PDF/X-4 or PDF/X-1a:
which standard to choose.

What PDF/X is

PDF/X is a family of international ISO standards for exchanging print files. A PDF/X file does not allow elements that cause problems in production: all fonts are embedded, images are contained in full, the finished size is defined explicitly and the printing conditions the file was prepared for are declared. What you see on screen is what reaches prepress.

PDF/X-1a

The older and stricter standard. All colours are CMYK or spot, and transparency is flattened on export. It is very safe, but flattening can break vector artwork into smaller pieces or leave hairlines where shadows and transparency meet.

PDF/X-4

The current standard, preferred today by most printers. It keeps transparency live and supports profile-based colour management, so the final conversion is made correctly in prepress. Text and vector artwork stay clean, without the side effects of flattening.

Which to choose

• PDF/X-4 for most work: leaflets, catalogues, artwork with shadows, transparency and effects.
• PDF/X-1a:2001 when the end client explicitly requires it, or when the file will pass through several systems and maximum compatibility matters.
• Not «Smallest file size» or web export. These settings compress images and may convert colour to RGB.

How to export

In your design application, choose the PDF/X-4 (or PDF/X-1a) preset in the export dialogue, switch on crop marks and 3 mm bleed, and set the output condition to match the paper of the job: one for coated and another for uncoated stock. If in doubt, ask us before exporting.

Check

The free PDF check recognises whether a file is PDF/X and flags RGB elements, fonts that are not embedded and low-resolution images. Every file is also checked technically by us before production.

For any job, send us your specifications with a quote request.