How to use Print Preflight
One-click preflight for a finished design: DPI, repeat edges, out-of-gamut colour and bleed. Exports a print-ready RGB or CMYK file plus a report.
Credit Usage
Options & Settings
| Setting | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Print method | Buttons | Export colour space, named by the process it feeds. Digital / POD writes RGB, which is what digital printing and most mills want; Screen / Rotary writes CMYK for separated screen and rotary work. Digital / PODScreen / Rotary |
| Design type | Buttons | Repeat checks that the edges tile cleanly. Placement skips the seam check, for panels and borders that are not meant to tile. RepeatPlacement |
| Print size | Number Inputs | Width and height of the printed piece, in cm or inches, used to work out the effective DPI. cmin |
| Bleed | Number Input | Mirrored bleed added around the design on export, in millimeters, or in inches under Imperial units (Settings > Units). mmin |
When to Use
- Final QC before sending artwork to a mill or printer
- Checking a design hits 300 DPI at the intended print size
- Exporting a CMYK TIFF with embedded DPI for production
- Confirming a repeat still tiles cleanly before a bulk run
Pro Tips
Run preflight before every handoff, because it catches low DPI and broken repeats early
Add 3–5 mm bleed for cut-and-sew so trimming never exposes the substrate
Use CMYK export only when your mill explicitly asks for it; RGB is safer otherwise
A warning on the Seamless repeat row means the edges don't match; choose Placement for a panel that is not meant to tile
How do I…
How do I check a design before sending it to print?
Run the preflight. It checks DPI at your print size, the repeat edges, out-of-gamut colour and bleed, and exports a print-ready file with a report.
Should I export RGB or CMYK?
Choose Digital / POD for RGB, which digital printing and most mills want, and Screen / Rotary for CMYK when the work is separated or the mill asks for it.
How do I check a panel that is not meant to tile?
Set Design type to Placement, which skips the seam check.
How do I add bleed?
Set Bleed in millimetres (or inches under Imperial units); mirrored bleed is added around the design on export. 3–5 mm suits cut-and-sew.
What to Expect
Best Results
- Finished, final-size designs
- Seamless repeats needing an edge check
- Files headed to a mill or printer
Limited Results
- Rough drafts still being edited
- Photographic art for CMYK (out-of-gamut estimate is a heuristic)
- Designs without a known target print size
Real-World Examples
Mill Handoff
A 4000×4000 px floral was preflighted at 33×33 cm (just over 300 DPI, seamless, in-gamut), then exported as a CMYK TIFF with 5 mm mirrored bleed.
Catching Low DPI
A client PNG flagged 180 DPI at the requested 50 cm width; the report prompted an upscale before print instead of a blurry run.
Ready to try Print Preflight?
Open in Studio →