the current page are listed. Selecting an entry will also highlight the corresponding area on the page.
Figure 3: The Detail View of an Article
2.3.1. Tab "Document Information"
In the tab Document Information, the Preflight results for the entire document are displayed. The numbers for Errors [6] and Warnings [7] immediately indicate the total count of each type of Preflight results.
Click Show Preflight results [9] to open a detailed overview of the detected Preflight results. The dialog Preflight results lists all detected Errors, Warnings and Information messages. Expand an entry to view a detailed description of the respective Error or Warning.
If you want to generate a detailed Preflight Report as a PDF file, click Download Preflight Report [8]. A Preflight Report with notes will then be created and downloaded locally to your system.
Figure 4: The tab Document Information in the detail section with the Preflight results
2.3.2. Tab "Page Information"
In the tab Page Information of the Print Item Detail View, the Preflight results for the current page are available. Using the icons, you can also see how many Errors and Warnings have been detected. By clicking the Arrow [11], all Warnings and Errors are displayed in detail. When you click on a Preflight result, the Preview Image [10] highlights the location of the corresponding issue.
For each Warning or Error, appropriate Fixups [12] are suggested – provided the issue can be corrected. In addition, a note is provided on how the issue can be resolved using the PDF Editor [13]. The first Fixup listed is the one we recommend.
Figure 5: The tab Page Information of the Print Item Detail View
2.3.3. Print Item Editor
If you click on the Preview Image in the detail section, the Print Item Editor opens. In the tab Analyze [14] the settings area Preflight results [16] is available. By clicking on the Preflight results, the affected error or warning will be highlighted in the Preview Image [15]. Recommendations for Fixups [17] will be displayed here.
Figure 6: The Print Item Editor in the settings section Preflight results
3. Print Item Detail View
For the user, production-relevant information about a Print Item or Article is displayed in a clear format in the Print Data View. You can access the Design Detail View as follows:
Article
- Select the menu item Articles > Articles to display the list of all articles.
- Search for the desired article in the list using filters or by entering text in the search field.
- Click on the name of the Article.
- The Article with the selected tab Print Data is displayed.
Print Item of an Order
- Select the menu item Orders > Print Items to display a list of all Print Items across all orders.
- Find the desired Print Item in the list by using filters or by entering text in the search field.
- Click on the name of the desired Print Item.
- The order will be displayed with the tab Print Items selected.
- By selecting the Print Item, the tab Print Data will be displayed.
Print Item of a Production Job
- Select the menu item Production Jobs to display the list of all Production Jobs.
- Find the desired Production Job in the list by using filters or by entering text in the search field.
- Click on the name of the desired Print Item.
- Select the desired Print Item within the Production Job.
- By selecting the Print Item, the tab Print Data will be displayed.
The tab Print Data [18] contains various information areas. The individual areas are described briefly below.
Figure 7: The available information sections of the tab Print Data
3.1. Preview
In the section Preview (green), a Preview Image of the Print Item is displayed, including visual Markers of the ImageBox [19] (yellow box) and the Expected Bleed [20] (transparent turquoise area).
By clicking on the Preview Image, the Print Item Editor opens, where the Print File can be analyzed, the Page Boxes can be reset, a Barcode can be read, or a One-Up can be merged with a Print Item.
Figure 8: The Preview Image displays the ImageBox (final TrimBox), the expected Bleed, and the BleedBox
3.2. Information Section
The information area (blue marking in Figure 7) consists of three tabs as well as a footer, which contains the most frequently used Fixups [21] grouped by topic.
3.2.1. Tab "Document Information"
The tab Document Information displays information about the Dimension, No. of Pages, Resolution, Output Intent, Source Color Spaces, the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template used, Preflight Results (Entire Document), and PDF Information.
Figure 9: The tab Document Information
3.2.2. Tab "Page Information"
The tab Page Information displays information on the current page regarding Dimensions/Scale Factor, Layers, Output Intent, Shape Nesting Path and the list of Preflight results [22]. In addition, you can also define whether and which Technical Spot Colors [23] should be overlaid in the Preview and which Page Boxes [24] should be displayed.
Figure 10: The tab Page Information
3.2.3. Tab "User-defined Fields"
In the tab User-defined Fields, additional information fields are displayed that have been set up in the system for a Print Item or an Article. The content of the fields can be modified by clicking on Edit [25].
