First pass: the file
Check the actual export’s pixel dimensions, crop, orientation and format against the printer brief. Confirm the filename and version. Make sure a low-resolution placement reference is not mistaken for the production master. Inspect the whole composition for missing edges or unintended borders. These checks establish technical consistency. They do not prove that enhancement preserved meaning or that the chosen paper will reproduce the image as expected. Keep those decisions separate.
Second pass: the image
Compare meaningful detail with the original source. Inspect text, faces, line shapes and repeated patterns. Note any approved creative changes. Reject unsupported factual reconstruction or changes outside the brief. Use a simple pass, fail or unresolved record rather than a flattering overall score. An image with one incorrect product label can fail its commercial purpose even when most of the picture looks attractive. Do not average that failure away.
Third pass: the physical proof
Use a proof appropriate to the final size and process. Ask the printer how to inspect fine detail at its intended physical scale. Evaluate crop, legibility and color appearance under sensible conditions. A reduced miniature can confirm composition but may conceal detail defects. Record the exact file and proof being approved. If the paper, print size or processing changes materially, decide what must be checked again rather than treating the old approval as unlimited.
A release decision example
A fictional poster passes dimensions and crop, but a detail proof shows altered lettering and an unacceptable color shift. Record two distinct failures: source fidelity and physical appearance. Fix them through the relevant workflow instead of applying another generic enhancement. Reexport and review the changed file. Approve quantity only after the responsible reviewer accepts the actual candidate. Our checklist is a practical editorial aid, not a guarantee that a printer or client will accept every output.
A profile is part of the workflow
The International Color Consortium describes profiles as information used to transform color between device spaces. That supports a workflow-specific handoff, not a universal instruction to convert every image to the same CMYK space. Adobe’s printing guidance likewise separates application and printer color management. Use the receiving printer’s instructions and avoid adding an unverified conversion merely because the result is intended for paper.
Sources used for this page
These records support the facts and comparisons above. Merchant-controlled records are labelled so you can separate product claims from independent evidence.
- Let's Enhance print-preparation help (September 16, 2026) — Merchant documentation · help.letsenhance.io · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-25
- Adobe image size and resolution reference — Merchant documentation · helpx.adobe.com · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-25
- International Color Consortium: device profiles and color transformations — Standards and certification reference · color.org · Publisher independence not verified · checked 2026-09-25
- Adobe print color-management workflow — Platform documentation · helpx.adobe.com · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-25