Checking magazine artwork before printing
A magazine that looks finished on screen still needs production preparation. Agree technical requirements for its paper, size and binding first. This checklist helps organise files and questions; the printer must specify the exact bleed, colour profile and other production settings.
Match the file to the order
Check trimmed size, orientation, page count and sequence. Confirm whether the cover needs a separate file and how blank pages should be represented. For perfect binding, agree the cover spread and spine width after selecting paper. Send the artwork with the quantity, inner and cover stocks, colour requirements, binding and finishing. Resolve any mismatch between the file and order explicitly before finalising the specification.
Check trim edges and inner margins
Artwork extending to the edge needs the agreed bleed beyond the trim line. Keep important text, page numbers and logos away from that line. Review inner margins and images crossing the spine separately. Do not copy a universal value from another job specification: settings depend on the product and finishing. Add crop marks and other production marks only as requested by the printer.
Check fonts and images
Look for missing image links and unintended font substitutions. Assess photographs at their actual print size: enlarging a small file cannot restore missing detail. Review logos, fine rules, small captions and transparency. If source files are required, agree the package and any font transfer permitted by the licence. A layout file without its linked resources may be insufficient for reliable reproduction or editing.
Agree colour settings and PDF export
Confirm the required colour spaces, profiles, spot colours and export settings. InDesign provides PDF settings for commercial printing; agree the actual preset with the printer. Avoid repeated colour conversions without a defined purpose. A digital proof helps check content and layout, but colour appearance can vary between screens. If colour is critical, agree a suitable proofing method, its limitations and acceptance criteria in advance.
Review the exported file
Open the final PDF, not only the working document. Review the cover, contents, numbering, headings, captions, tables and last page. Test QR destinations, confirm contact details and remove internal comments from print content. Check both spreads and individual pages in the agreed sequence. A large publication may need separate editorial and design checks, but name one person responsible for final production approval.
Send one approved version
Use a clear file name with a date or version and list attachments in the handover message. If an error is found later, report it and obtain confirmation that the replacement file will be used: sending a revision does not itself stop production. State the receipt date and delivery address in Moscow, Moscow Oblast or Saint Petersburg. Artwork readiness, production checks and order approval are separate steps; the schedule is confirmed once the inputs are complete.