Preflighting and Exporting Files Flashcards

Registration marks added during export are primarily used by the printer to do what?

Answer: Align color separation plates accurately

Registration marks let the press operator align each ink plate precisely.

Which file format should you export to when a vendor requests a print-ready file that locks down all design?

Answer: A press-ready PDF (PDF/X)

PDF/X is the industry standard for delivering print-ready, design-locked files.

What does exporting to IDML accomplish?

Answer: Creates a file openable in earlier InDesign versions

IDML is an interchange format that lets older InDesign versions open newer documents.

During preflight, a profile flags a stroke weight below the minimum for the press. Which category covers this?

Answer: Images and Objects (minimum stroke weight)

The Images and Objects category can flag hairline strokes thinner than the press can reliably print.

Which export option allows a single InDesign page to become one PDF file rather than a multi-page document?

Answer: Enabling 'Create Separate PDF Files' / Pages range as individual files

Exporting pages as separate files produces one PDF per page instead of a combined document.

What does checking 'Spreads' instead of 'Pages' do during PDF export?

Answer: Exports facing pages together as a single wide page

The Spreads option keeps facing pages combined into one sheet, useful for reader proofs but not for imposition.

Why might you run preflight before packaging a document for a print vendor?

Answer: To catch errors like missing links and low-res images before handoff

Preflight identifies output problems early so they can be fixed before the file goes to print.