A PDF for professional or commercial printing has specific requirements: correct page size with bleed, embedded fonts, flattened transparency, and appropriate image resolution. Here is how to prepare a print-ready PDF using free tools.
Print-ready PDFs typically require 3–5mm bleed beyond the trim size. A business card (85 × 55mm) needs a PDF of 91 × 61mm with the design extending to the edge. Set this up in your source document (Illustrator, InDesign, Word) before exporting to PDF.
Use pdfeditor.onl/repair-pdf in Flatten mode. Print RIPs (Raster Image Processors) at print shops sometimes struggle with PDF transparency and layered content. Flattening converts all transparency and layers into a single merged content stream — eliminating RIP rendering errors.
Tip: Always keep a non-flattened copy as your master file. Flatten only the version sent to the printer — flattening is irreversible and removes editability.
Use only the Basic compression profile (JPEG 82%, max 2400px) if compression is needed for file transfer. Most commercial printers require images at 300 DPI at final print size. Over-compression will produce visible JPEG artifacts at 300 DPI print resolution.
Professional print shops provide a preflight checklist: PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 compliance, color mode (CMYK vs RGB), overprint settings, and font embedding. Check their specifications and match them in your source application before exporting.
The tools do not set PDF/X metadata or convert RGB to CMYK. PDF/X compliance and color space conversion should be set in the source application (InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro) during the initial PDF export.
For print, use Basic (JPEG 82%) at most, or no compression if file size allows. Commercial printers generally accept PDFs up to 500 MB — use compression only if the file exceeds the printer's upload limit.