In this article, you will learn
- which other checks are available in Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates, and
- which solutions are provided to fix the detected issues.
1. Introduction
When uploading print files to the Workflow, the documents are checked using Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates to identify potential errors or warnings early in the production process. These errors and warnings can be displayed on the corresponding page within the Workflow and provided to the customer as a PDF report for further clarification.
The Preflight Check of the print file is carried out based on the activated checks and the severity levels defined for each individual check Error, Warning, or Info.
2. Other Available Checks
To take full advantage of a Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template, these templates must first be created. A template essentially consists of Checks and Fixups. Currently, more than 58 Checks are available in the Workflow. To maintain clarity, the individual checks have been divided into different categories.
This article provides a detailed description of all checks that cannot be assigned to a specific category.
2.1. Complex Content Stream in PDF
Category: Document
Description: This check detects whether the print file contains a very large number of vector objects combined with effects such as blending modes or opacity changes. Such complex print data can significantly reduce the processing speed during checking, fixing, and rendering.
Solution: To optimize these types of print data, the Workflow offers Fixups such as «Convert Page Content to an Image», «Flatten Transparency», «Remove overlapping Vectors and Images», and «Remove Objects outside Page Box».
Figure 4: The activated Check Complex Content Stream in PDF
2.2. Form XObjects found
Category: Object, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This check detects whether the document contains Form XObjects. To ensure correct PDF processing, Form XObjects must be resolved (flattened).
Solution: The Fixup «Flatten Form XObjects» can be used to resolve such structures within a PDF file, making them easier to process with subsequent Fixups. This function is also available in the PDF Editor.
Figure 2: The activated Check Form XObjects found
2.3. Transparency blend color space is not DeviceCMYK
Category: Color
Description: This check verifies whether each defined blend space is set to DeviceCMYK to order to avoid unwanted color shifts during output or PDF transparency flattening. This requirement is specified in various industry guidelines.
Solution: To set the transparency blend color space to DeviceCMYK, the Fixup «Set transparency blend color space to DeviceCMYK» can be applied directly during the Check-in process. This helps prevent undesirable color effects in the final output.
Figure 1: The activated Check Transparency blend color space is not DeviceCMYK
2.4. Is a multipage document
Category: Document, Page
Description: This check determines whether the print file contains more than one page. If multipage documents are not desired, this check can be used to indicate this.
Solution: Multipage documents can be handled in the Workflow in several ways:
- Split Print Items – by selecting the corresponding menu item under Additional Functions in the detail view of an Article or Print Item, a multipage document can be split into individual Print Items and separate page areas.
- Split Multipage Files – by activating the option under Administration > Settings > Basic Settings > Multipage Files, individual Print Items are automatically created when a multipage document is uploaded.
- Merge Pages – this Fixup allows individual pages to be overlaid onto other pages within the same document, effectively merging them.
- Delete Pages – this Fixup can remove selected pages from the document.
Figure 3: The activated Check Is a multipage document
2.5. Objects Outside MediaBox
Category: Object, Page Box
Description: This check verifies whether any objects are located entirely outside the media frame (MediaBox). Objects outside the MediaBox are irrelevant for output and can lead to unexpected results. A common practical example is when a Spot Color or Registration Mark Color is detected, even though no corresponding visible object with that color can be found within the printable area of the document.
Solution: Objects located outside the MediaBox or any other selected page box can be removed afterward in the Workflow using the Fixup «Remove Objects outside Page Box». Additionally, the Fixup «Remove Objects outside MediaBox» is available during Check-in, allowing these objects to be deleted immediately when the file is uploaded.
Figure 5: The activated Check Objects Outside MediaBox
2.6. Page is empty
Category: Page, Page Content
Description: This Check verifies whether the print file contains any blank (vacant) pages. A page is marked as empty if there are no printing or visible elements within the TrimBox or BleedBox.
Solution: Blank pages can be removed afterward using the Fixup «Delete Pages». Alternatively, they can also be manually removed using the PDF Editor.
Figure 6: The activated Check Page is empty
2.7. Page scaling factor used
Category: Page, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3
Description: This check identifies whether a page scaling factor (User Unit) is defined in the PDF file. The applied scaling factor can be viewed in the detail view for each page of the Print Item. Page scaling factors are allowed in PDF versions 1.6 and higher, as well as in PDF/X files newer than PDF/X-3.
Solution: The page scaling factor can be removed afterward using the Fixup «Remove Page scaling factor», or explicitly set using the Fixup «Set Page scaling factor».
Figure 7: The activated Check Page scaling factor used
2.8. Transparency used
Category: Object, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3
Description: This check determines whether transparent objects are present in the print file. Transparency is only allowed in PDF versions higher than PDF 1.3 and in PDF/X versions higher than PDF/X-3.
Solution: Transparencies are flattened during rendering according to the defined transparency blending color space. Additionally, transparencies can be manually flattened afterward using the Fixup «Flatten Transparency». Please note that all necessary Fixups – such as resizing, color adjustments, Spot Color Mapping, etc. – must be applied before transparency flattening in the Workflow. Otherwise, applying Fixups afterward may lead to color shifts or insufficient image resolution.
Figure 8: The activated Check Transparency used
Artikel update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 05/2025