PDF files uploaded to Lakeside Scout will immediately begin checking for file integrity via the preflight engine. This initial file integrity preflight will inform users of issues that may possibly be of concern; however, they may be deemed to be acceptable by the user.
For details on best file preparation practices, please see https://prepress.lakesidebookcompany.com/lakeside-prepress/book/
Note - issues may still arise during the Approve to Print specification check such as trim size mismatch or the number of pages and/or number of colors not matching the provided specs. These items are not checked during the initial preflight stage. If there is a mismatch in the number of colors, you can:
- Click on the Preflight tab in the top right corner of a page while in proof mode. Colors used will be listed, on a per page basis, as you navigate from page to page. See this FAQ for details.
- Download a low resolution proof (details here) and preview color separations using the output preview function in Acrobat. See Acrobat's documentation for help with this function.
Issues are flagged in one of two categories: Warnings or Errors.
Warnings (listed alphabetically)
Depending on the type of warning, you can either "Sign off" that it is okay to print as is or choose to "Fix" the issue when possible. Risks will be presented to the user within the single-page Proof mode where details can be seen.
An example of a warning that may be signed off on is low-resolution images. Lakeside Scout does not understand the designer or compositor's intent. There may be screen captures from a given application or web page used as artwork within a supplied PDF file. This may be the only source of the artwork and producing them at a higher resolution isn't possible. The user may deem these as ok as is given the application and source, signing off on them to let them go "as is".
In the event the user is presented with a warning and is not okay with the reported issue as is, they should correct in the original source files, generate new PDF files and resubmit to Lakeside Scout.
| Warning | Risk | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate color space is not DeviceCMYK or DeviceGray | Alternate color space for a spot color is neither DeviceCMYK nor DeviceGray. This condition is typically associated with an attached ICC profile. Choosing to fix this issue will remove the ICC profile. | Avoid ICC profiles in your workflow. Lakeside Book Company prints to SWOP and GRACoL standards depending on paper stock. |
| Annotations | Annotations are usually reserved for internal commenting only. They should not be used in a high resolution print environment. Choosing to fix this issue will remove the annotations. | Ensure annotations have been removed. |
| Content in safety area | Content exists in safety area near trim and may trim off due to equipment variations, (i.e., folding, trimming, etc.). | Move content away from trim or extend content beyond trim if bleed is intended. |
| Custom halftone settings | These settings may lead to output with the wrong dot shape, screen angle or lines per inch (LPI). Choosing to fix this issue will remove the custom halftone settings. | Avoid the use of custom halftone settings in your workflow. |
| Digital signature | A digital signature can prevent document assembly which is required by some imposition programs. Choosing to fix this issue will remove the signature and all of its objects. | Ensure digital signatures, which prevent document editing, have been removed. |
| Generic spot color name | A spot color using a generic name may create too many colors. If applicable, use a Pantone or PMS color instead. | Ensure spot color is named correctly. |
| ICC profile | An ICC profile can introduce unpredictable color/tonal changes at the print processing engine (RIP). Choosing to fix this issue will remove the ICC profile. | Avoid ICC profiles in your workflow. Lakeside Book Company prints to SWOP and GRACoL standards depending on paper stock. |
| Layered content is hidden | Hidden PDF layers are not currently supported. Choosing to fix this issue will remove the hidden layers and all objects on them. | Ensure hidden PDF layers are not present. |
| Multicolored rule less than 1 point | Multicolored rules below 1 point are difficult to keep in perfect registration. | Increase point size of rule or limit number of colors to one. |
| Multicolored type less than 8 point | Depending on font choice, multicolored type below 8 point can be both hard to read and keep in perfect registration. | Increase point size of type or limit number of colors to one. |
| Number of CMYK vector objects exceeds 200,000 | Excessive CMYK vector objects can cause the file to fail at the print processing engine (RIP) due to complexity. Choosing to fix this issue will convert all page content to a 300 dpi CMYK image. | Avoid generating a page with an excessive amount of CMYK vector objects. You can address this in the native application, regenerate the PDF, upload and replace the page. |
| Number of points on a path exceeded 5,000 within an object | Complex vector artwork containing excessive connection points or nodes can cause the file to fail at the print processing engine (RIP). | Avoid generating highly complex vector-based artwork with more than 5,000 points. |
| Registration color inside bleed margin | Registration color is typically used for objects like trim and registration marks. These elements WILL appear in the final product due to equipment variations, (i.e., folding, trimming, etc.). | Ensure non-printing elements have been removed from inside the bleed margin. |
| Registration color inside trim box | Registration color equals 100% of each separation and may result in a high level of ink saturation. | Ensure design objects do not use Registration color. |
| Resolution of bitmap image is less than 600 DPI | Bitmap images do not have levels of gray. The pixels are either 100% or 0%. Less than 600 DPI might be insufficient for proper high-resolution print results. | Create or capture images intended for bitmap format at 600 DPI. |
| Resolution of color or grayscale image is greater than 500 DPI | Generally there are no benefits to excessive resolution. | Reduce resolution to 300 DPI. |
| Resolution of color or grayscale image is less than 200 DPI | Our internal research has shown that images less than 200 DPI can begin to show quality degradation and might be insufficient for proper high-resolution print results. | Create or capture color or grayscale images at 300 DPI. |
| Security risk | JavaScript, actions and attachments represent a security risk as they may contain malicious code. Choosing to fix this issue will remove these objects. | Ensure these types of objects have been removed. |
| White type less than 8 point | Depending on font choice, reversed type below 8 point can be both hard to read and reproduce. | Increase point size of type. |
Errors (listed alphabetically)
Errors cannot be allowed to proceed. They represent a hard stop that must be corrected and new PDF files submitted.
