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      Guidelines for a print-ready PDF

      Everything you need to know to create a print-ready flipbook in Flipsnack.

      Table of contents:

      Overview

      Whether you're designing a marketing brochure or a catalog, preparing your flipbook for professional printing requires attention to bleed, resolution, and color accuracy. This article guides you through setting up a print‑ready flipbook, either by uploading a predesigned PDF or by designing from scratch inside Flipsnack.

      Upload your print‑ready PDF


      1.  Prepare your file before uploading in Flipsnack

      • Use single pages, not spreads

      • Set resolution to 300 dpi

      • Work in CMYK color space

      • Add 0.125 inch (3 mm) bleed on all sides

      • Place cutting lines as strokes (not fills), and set them to overprint

      Important: Please take note that some colors on the printed version might differ slightly from the online version due to the physical composition of the paper.


      2.  Ensure layout specs

      • For A4 (210x297 mm), final size with bleed = 216x303 mm

      3.  Upload to Flipsnack

      • Click Upload PDF from the dashboard

      • Upload the prepared file and avoid making layout changes in the editor

      4.  Export for print

      • In Design Studio, click Download > PDF - Print

      • This preserves original resolution and CMYK color space


      Design from scratch in Flipsnack

      1.  Set the correct page format

      • Choose A4 layout (recommended for catalogs and brochures)

      2.  Manually simulate bleed

      • Use guides to leave at least 3–5 mm padding from page edges

      • Since the editor has no native bleed support, design your bleed within the page size

      Important: We advise leaving at least 1 cm of free space alongside the borders of your page so to avoid important content being cut.


      bleed marks

      3.  Upload high-resolution assets

      • Use only images at 300 dpi

      • Avoid stretching low-res images which may pixelate in print

      4.  Color and export considerations

      • All design elements in Flipsnack remain RGB

      • Exported PDFs do not convert to CMYK automatically

      • If needed, use Adobe Acrobat or other tools to convert exported files to CMYK externally

      Advanced PDF preparation tips

      To avoid printing issues, follow these additional best practices:

      • Flatten transparency and avoid complex effects

      • Use PDF/X‑1a or PDF/X‑3 formats

      • Export as single pages, not spreads

      • Outline fonts or embed them during export

      • Keep file size optimized (avoid oversized images)

       

      Peecho printing notes

      If you're printing via Peecho, you don’t need to include bleed or cutting lines in your file. Peecho adds them automatically based on your flipbook layout.

      • Upload your flipbook

      • Go to Download > Order printed copies

      • Peecho will handle file adjustments for print production

      Important: If you are using Peecho to print your publications, please do not add cut marks or bleeds, as Peecho will generate those themselves. Peecho will also generate a blank spine.


      Peecho tips for preparing your file for print

      Quick comparison: Upload vs. Design Studio

      Feature Upload PDF Design from Scratch
      Resolution control Maintained if 300 dpi Depends on image quality
      CMYK support Preserved from source RGB only
      Bleed Supported if included Simulated manually
      Cutting lines Yes (if part of file) Not supported in editor
      Text outlining Preserved if exported that way Not automatic

      Additional tips / FAQs

      Can Flipsnack convert RGB to CMYK?

      • No, conversion must be done externally

      Can I include cutting lines when designing inside Flipsnack?

      • No, the editor doesn’t support strokes; use a design tool before upload

      What happens if I edit an uploaded print-ready PDF?

      • Any new content added (images, text) will remain in RGB

      Recommended bleed for print shops?

      • Use 3 mm (0.125 in) as a standard, unless the printer requests otherwise

       

      Next steps

      Useful resources

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