Most print problems do not come from a “bad printer” but from an ambiguous production file. Production needs concrete parameters: final trim size, bleed, profile, black construction and separate layers for finishing effects.
Before export
- set the final size and bleed according to the specification of the actual printer,
- keep important text safely away from the trim line,
- check that images have enough resolution at their final physical size,
- make sure fonts are embedded or converted correctly,
- remove accidental spot colours if they are not required.
Finishing
Selective varnish, foil, embossing or a die line usually requires a separate layer or spot colour and exact naming. Do not guess. Use the manufacturer’s production instructions and prepare the file for that specific technology.
A proof is not a formality
Open the final PDF in an independent application and check overprint, pages, order, dimensions and whether anything disappeared during export.