Open source · API-first · PDF + plate / tooling preflight · detection-only

PDF preflight, detection-only.

lintPDF inspects your files against 500+ checks — fonts, color spaces, images, transparency, overprint, page geometry, ink coverage, packaging dielines, embellishments, and barcodes — plus a 91-check PDF/X-4 conformance suite (ISO 15930-7). It also preflights plate & tooling files (TIFF / LEN separations), compares a plate set against the approved 1-up, re-validates after prep with a spec-drift diff, and scores production-readiness. It finds problems but never modifies your file: your originals stay byte-for-byte identical.

Try the live demo Start free — hosted SaaS lint-pdf on GitHub →

AGPL-3.0 · 500+ checks · PDF/X-1a · PDF/X-3 · PDF/X-4 · PDF/A · GWG 2022

How it works

From upload to actionable report

lintPDF answers one question, headlessly: is this PDF print-ready, and if not, exactly what's wrong and where? It reports the findings — it never touches your file.

Submit your file

POST a PDF (or EPS, PostScript, TIFF, JPEG, PNG — converted internally) and pick a ruleset. One request to submit, one to fetch the report.

Preflight

lintPDF runs 500+ checks across fonts, color, images, transparency, geometry, and packaging — plus the PDF/X-4 conformance suite. Detection-only: your file is never modified.

Get the report

Findings come back as JSON, XML, or a white-labeled PDF report — each with page and location data so an operator sees exactly what's wrong and where.

Review & share

Render findings in the viewer, mint share links, and fire webhooks when a report is ready. Import upstream PitStop / callas / Acrobat reports too.

Everything PDF preflight needs

Built for web-to-print platforms, packaging houses, and publishing workflows that demand precision without lock-in.

Detection-only — never mutates your PDF

lintPDF reads the file and reports what's wrong; it never writes. Your originals stay byte-for-byte identical — no silent fixes, no re-distillation, no quietly-changed metadata. Zero risk of file damage.

500+ checks + PDF/X-4 conformance

Fonts, color spaces, images, transparency, overprint, page geometry, ink coverage (TAC), packaging dielines, and barcode grading — plus a dedicated 91-check PDF/X-4 conformance suite (ISO 15930-7). Every detail that matters for print.

Rulesets & conditional rules

Pre-built profiles for GWG Sheetfed, GWG Digital, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/A, and packaging workflows. A conditional rule engine lets you build dynamic rulesets with the exact pass/fail logic you need.

Placement-aware image resolution

Effective DPI is measured at each image's actual rendered size on the page — not the declared resolution. Catches images that look fine at 300 DPI but print blurry because they've been scaled up.

API-first, with imports & webhooks

POST a file, GET the report as JSON, XML, or a white-labeled PDF. Already running PitStop, callas pdfToolbox, or Acrobat Preflight? Import their XML/JSON reports. Webhooks fire the instant a report is ready — no polling.

Plate & tooling preflight

Preflight raster plate / tooling files (TIFF + LEN separations) over the same engine — resolution, minimum dot, registration, dimension agreement, and combined ink coverage. Compare a plate set against the approved 1-up, with or without AI assistance.

Re-validate, spec-drift & readiness score

After prep, re-validate the file and diff it against the original to catch spec drift, generate deterministic notes-to-prepress annotations, and roll everything into a single production-readiness score — so you know when a job is truly ready to print.

Self-host or hosted

AGPL-3.0 open source you can run on Docker or Railway, or use managed Print With Synergy hosting — the same preflight engine, managed and metered. Built on codex-powered extraction, so every check reads the same document facts.

Simple, usage-ready pricing

Run preflight as a managed hosted add-on, or self-host the open source for free.

Lint Preflight

Hosted add-on

$99 /month

adds to the Codex à la carte base · or self-host free (AGPL-3.0)

Start with lintPDF

500+ preflight checks + the 91-check PDF/X-4 conformance suite
Pre-built rulesets: GWG Sheetfed/Digital, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/A
JSON, XML, and white-labeled PDF reports with page + location data
Import upstream PitStop, callas pdfToolbox, and Acrobat reports
Detection-only: your files are never modified

Open source · managed hosting

Independent tools. Pick the ones you need.

A toolkit of focused, standalone PDF utilities — extraction, preflight, viewing, assembly, imposition planning, and an asset store. Each one plugs into the prepress workflow you already run. Use the open source yourself, or let us host any single tool for you on host.withsynergy.io.