{
  "slug": "print-interior-preflight",
  "title": "Print Interior Preflight Matrix",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "updated": "2026-07-09",
  "status": "maintained-reference",
  "methodology": "The matrix converts official print-submission requirements into checks that can be completed at manuscript, layout, export, and proof stages. Platform-specific values must be rechecked for the exact trim, ink, paper, marketplace, and binding selected.",
  "limitations": [
    "A passed checklist does not guarantee acceptance; platforms can add checks and a particular file can contain unusual defects.",
    "The matrix does not replace the platform previewer or a physical proof copy.",
    "Rows marked editorial or visual require human judgment rather than a binary file validator."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "KDP trim size, bleed, and margins",
      "url": "https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834180",
      "checked": "2026-07-09"
    },
    {
      "label": "IngramSpark file creation guide",
      "url": "https://www.ingramspark.com/hubfs/downloads/file-creation-guide.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-07-09"
    }
  ],
  "columns": [
    {
      "key": "stage",
      "label": "Stage"
    },
    {
      "key": "check",
      "label": "Check"
    },
    {
      "key": "pass_condition",
      "label": "Pass condition"
    },
    {
      "key": "failure_signal",
      "label": "Failure signal"
    },
    {
      "key": "verification",
      "label": "How to verify"
    }
  ],
  "rows": [
    {
      "stage": "Manuscript",
      "check": "Book-part order",
      "pass_condition": "Front matter, body, and back matter are intentional and complete",
      "failure_signal": "Duplicate title pages, missing copyright page, or accidental blank content",
      "verification": "Structural review against the production outline"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Layout",
      "check": "Trim dimensions",
      "pass_condition": "Every interior page matches the selected finished trim or bleed page size",
      "failure_signal": "Previewer rescales the interior or reports a size mismatch",
      "verification": "Inspect PDF page boxes and platform selection"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Layout",
      "check": "Inside margin",
      "pass_condition": "Inside live area clears the current minimum for final page count",
      "failure_signal": "Text enters the gutter safety area",
      "verification": "Measure the final PDF and compare with current platform table"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Layout",
      "check": "Outside safety",
      "pass_condition": "All non-bleed content remains inside the safe area",
      "failure_signal": "Text, folios, or rules sit close to trim",
      "verification": "Overlay trim and safety guides"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Layout",
      "check": "Bleed intent",
      "pass_condition": "Bleed is either absent everywhere or correctly added where artwork reaches trim",
      "failure_signal": "White hairlines or clipped edge art",
      "verification": "Inspect every full-bleed page at 200% zoom"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Typography",
      "check": "Font licensing and embedding",
      "pass_condition": "Fonts permit the use and are embedded in the final PDF",
      "failure_signal": "Substitution, missing glyphs, or upload font warning",
      "verification": "PDF font-properties inspection plus license record"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Typography",
      "check": "Widows, orphans, and stranded lines",
      "pass_condition": "Visible page endings and openings meet the book’s editorial standard",
      "failure_signal": "Single lines or headings separated from following text",
      "verification": "Page-by-page visual pass"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Typography",
      "check": "Running matter",
      "pass_condition": "Folios and running heads appear only where intended",
      "failure_signal": "Page number on display pages or wrong chapter title in header",
      "verification": "Review front matter, chapter openings, blanks, and body spreads"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Images",
      "check": "Effective resolution",
      "pass_condition": "Raster assets retain suitable effective resolution at placed size",
      "failure_signal": "Soft print, pixelation, or upload quality warning",
      "verification": "Preflight effective DPI, not source-file DPI alone"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Images",
      "check": "Color intent",
      "pass_condition": "Interior color treatment matches the selected ink and paper workflow",
      "failure_signal": "Unexpected grayscale conversion or color shift",
      "verification": "Inspect separations/profile and order a proof"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Export",
      "check": "Page count and parity",
      "pass_condition": "Final count is supported by the selected print option and intentionally even where required",
      "failure_signal": "Unexpected inserted blank or rejected page range",
      "verification": "Count the exported PDF, not the source document"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Export",
      "check": "No security restrictions",
      "pass_condition": "PDF opens without password and permits platform processing",
      "failure_signal": "Encrypted-file rejection",
      "verification": "Inspect document security properties"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Export",
      "check": "No unintended marks",
      "pass_condition": "Interior excludes crop marks, registration marks, comments, and editor artifacts",
      "failure_signal": "Marks appear in preview or outside trim",
      "verification": "Inspect page corners and PDF annotations"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Preview",
      "check": "Automated preview",
      "pass_condition": "The platform previewer shows no unresolved blocking errors",
      "failure_signal": "Error marker, scaling, clipped content, or blank-page anomaly",
      "verification": "Review every flagged page and representative unflagged spreads"
    },
    {
      "stage": "Proof",
      "check": "Physical proof",
      "pass_condition": "Binding, gutter, ink, paper, and page rhythm are acceptable in the actual object",
      "failure_signal": "Readable-on-screen layout fails in hand",
      "verification": "Order and annotate a physical proof before wide release"
    }
  ]
}