How does the file checking service work?

For £2.99 + VAT, a Professional File Check means a member of our technical team will ensure your file is suitable to send to print. If you have multiple jobs in your basket, you can choose to have a file check on all or individual jobs. Once your file has been checked we will contact you to let you know if there were any issues which require your attention. 

What is included in the check?

Our team will check all of the following where applicable:

• Image quality at print size (resolution) 
• Whether bleed has been added 
• Correct number of pages has been uploaded
• Text or line art is not too close to the trim edge (that they are outside of the recommended safe area) 
• That the PDF is not corrupt 
• Borders are not too thin or uneven 
• Foiled lines are not too thin or intricate
• Foiled artwork is not misaligned with print artwork
• Spiral bound holes/wires are not too close to important design elements/text 
• Drill holes will not go through text 
• Thumb cut area will not go through text
• No missing glyphs for jobs with Personalisation
• CSV files for jobs with Personalisation don’t have corrupt names
• Templates have not been left on artwork 
• Maximum print area has not been exceeded 
• Files are not password protected
• Files are not blank 
• Number of Versions matches the order details 
• Any custom shape cut files are set up as vector (Bespoke Service orders only)  
• Multipage files are not set up as ‘readers spreads’ 
• Pages on folded artwork are in running order and rotated correctly

• No text on a Perfect Bound spine that is less than 5mm in width

What is not included in the check?

During a Professional File Check, our team are not able to check the following:

• Spelling and grammar / proof reading
• General design including layout and placement 
• Colour mode (e.g. RGB, CMYK) 
• Size of text 
• Overprint settings (this should not be on)
• Calendar dates
• Whether bitmaps have been used on vector files (causing unintended colour differences)
• Checking for text added via Acrobat form fields (this will not be printed)
• Page rotation on spiral bound documents 
• Gradients (we advise these include noise to avoid being stepped)
• Checking QR codes work 

Please note that a Professional File Check is also solely a pre-production check, and doesn’t include any additional quality checks after printing, aside from our standard processes. 

Will any issues be fixed? 

During the file check any issues our team are able to fix will be corrected. This only includes issues from the “what is included in the check?” list above, and excludes anything from the “what is not included in the check?” list. If there are issues which mean your file is not suitable for print and our team are unable to fix them, they will contact you, and your job will be put on hold until the issues are resolved which may delay your delivery date. 

Does adding a Professional File Check impact my delivery date? 

Files are checked and responded to on the same day you place your order. Adding a file check to your order won’t impact your delivery date, unless there are issues which require you to amend and re-upload your artwork.