Figure 11: The tab User-defined Fields
3.3. Production Information
In the area Production Information (blue marking in Figure 7), the parameters set for production are displayed. The Production Information includes the size of the the ImageBox or the Expected Bleed, the Winding Type, the Rotation for the Imposition, the defined Post Printing Steps, the Substrate Information, as well as the Output Configuration selected for the Print Item.
Figure 12: The area Production Information
3.4. Detail Information
In the subsequent display areas, depending on the selection, the information for the entire document or for the currently displayed page is shown.
3.4.1. Fonts
In the area Fonts (orange marking in Figure 7), all fonts used in the PDF, or on the currently selected page, are listed, including the Status [28] of the font embedding – fully embedded, font subset or not embedded.
In the header, the number [27] of fonts found is displayed, while in the line below, the smallest Font Size [26] detected is shown. In the footer, a Fixup group [29] for Fonts is available.
Figure 13: The information section Fonts
3.4.2. Process Colors
The area Process Colors (yellow marking in Figure 7) lists all Process Colors used in the PDF or the Process Colors of the currently displayed page.
In the header, the number [30] of Process Colors used is shown. In the footer, the Fixup groups Adopt Color Values [31], Black Handling [32], and Tonal Values Corrections [33], including their respective Fixups, are available.
Figure 14: The information section Process Colors
3.4.3. Spot Colors
In the area Spot Colors (red marking in Figure 7), all Spot Colors used in the PDF that have not been defined as Technical Colors by the user in the Workflow are listed. For each Spot Color, the following information is provided: the ∆E value with which the color can be reproduced for the selected Color Policy, the Overprint State of the color, the dimension of the color in the Print Item, and the Spot Color Definition used for rendering.
In the header, the number [34] of Spot Colors used is displayed. In the footer, the functions Create and Edit Spot Color Definition [35] and Grid Charts [36], as well as the Fixup groups Spot Color Tools [37] and Additional Channels [38], including their respective Fixups, are available.
Figure 15: The information section Spot Colors
3.4.4. Technical Colors
The area Technical Colors (magenta marking in Figure 7) lists all Spot Colors used in the PDF as well as the Spot Colors for the individual pages that have been stored as Technical Color by the user in the Workflow. For each Technical Color, the following information is provided: which Type (Structural > Cutting) has been assigned, the Overprint State of the color, which Dimension the color in the Print Item occupies and the Spot Color Definition for rendering in the Lead-In and Lead-Out.
In the header, the number [39] of Technical Colors used is displayed. In the footer, the Fixup groups Create Dieline [40] and Spot Color Tools [41], including their respective Fixups as well as the function Prepare Print Item for Shape Nesting [42], are available.
Figure 16: The information section Technical Colors
3.4.5. Separations to Print
In the area Separations to Print (gray marking in Figure 7), the Separations of the currently displayed page are shown. This allows the user to quickly see where each color is located, in what composition, and with what Overprint State. To measure the color values, double-click on one of the Separations. This opens the Print Item Editor, where you can use the Pipette Tool to directly measure the corresponding color values from the Print Item.
Figure 17: The information section Separations to Print
4. Analyze Color Separations
By double-clicking on a Color Separation, the Print Item Editor opens in the tab Analyze. To read the color values of an object, select the Pipette Tool [43] and move the tool to the desired location [44]. The corresponding values are displayed in the color values [45].
Figure 18: The Print Item Editor with selected Pipette Tool
Only CMYK color values displayed
Please note that only CMYK color values are displayed, i.e. those resulting from the conversion of other Color Spaces to the intermediate Color Space, as well as Spot Colors. This does not indicate whether the object in the PDF file is in the RGB, Lab, or Grayscale Color Space.
Use PDF Editor for Analysis
The PDF Editor desktop application is available for comprehensive review and editing PDF files. In addition to analysis, it can also be used to make direct edits – for example, of text, colors, images, and more. The PDF Editor is closely integrated with the Workflow, which significantly simplifies analysis and editing.
A detailed introduction to the PDF Editor can be found in the article Overview of the PDF Editor.
Article Update: Workflow 1.21.1 – 08/2025