Catch errors before your client or printer does.
You’ve perfected your layout, exported a crisp PDF, and you’re ready to send it off to the printer—but wait. Did you double-check the fonts? Are any images missing? Did you set the correct color mode?
This is where preflighting comes in.
In Adobe InDesign, preflighting is the process of checking your file for print-readiness—flagging issues like missing fonts, low-res images, color mismatches, and overset text. It’s a must-do step for avoiding costly reprints and delays.
Here’s how to preflight your InDesign file like a pro.
🔍 What Is Preflighting?
Preflighting is the automated process of checking your document for potential output problems before exporting or printing. InDesign’s Preflight panel runs real-time checks as you work and alerts you to:
- Missing fonts
- Missing or modified images
- Low-resolution graphics
- Overset text
- Incorrect color spaces
- Bleed and trim issues
📂 Step 1: Open the Preflight Panel
Go to:
Window > Output > Preflight
You’ll see a red or green circle at the bottom-left of your workspace (called the Preflight Status Indicator).
- ✅ Green = No issues detected
- ❌ Red = Problems found
Click the indicator to open the Preflight panel and see the issue breakdown.
⚙️ Step 2: Customize Your Preflight Profile
By default, InDesign uses a basic profile. But you can tailor it to your printer’s specs or project needs.
- In the Preflight panel, click the menu (☰) > Define Profiles
- Click New Profile
- Choose what to check:
- Minimum image resolution (e.g., 300 ppi for print)
- Color spaces (e.g., flag RGB images)
- Allowed fonts
- Bleed and slug dimensions
- Custom rules (e.g., no spot colors)
You can create multiple profiles for different clients or outputs (print, web, magazine, etc.)
🧠 Step 3: Review and Fix Preflight Errors
In the Preflight panel:
- Click on each error to highlight the problem in your document
- Resolve issues like:
- Relinking missing images
- Replacing RGB images with CMYK versions
- Fixing overset text by resizing frames
- Ensuring all fonts are embedded or outlined
Don’t ignore warnings—even one error can break a print job.
📦 Step 4: Package Your File (Optional But Recommended)
Once your preflight is clear:
- Go to File > Package
- InDesign collects:
- Document file (.indd)
- Fonts
- Linked images
- Optional PDF
- This ensures your printer gets everything they need
It also includes a report file for documentation.
💡 Pro Tips
- Turn on Live Preflight in large projects to catch errors early
- Run a final manual review for content issues that Preflight doesn’t detect (typos, layout flow, etc.)
- Save different Preflight Profiles for print vs. digital
- Share your packaged folder in a ZIP to avoid transfer errors
📘 Final Thought
Preflighting might seem like an extra step, but it’s the difference between a seamless print job and a costly reprint. It gives you confidence that everything will come out exactly as planned—and makes you look like a pro to clients and printers alike.
Before you export, always preflight.
