User Guide

How to use all 12 Preptika Web Tools step by step.

Using the 12 Web Tools

1. PDF Analyzer

Step 1: Upload your file

Drop your PDF document into the designated upload area.

Step 2: Prepress analysis

The tool automatically scans 11 critical points (color profiles, non-outlined fonts, suspect overprint elements, etc.).

Step 3: Clear diagnostic

Read the detailed and straightforward report of errors that could cause print rejections.

2. DPI Checker

Step 1: Import file

Drag and drop your PDF or image into the tool.

Step 2: Resolution verification

The algorithm checks the pixels per inch (DPI) density of every image and vector graphic.

Step 3: Heatmap visualization

View an interactive heatmap showing exactly which areas are low-resolution and could print blurry.

3. Print QR Code

Step 1: Enter link / text

Type the target URL or text you want to encode inside the QR Code.

Step 2: Adjust size

Configure the output size for your page layout.

Step 3: Pure Black download

Download the QR Code in vector format or high-definition in pure black (100% K) to guarantee it doesn't smudge during printing.

4. Spine Calculator

Step 1: Page count input

Enter the total page count of your booklet or book.

Step 2: Choose paper stock

Select a preset paper type or enter your paper's caliper (volume) manually in custom mode.

Step 3: Spine thickness result

The exact spine width needed for your cover artwork is calculated in real-time in millimeters.

5. TAC Simulator

Step 1: Select PDF

Choose the PDF artwork file you want to check.

Step 2: Ink limit check

The tool calculates the Total Area Coverage (CMYK) to ensure it stays below printer safety thresholds (typically 300%).

Step 3: Locate risk zones

View a mapping of high ink density zones to correct your color mix before printing.

6. PDF Compressor

Step 1: Drop file

Select your oversized PDF document.

Step 2: Choose optimization level

Select the level of file size reduction desired.

Step 3: High-quality compression

The tool compresses image streams while preserving optimal resolution and metadata required for printing.

7. PDF Merger

Step 1: Select files

Choose the separate PDF documents you want to combine.

Step 2: Arrange order

Drag and drop the thumbnails to arrange the exact page sequence.

Step 3: Combine

Confirm to instantly merge them into a single, clean PDF.

8. CMYK Preview

Step 1: Upload RGB content

Select an image or a PDF that is set in the RGB screen profile.

Step 2: Dynamic slider comparison

Drag the slider back and forth to compare color differences.

Step 3: Print simulation

See exactly how bright RGB colors convert and appear in CMYK print inks (e.g. FOGRA39).

9. PDF Resizer

Step 1: Upload file

Import your PDF file with mismatched page dimensions.

Step 2: Choose target layout

Select a standard finished size (A3, A4, A5, Letter...) or enter custom dimensions in mm.

Step 3: Resize and download

Download the document resized to fit your selected format.

10. PDF Cleaner

Step 1: Import document

Select a PDF containing incorrect printer marks, bleed lines, or unnecessary metadata.

Step 2: Auto cleaning

The tool cleans out extraneous data and trims elements extending beyond the safety box.

Step 3: Export clean PDF

Download a pristine file, ready to be incorporated in your designs.

11. Pantone Tracker

Step 1: Upload PDF

Import your design layout that might contain Pantone spot inks.

Step 2: Scan layers

The tracker scans the file to locate all custom spot channels.

Step 3: Neon tracking view

Spot colors are rendered in high-visibility neon colors on screen, making them easy to track before plate creation.

12. Bleed & Crop Marks

Step 1: Upload PDF

Select your PDF which is trimmed tight with no safety margin.

Step 2: Define margin size

Enter the required bleed margin (typically 2 mm or 3 mm).

Step 3: Generate crop marks

The tool extends the artwork by mirroring the border pixels and adds standard crop marks.

Security & Trust

🛡️ Privacy & Zero Retention

Your files and designs belong to you alone. All documents uploaded to Preptika Web Tools are processed entirely in-memory. No files are stored long-term, resold, or used for AI training. They are permanently deleted from our secure servers as soon as processing is complete.

💳 Safe Transactions & Payments

All token purchases are handled end-to-end by our PCI-DSS compliant Merchant of Record, Lemon Squeezy. No credit card details transit or are stored on our servers. Your purchased credits are immediately available on your user dashboard.

Usage & Common Questions

Why is my printer rejecting my PDF?

The most common reasons for rejection are missing bleed zones (which can leave white edges after trimming), thin text styled in rich black (which smudges due to plate misalignment), or ink coverage (TAC) exceeding standard limits (preventing paper drying). Preptika corrects these issues automatically.

Desktop apps vs. Web tools?

Our Windows desktop apps (available on the Microsoft Store) do all processing locally on your computer without transmitting any data. Our **Web Tools** (SaaS) process files on secure servers with zero retention, and can be accessed from any operating system (Mac, Linux, iPad) directly in your browser.

What if a processing error occurs?

If your PDF fails to process, verify that it isn't password protected and that it opens normally in a PDF reader. If the problem persists, please get in touch with us through our contact form so our prepress team can look into it.