PDF/X-1a compliance check
Validate a PDF/X-1a claim before it reaches the press.
What it checks
- PDF/X version claim — GTS_PDFXVersion and the XMP metadata claim, compared with a strict level-token match (an X-1a file claiming X-3 is flagged, and vice versa)
- TrimBox presence and page-box nesting (Trim/Bleed/Art inside Media)
- Effective image resolution against print thresholds
- Total Area Coverage (TAC) ink limits, including colors set via scn (spot alternate values)
FAQ
What is PDF/X-1a?
PDF/X-1a (ISO 15930) is the blind-exchange print standard: CMYK/spot only, fonts embedded, no transparency. Printers request it because it removes ambiguity at the RIP.
Does Preflight convert my file to PDF/X-1a?
No — Preflight validates and reports. It never rewrites your document; you fix issues in your authoring tool where the fix is authoritative.
What if my file claims PDF/X-3 or X-4 instead?
The version-claim check is level-exact: each claim is validated against its own standard rules, including the uncalibrated-DeviceRGB distinction between X-3 and X-4.
What happens to my documents?
Uploads are tenant-scoped, encrypted at rest, and anonymous uploads auto-purge within 24 hours. Result pages are token-gated and never indexed.