Every check that actually causes rejections or print disasters, not a generic PDF validator.
CriticalICC color profiles
Embedded ICC profiles cause IngramSpark and B&N Press to reject the file outright.
Auto-fixed: replaced with device colorspaces
CriticalFont embedding
The #1 rejection reason. Unembedded fonts get substituted at press, your whole book prints in the wrong typeface.
Reports exact font names and every affected page
CriticalPDF/X compliance
Transparency, layers, and missing PDF/X-1a tags all trigger automatic rejection. BookReady uses Ghostscript, the same engine professional print shops use, to perform true PDF/X-1a conversion.
Auto-fixed: full Ghostscript PDF/X-1a conversion, fonts embedded, CMYK converted, transparency flattened
CriticalSpot / Pantone colors
Pantone swatches from a designer's template cause color shift or outright rejection on POD platforms.
Auto-fixed: converted to CMYK equivalents
CriticalEncryption & passwords
A locked PDF can't be processed by any platform. Happens more often than you'd think when exporting from certain apps.
Auto-fixed: encryption removed
CriticalPage count (even/odd)
Print books must have an even page count. Odd count means a blank final page or platform rejection.
Flagged with exact instructions to fix in your source file
ImportantImage resolution (300 DPI)
Images below 300 DPI print blurry. Flags exactly which pages are affected and how far below spec.
Reports page numbers and actual DPI per image
ImportantBleed & margins
Wrong bleed width or missing TrimBox means content gets cut off at the trim line.
Auto-fixed: TrimBox corrected to platform spec
ImportantColor mode
RGB images in a B&W interior get charged at color print rates, which can add $3–6 per copy to your printing cost.
Flags exact pages so you can fix at source
ImportantPage size consistency
A single page pasted from a different template at a slightly different size causes binding failures.
Auto-fixed: outlier pages normalized to majority size
ImportantActive hyperlinks
Clickable links are flagged by print platforms and don't function in a physical book anyway.
Auto-fixed: annotations stripped, URL text preserved
ImportantJavaScript & forms
Interactive elements are invisible in print and cause automatic rejection on upload.
Auto-fixed: all interactive elements removed
PolishSpine width calculator
Calculates exact spine width in inches and mm across all 4 paper stocks, before you order your cover.
Included in every scan report automatically
PolishCrop marks
IngramSpark adds its own trim guides. Crop marks in the file cause double-marking and misaligned trimming.
Detected and flagged with re-export instructions
PolishOverprint settings
Wrong overprint mode causes white halos around text on colored backgrounds and CMYK color shifts at press.
OPM auto-corrected where possible
PolishDocument metadata
Missing title/author metadata shows up in library catalogs. Trial app watermarks look unprofessional.
Reports what's missing and exactly how to add it
ImportantTotal Ink Coverage (TIC)
Ink density over the platform limit (typically 240–300%) causes smearing, offset, and rejection on coated stock.
Measured per page; flagged where it exceeds spec
PolishTrim size match
A PDF page size that doesn't match your chosen trim gets scaled or rejected at upload.
Compared against the platform's supported trim sizes