How to Prepare PDFs for Professional Printing

Getting Print-Ready PDFs

Whether you're printing business cards, brochures, or reports, proper PDF preparation is essential for quality results.

Key Considerations

1. Use the Correct Page Size

Print shops expect standard sizes:

• A4 for documents


• A3 for posters


• Custom sizes for specialty items

Use AltaPDF's scaling feature to standardize your page sizes.

2. Resolution Matters

For print, images should be at least 300 DPI. Lower resolution results in pixelated prints.

3. Color Mode

• CMYK for professional printing
• RGB for digital/screen viewing

4. Bleed and Margins

Add 3mm bleed for designs that extend to the edge. Keep important content within safe margins.

5. Font Embedding

Ensure all fonts are embedded in the PDF to avoid substitution issues.

Pre-Print Checklist

• [ ] Correct page size
• [ ] 300+ DPI images
• [ ] CMYK color mode
• [ ] Fonts embedded
• [ ] Bleed added if needed
• [ ] Proof reviewed

Using AltaPDF for Print Preparation

• Merge all document sections
• Scale to your target print size
• Download the unified PDF
• Send to your print shop

Conclusion

Proper PDF preparation saves time and money. Follow these guidelines for professional printing results every time.