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Understanding Flipsnack’s "Download PDF for print" option

Learn how to download your flipbooks for printing, including professional settings for bleeds and crop marks.

Table of contents:

Overview

Flipsnack is primarily built for creating and sharing interactive digital publications. However, we understand that physical copies are often necessary for distribution at events, in-store displays, or archival purposes. To support this, you can download a static version of your flipbook as a high-quality PDF.

Requirements: The print ready PDF settings are available on all paid plans, starting from the Starter plan.

Key benefits

  • High-resolution assets: Exports images at up to 300 DPI for crisp, clear results.

  • Professional accuracy: Include bleeds and crop marks to prevent unwanted white edges during trimming.

  • Color fidelity: Supports CMYK color space for better color matching in physical prints.

  • Offline accessibility: Provide readers with a high-quality version they can store and print locally.

When to use “Download PDF - Print”

You should choose the PDF - Print option when you need a higher quality than the standard PDF for Web export.

  • Personal reference: Ideal for internal printing where professional finishing isn't required.

  • Home or office printing: Use this for simple brochures or handouts printed on standard desktop printers.

  • Offline distribution: Share a downloadable version that maintains high image quality without interactive elements.

How to use the print-ready PDF settings

If you are sending your file to a professional print shop, you must enable bleeds & crop marks. This ensures your design extends to the very edge of the paper after trimming.

  1. Go to My Flipbooks and locate the publication you wish to download.

  2. Click the Download button in the top right, next to the Preview. 

  3. Select the PDF for Print format.

Note: Compared to PDF for Web, the PDF for Print export gives you higher image quality and print-friendly colors. If your original images support it, the file can include up to 300 DPI resolution and CMYK color space for better printing.

     4. In the settings panel, we will need to toggle: 

  • Add print bleeds to document: Check this box to add trim guides to the corners of your document. 

  • Add print crop marks to document: Adjust the value to match your printer's requirements (standard is usually 0.125 in or 3mm).

Note: Include interactive elements as static images: The toggle controls the visibility of interactive elements such as links and buttons. Keep it OFF for physical prints to preserve visual quality, or switch it ON if the PDF will be used for digital viewing.

     5. Click Download to generate your document.

print-ready-settings-in-flipsnack

Recommendations for professional printing

To get the best possible results from a commercial printer, follow these guidelines:

  • Design with bleed in mind: Ensure background images or colors extend at least 3mm past the edge of your canvas in the Design Studio.

  • Safety zones: Keep important text and logos at least 5mm away from the edge to avoid being cut off during the trimming process.

  • Verify image quality: Ensure your original uploaded images are high resolution (300 DPI) to avoid pixelation in the final print.

Additional tips and limitations

Important: Spot colors (like Pantone) are converted to CMYK or RGB during export and may not be preserved as distinct plates.

  • Interactive versions: If you want your readers to have both, share the digital link for the full experience and offer the PDF download for those who need a hard copy.
  • Font handling: Flipsnack automatically embeds fonts in the PDF export to maintain your typography's appearance.

Need expert support?

Our team is here to help. Connect with our team experts or message us via the in-app chat for a personalized demo.

Next steps

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