Find out in this article
- which Fixups are available in Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates in the PDF/X standard environment and
- which use the Fixups are suitable for.
1. Introduction
When print files are uploaded into Workflow, the documents are checked and partially corrected using Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates, thus bringing them into a normalized state. Normalizing print data is therefore a critical step in the prepress process, as it saves time, minimizes errors, and automates some of the work.
Not all Fixups are available in a Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates
In the Workflow, there is a clear distinction between normalizing print data and preparing print data for printing. Normalization brings the print data up to a common standard for data preparation. The corresponding data preparation for production is triggered at a later point in time by applying individual Fixups or Fixup Chains.
2. Available Fixups for PDF/X Standard
To take full advantage of Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates, these templates must first be created. A template essentially consists of Fixups and Preflight settings. Currently, the Workflow offers more than 44 Fixups. Individual Fixups have been divided into different categories to provide a better overview.
This article describes all Fixups that can be used to convert print data to the desired PDF/X standard during normalization in detail.
2.1. Set Output Intent
Category: Color, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: With this Fixup, the ICC profile currently defined in the Workflow as the Working Color Space is automatically stored as the Output Intent in the Print Item.
Application: Synchronizing the Output Intent with the Working Color Space set in the Workflow ensures that CMYK source profiles of objects are ignored if the source profile matches the Output Intent.
Figure 1: The activated Fixup Set Output Intent
2.2. Remove BX...EX entries
Category: Page Content, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup removes BX…EX entries in the page description. BX...EX entries are used to bracket new page operators and ensure compatibility with older PDF programs of a certain level. These programs ignore such operators if they are not supported. However, many PDF standards prohibit these entries.
Application: This Fixup only removes suppressed entries in the PDF and can be used without concern. In some cases, the Fixup also eliminates Spot Color entries that are not present.
Figure 2: The activated Fixup Remove BX...EX entries
2.3. Set Title to Filename
Category: Document, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup ensures that the Title entry in the document information of a PDF is treated the same as the file name. A Title entry is required for PDF/X compliance.
Application: Some PDF programs display the metadata title in the document bar instead of the file name. This Fixup synchronizes the file name with the title to ensure that the PDF/X check does not fail due to a missing title entry.
Figure 3: The activated Fixup Set Title to Filename
2.4. Make document XMP Metadata compliant with PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-6
Category: page content, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup removes XMP metadata entries if they do not conform to PDF/X-4 or PDF/X-6.
Application: Fixing the metadata ensures PDF/X-4 or PDF/X-6 compliance and avoids errors during PDF/X checks due to incorrect entries.
Figure 4: The activated Fixup Make document XMP Metadata compliant with PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-6X-4X-6
2.5. Discard embedded PostScript
Category: Page Content, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup removes all PostScript commands in a PDF. This makes the print file PDF/X-compliant on the one hand, and on the other hand, the output in the print is equated with the visual display in the PDF.
Area of application: PostScript commands in a print file can completely change the appearance of the Print Item. To avoid unwanted surprises during printing, you should use this Fixup for your Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates. In addition, you ensure that the print file complies with the PDF/X regulations.
Figure 5: The activated Fixup Discard embedded PostScript
2.6. Discard all JavaScripts
Category: Page Content, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup removes all JavaScript commands in a PDF. This makes the print file PDF/X-compliant on the one hand, and on the other hand, the output in the print is the same as the visual display in the PDF.
Application: JavaScript commands in a print file can change the appearance of the Print Item. To avoid unwanted surprises in printing, you should definitely use this Fixup for your Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates. In addition, you ensure that the print file complies with the PDF/X regulations.
Figure 6: The activated Fixup Discard all JavaScriptsX-1X-3X-4X-6
2.7. Discard OPI information
Category: Image, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup removes all OPI information references to original images from the PDF file. This makes the print file compliant with both the PDF/X and PDF/A standards.
Application: OPI information points to original images that should be removed because print data requires embedded images. This allows for accurate image resolution and Color Space checking. Add this Fixup to every Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates to create PDF/X compliant data.
Figure 7: The activated Fixup Discard OPI informationX-1X-3X-4X-6
2.8. Apply Rotation Factor
Category: Object, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6, Page, Page Content
Description: This Fixup applies the rotation factor defined for each page. After the rotation, the rotation factor is reset to 0.
Application: The rotation factor is used to rotate the page by the set factor when opening PDF files in a PDF display program. However, this does not mean that the page is rotated. This Fixup is used to rotate the page so that there are no unwanted results when printing.
Figure 8: The activated Fixup Apply Rotation Factor
2.9. Apply transfer curves
Category: Page Content, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup applies transfer curves, if any, in a PDF. After the transfer curves are applied, they are no longer included in the PDF.
Application: Transfer curves were previously used to overlay a printing characteristic curve for output. This Fixup ensures that transfer curves are not only applied when the file is rendered on the printer but that the changes can be seen earlier in the PDF viewing program.
Figure 9: The activated Fixup Apply transfer curves
2.10. Fix glyph width information
Category: Font, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Fixup matches the font character width information in the PDF, as required by the ISO standard.
Application: By adjusting the character width, incorrect letter spacing and overlapping glyphs during rendering are avoided. Add this Fixup to the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates to create PDF/X-4 or PDF/X-6 compliant print data.
Figure 10: The activated Fixup Fix glyph width information
Artikel update: Workflow 1.20.0 – 03/2025