In this article, you will learn
- why checking print data is important,
- what advantages these checks offer, and
- where they are used.
1. Introduction
The quality Preflight check is a key component of the prepress stage. Its purpose is to validate print data against defined rules and criteria before further processing. This allows potential sources of error to be identified and avoided at an early stage.
Incorrect print data can lead to interruptions in production processes, increased substrate consumption, and time-consuming corrections. Automated Preflight checks ensure that jobs either proceed smoothly through the intended Workflow or, in the case of faulty results, are directed to alternative processes. Preflight checks thus perform both a quality assurance function and a control task within the automation of print data processes.
2. Checking Print Data
The use of Preflight checks not only provides fundamental protection for print data but also offers a range of advantages for users and production processes. These Preflight checks help continuously monitor data quality, identify potential errors at an early stage, and enable clear decision-making for subsequent Workflow steps. They contribute to both technical reliability and organizational efficiency and are therefore an indispensable tool in automated production environments.
- Quality Assurance – faulty data is detected before further processing, preventing unusable or incomplete files from entering production.
- Stability in Processes – Preflight checks ensure that only data meeting predefined requirements is automatically processed. This reduces downtime and increases process reliability.
- Automated Control – depending on the Preflight results, either a single Fixup, a Fixup Chain, or a specific Production Configuration can be applied to the Print Item. Different Fixups, Fixup Chains, or Production Configurations can be selected for successful checks and for error cases.
- Standardization – all print data is checked according to the same rules. This creates a consistent quality standard, regardless of the data source or the expertise of its creator.
3. Access to Checks
Currently, checks such as these are only available within the automation environment. There, they can be integrated into Production Configurations and can therefore be used not only for Automation Jobs but also for Batch Processing and Hotfolder. The following section provides an overview of the individual areas in which you will encounter these Templates in the Workflow.
Available Preflight Checks
In upcoming versions, not only will the number of available Preflight checks increase, but also the areas in which they can be applied. Please check this article regularly to stay up to date with the latest developments.
3.1. As an Operation in Production Configurations
Production Configurations, which can be created under Automation > Production Configurations, serve in the Workflow as procedural descriptions that define the process a Print Item must follow. They are used in Batch Processing, Hotfolder, or for creating Automation Jobs for selected Articles/Print Items. This enables comprehensive automation of production and eliminates repetitive tasks for the user.
To check print data and define the subsequent process within a Production Configuration, three types of Operations are available:
- Check Print Item and Apply Fixups – this Operation checks the Print Item and determines which Fixups and Actions should be applied in the case of success (Matches check) and which Fixups and Actions should be applied in the case of failure (Does not match check).
- Check Print Item and Apply Fixup Chain – this Operation checks the Print Item and determines which Fixup Chain and Actions should be applied in the case of success (Matches check), and which Fixup Chain and Actions should be applied in the case of failure (Does not match check).
- Check Print Item and forward to – this Operation checks the Print Item and determines to which Production Configuration it should be forwarded to in the case of success (Matches check) and to which Production Configuration it should be forwarded to in the case of failure (Does not match check).
To use Preflight checks in a Production Configuration, proceed as follows:
- Navigate to Automation > Production Configurations.
- Click Add to create a new, empty Production Configuration.
- In the dialog Add Production Configuration, select the tab Operations [1].
- From the dropdown menu [2] under the menu item Check Operations, select the desired Operation.
- In the option Add Check and select Template [3], choose the Template you want to use for this step in the Production Configuration.
- If you want to create a new Template or modify an existing one, click Edit [5].
- Under the option Action [4], choose how to proceed if the Preflight check matches. In this example, the current step is skipped, and the Workflow continues with the next step.
- Under the option Action [6], choose how to proceed if the the Preflight check does not match. In this example, a Fixup will be applied.
- Then select the Fixups to be applied if the Preflight check fails – Does not match check [7].
- Add additional Operations as needed, and then save the Production Configuration.
Once created, Production Configurations can be selected in Automation > Batch Processing, Automation > Hotfolder, or via the command Create Automation Job in the action bar of an Article or Print Item list.
Figure 1: The dialog Add Production Configuration
Applying to Articles/Print Items
When applying Production Configurations to Articles and Print Items, even a Production Configuration consisting solely of this Operation allows you to process files in different ways using Fixups.
This is a very powerful feature in the Data Preparation of Print Items, especially when the processing needs to vary only slightly based on a single factor.
Article Update: Workflow 1.21.2 – 10/2025