Get your PDF print-ready
Printers expect CMYK colour, embedded fonts and bleed. Check your file for free, prepare what we can (bleed, sizing), and see exactly what your printer still needs (CMYK, fonts).
Choose a tool
Start with a free check, fix one thing, or make your PDF fully print-ready in a single step.
Print-ready check
See in seconds whether your PDF meets a printer’s requirements. Free, no account.
Open tool Most popularMake print-ready
All-in-one: prepares your PDF (bleed, sizing) and reports what your printer still needs (CMYK, fonts, PDF/X) for full press-readiness.
Open toolRGB to CMYK
Convert screen colours (RGB) to print colours (CMYK) using standard device CMYK.
Open toolEmbed fonts
Embed all fonts so the printer renders the correct letters, not substitutes.
Open toolAdd bleed
Add bleed (and optional crop marks) so there are no white edges after trimming.
Open toolProduction imposition
Impose finished pages on an SRA3 print sheet with crop and registration marks, a colour bar, bleed and work-and-turn. Save reusable templates.
Open toolN-up: pages per sheet
Put 2 to 16 PDF pages on one sheet — handouts, thumbnails and saving paper.
Open toolMake a booklet
Impose a PDF into a saddle-stitch booklet: print double-sided, fold and staple.
Open toolPDF to grayscale
Convert a PDF to grayscale (black & white) — ideal for cheaper printing and B&W output.
Open toolHow it works
Upload your PDF
Drop in one or more PDFs (or a ZIP). Your files are processed securely.
We fix what’s needed
We check the file and apply only the fixes your printer requires.
Download print-ready
Get a print-ready PDF back — one file, or a ZIP for multiple.
What printers ask for
The four things that make or break a delivered PDF.
PDF/X
The ISO standard for print exchange, with a colour output intent.
CMYK colour
Presses print in CMYK — RGB files shift colour.
Embedded fonts
All fonts embedded, or the printer substitutes the wrong letters.
Bleed
Bleed prevents white edges after the sheet is trimmed.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “print-ready” mean?
- A print-ready PDF meets the technical requirements a printer needs: it uses CMYK colour, all fonts are embedded, it follows the PDF/X standard and — for designs that run to the edge — it has bleed. Our tools bring your file up to that standard.
- What is PDF/X and which version do I need?
- PDF/X is the ISO standard for exchanging print files. PDF/X-4 is the modern default and works for almost all printers; some ask for PDF/X-1a or X-3. If you are unsure, choose PDF/X-4 or check your printer’s delivery specs.
- Why does my printer want CMYK instead of RGB?
- Screens show colour in RGB, but presses print with CMYK inks. If you send RGB, the press converts it with unpredictable colour shifts. Converting to standard device CMYK yourself keeps colours predictable.
- What is bleed and how much do I need?
- Bleed is extra image area beyond the trim line so no white edges appear if cutting is slightly off. Most printers want 3 mm. Note: real bleed needs your design to extend to the edge; adding bleed only sets up the area and boxes.
- Why must fonts be embedded?
- If a font is not embedded, the printer’s system substitutes another font and your text shifts or changes. Embedding stores the fonts inside the PDF so it prints exactly as you designed it.
- Is the check free and do I need an account?
- The print-ready check is free and needs no account. The fixes use credits (1 credit per file, or 2 for the all-in-one). New accounts start with free credits so you can try.
Ready for the printer?
Make your PDF print-ready in one step, or check it first — it’s free.