An example of an error would be fonts that aren't embedded. We will not proceed without the proper font embedded in the file given this will cause RIP failures or worse - the possibility of the font being replaced with Courier. Neither is desired or acceptable for print reproduction.
| Error | Risk | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Anno spot color | The Anno spot color is typically used to identify annotations within a teacher edition. In these situations, the color must be specified in the actual press ink, (e.g., CMYK or Pantone color). If this is a student edition, the Anno spot color should not be within the file. | Generate and supply revised PDF file using press color spaces, (i.e., CMYK or spot color) as applicable to the title. |
| Blank page is missing resources dictionary | The resources dictionary is required for page output. | Do not use Acrobat to insert blank pages. Generate and supply revised PDF file using page layout software while including blanks - OR - use Lakeside Scout to delete the affected page(s) and insert blank(s) within thumbnail view. |
| Document Contains CalRGB | Calibrated RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is not a printable color space. | Generate and supply revised PDF file. Ensure color management is not enabled unless you have a solid understanding of how it works. Additionally, do not embed profiles in images or PDF files unless you have a solid understanding of how color management works. |
| Element uses DeviceRGB | RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is not a printable color space. | Generate and supply revised PDF file using press color spaces, (i.e., grayscale, CMYK or spot color) as applicable to the title. |
| Element uses ICC-based RGB | Objects are utilizing RGB with an ICC profile. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is not a printable color space. | Avoid embedding ICC profiles. Generate and supply revised PDF file using press color spaces, (i.e., grayscale, CMYK or spot color) as applicable to the title. |
| Font is not embedded in the PDF | All fonts must be embedded within the supplied PDF file to ensure accurate rendering of the page or file. | Generate and supply revised PDF file with fonts properly embedded. |
| Glyphs are missing in an embedded font | All fonts embedded into a PDF file have to contain glyphs for all of the characters used in the PDF file. It's possible that the font used has corruption. This is required by some PDF-based ISO standards such as PDF/X. | Generate and supply revised PDF file with fonts properly embedded. |
| Lab color | Lab color is not a printable color space. Be advised that Lab has a significantly larger color space with far more reproducible visual colors than CMYK. | Generate and supply revised PDF file using press color spaces, (i.e., grayscale, CMYK or spot color) as applicable to the title. |
| PDF contains security or encryption | PDF files often won't process or RIP when security or encryption restrictions have been applied. | Generate and supply revised PDF file. Do not apply security or encryption to PDF files supplied for print reproduction. |
| PDF has Embedded PostScript fragments | Embedded PostScript fragments are not visible within a PDF file, but can significantly alter the appearance of the printed document. | Generate and supply revised PDF file. Ensure all supporting artwork is free of corruption. Also, ensure your supplied PDF file has been reviewed from front to back for accuracy and free of corruption as well. |
| PDF page file is damaged and would not parse | The PDF is corrupt or requires a password to open. The file may have been damaged during the creation process or possibly during upload due to instability issues associated with the user's local connection to the internet. | Generate and supply revised PDF file. If the file only requires a password to open, remove the password and supply a new file. |
| PDF was created with PDFWriter | PDFWriter is an older printer driver intended for inner-office use. It is not appropriate for high-resolution print reproduction. | Generate and supply revised PDF file utilizing a newer platform. |
| Spot color name contains = (equals) sign | Confirm color selection. A spot color swatch containing the = (equals) sign creates too many separations. | Generate and supply revised PDF file using press color spaces, (i.e., CMYK or spot color) as applicable to the title. |
| Spot color names are not identical | Confirm color selection. Spot colors using similar but not identical names create too many separations. | Spot colors are case sensitive. For example, 'PANTONE 200 U' and 'pantone 200 u' create two separations. Generate and supply revised PDF file using identical spot color names. |
| Transparency blend color space is RGB | The transparency blend space is RGB which is a non-press color space. When using transparency, set the blend space to CMYK in the authoring application, (e.g., InDesign). | Generate and supply revised PDF file using the CMYK blend color space. |