{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "PDF Preflight Checklist: 12 Checks Before Print or Sharing",
  "version": "2026-07-11",
  "url": "https://gopdfconverter.com/guides/pdf-preflight-checklist/",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "maintainer": {
    "name": "Michael Joiner",
    "url": "https://gopdfconverter.com/about"
  },
  "interpretation": "This checklist collects evidence. It is not a universal PDF certification profile. Apply the recipient, printer, court, publisher, client, accessibility program, or organizational policy requirements for the actual job.",
  "tracks": {
    "print": [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12],
    "external_sharing": [1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]
  },
  "checks": [
    {
      "position": 1,
      "name": "Final-file identity",
      "evidence": ["filename", "byte size", "SHA-256", "page count", "reviewer", "review date", "requirements profile"],
      "risk": "Evidence can be attributed to a draft or a file that changed after review.",
      "pass_condition": "The exact final file checksum matches the reviewed and approved checksum."
    },
    {
      "position": 2,
      "name": "Page size and rotation",
      "evidence": ["width and height for every page", "mixed-size pages", "page rotation"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/research/pdf-page-size-checker/",
      "risk": "Wrong trim size, unexpected orientation, scaling, or mixed page geometry.",
      "pass_condition": "Every page matches the written job requirement."
    },
    {
      "position": 3,
      "name": "Trim and bleed geometry",
      "evidence": ["MediaBox", "CropBox", "TrimBox", "BleedBox", "box differences by page"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/research/pdf-page-size-checker/",
      "risk": "Clipping, white edges, incorrect finished size, or ambiguous production geometry.",
      "pass_condition": "Required boxes and artwork extent match the printer's specification."
    },
    {
      "position": 4,
      "name": "Effective image resolution",
      "evidence": ["image pixel dimensions", "placed width and height", "effective PPI by occurrence", "repeated low-PPI placements"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/research/pdf-image-resolution-checker/",
      "risk": "Raster content can print soft even when its metadata label says 300 DPI.",
      "pass_condition": "Every applicable image meets the content-specific threshold in the written output requirement.",
      "limit": "There is no universal PPI threshold for every content type and output process."
    },
    {
      "position": 5,
      "name": "Font embedding and text mapping",
      "evidence": ["embedded fonts", "subset fonts", "unembedded fonts", "Type 3 fonts", "ToUnicode coverage", "text extraction health"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/research/pdf-font-checker/",
      "risk": "Font substitution, missing glyphs, broken search, copy-and-paste, or accessibility text.",
      "pass_condition": "Embedding and text-mapping evidence meets the print, archive, search, and accessibility requirements."
    },
    {
      "position": 6,
      "name": "Rendered output",
      "evidence": ["second-viewer proof", "page order", "blank pages", "clipping", "edge content", "thin rules", "transparency-dependent artwork"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/tools/pdf-to-png/",
      "risk": "Structural checks can miss visible output defects and a single viewer can hide compatibility differences.",
      "pass_condition": "The rendered proof and approved output-preview workflow show the intended result on every page."
    },
    {
      "position": 7,
      "name": "Metadata and identifiers",
      "evidence": ["Info dictionary", "XMP", "author", "title", "software", "dates", "custom fields", "unexpected strings"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/research/pdf-privacy-inspector/",
      "risk": "Private identity, source, workflow, or descriptive information can leave the organization.",
      "pass_condition": "Every retained metadata value is intentional and permitted for the recipient."
    },
    {
      "position": 8,
      "name": "Attachments, forms, links, and actions",
      "evidence": ["embedded files", "form fields", "annotations", "external links", "JavaScript", "launch actions", "open actions"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/research/pdf-privacy-inspector/",
      "risk": "Unexpected payloads, destinations, values, or interactive behavior can survive outside the visible page.",
      "pass_condition": "Every detected object is explained, required, and permitted by the recipient policy."
    },
    {
      "position": 9,
      "name": "Redaction verification",
      "evidence": ["known-phrase search", "complete extracted text review", "covered extractable-text candidates", "pending Redact annotations"],
      "tool": "https://gopdfconverter.com/research/pdf-redaction-checker/",
      "risk": "Sensitive text can remain recoverable beneath an overlay or pending redaction mark.",
      "pass_condition": "No prohibited value or unexplained redaction warning remains, and the approved independent review passes.",
      "limit": "A clean browser result is not a forensic certificate and does not cover every parser, image, revision, or side channel."
    },
    {
      "position": 10,
      "name": "Accessibility and reading order",
      "evidence": ["tagged structure", "document language", "title", "headings", "alternate text", "table semantics", "keyboard order", "screen-reader output"],
      "risk": "A visually correct PDF can remain unusable or confusing with assistive technology.",
      "pass_condition": "The approved automated checker and manual assistive-technology review meet the applicable accessibility standard."
    },
    {
      "position": 11,
      "name": "Recipient workflow",
      "evidence": ["password delivery method", "naming convention", "file-size limit", "permitted PDF version", "signature expectations", "upload acceptance"],
      "risk": "A technically valid PDF can fail or become insecure in the actual delivery channel.",
      "pass_condition": "The exact file is accepted by the intended workflow without violating delivery or security requirements."
    },
    {
      "position": 12,
      "name": "Final independent review",
      "evidence": ["exact checksum", "reviewer identity", "unresolved warnings", "accepted exceptions", "approval decision"],
      "risk": "One operator can miss content, misunderstand a warning, or approve a file that changed after review.",
      "pass_condition": "A second person or approved system signs off on the exact final checksum and every exception."
    }
  ],
  "primary_sources": [
    "https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/analyzing-documents-preflight-tool-acrobat.html",
    "https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/desktop/print/print-production-and-file-creation/produce-print-ready-pdf-files.html",
    "https://helpx.adobe.com/sg/acrobat/using/removing-sensitive-content-pdfs.html",
    "https://doi.org/10.56553/popets-2023-0069",
    "https://gopdfconverter.com/methodology"
  ]
}