Production Files | Pressley

Getting started

How to Submit Files

Same naming as proofs - see PDF Workflow or proof submit examples.

Single-sided: 26200 1.pdf (order, space, line)
Double-sided: 26200 1 a.pdf and 26200 1 b.pdf

Spaces only - no dashes in the filename.

Same file naming for PDF proofs and production files.

Pressley Drop and Ship screen showing how to name and submit PDF files — Name it right, drop it in - production files and proofs follow automatically.

What Pressley Automatically Does

After scale and resolution checks, Pressley builds RIP-ready output from your shopVOX specs.

Adds finishing marks from your shopVOX specs - grey fold lines, multicolored grommet marks, and more
Smart tagline orientation - top tag on the left, reading up for the press operator; bottom tag on the right, reading down for finishers on the roll (a huge shop-floor time saver)
Automatic cutting paths at the mathematical edge of the artwork (trim bleed) - or use Cut to Bleed when your job needs it
Non-destructive PDFs - open the file as your client supplied it, or view it with Pressley's production changes applied
Builds true double-sided production files - A and B sides paired, collated, and RIP-ready with marks and registration handled automatically (one of the biggest time savers in the shop). Pressley is not imposition software.
Multi-page, single-sided PDFs - drop one file with the same finishing on every page; Pressley applies it page after page at full processor speed, without stopping between pages
Supports “Print As Is” (PAIS) mode for complex or nested jobs that should bypass full automation

Shop-floor clarity

Finishing Marks You Can Read at a Glance

Pressley applies the finishing marks your job calls for - drawn from shopVOX so they match what production and finishing expect.

Grey lines - fold lines
Multicolored marks - grommet placement

Production file showing grey fold lines and multicolored grommet finishing marks — Consistent mark types every time - no guessing on the shop floor.

Production PDF with automatically generated cutting path at the mathematical edge of the artwork — Click to enlarge.

Trim & finish

Automatic Cutting Paths

Pressley generates a cutting path wherever the mathematical edge of the image ends - so excess bleed is trimmed cleanly without manual contour work.

When your shop needs the knife on the bleed instead, Cut to Bleed is available. Existing client-supplied cut contours are preserved when already supplied.

Your artwork stays intact

Non-Destructive Production PDFs

PDFs Pressley creates are non-destructive. Your client's original art is not baked in and lost - finishing, marks, and structure are layered on top.

In Illustrator (and compatible tools), you can choose to open the file the way it was or with Pressley's changes visible - full flexibility for troubleshooting, tweaks, or client review.

Illustrator prompt to open a Pressley production PDF with or without applied changes — Choose original artwork only, or see everything Pressley added.

Huge time saver

Double-Sided Production, Done for You

Manually pairing A and B sides, collating multi-page jobs, and adding marks can eat serious prepress time. Pressley reads your shopVOX specs and outputs collated, RIP-ready double-sided PDFs - so prepress skips the repetitive pairing work and moves on to what needs a human eye.

Correct A/B pairing and collation from your job data - every page in print order
Instance-based double-sided PDFs - Side B linked once, not copied and flipped on every edge (keeps file sizes practical)
Multi-page jobs built as RIP-ready production PDFs (not sheet imposition)
Finishing marks, bleeds, cut contours, and press/finishing taglines applied consistently every run

From Client PDFs to Press-Ready Sheets

Drop in the plain PDFs your client sent - no finishing marks, no flipped pockets, no manual pairing. Pressley converts them into precise, collated, RIP-ready production files. The technical barriers disappear; the output matches your shop rules every time.

What your client sends

Client PDF side A with no finishing marks — Original artwork only - exactly as received.

Client PDF side B with no finishing marks — Back side, separate file - no alignment work done yet.

What Pressley delivers

Click any screenshot to enlarge.

Single-sheet double-sided production file with A over B layout — One sheet, A over B - paired and ready for your RIP.

Single-sheet double-sided production file with finishing marks and bleeds — Same job with marks, bleeds, and cut contours applied automatically.

Smart PDF structure

Double-Sided Without Astronomical File Sizes

The old manual approach for Side A is to copy Side B and flip it on every edge for bleed pockets - which sounds like it should produce a gigantic PDF. Pressley's double-sided technique is different: it links Side B once and uses instances for each flipped bleed placement. Same visual result for the RIP, far smarter file structure.

Submitted double-sided job showing about 240 megabytes combined for Side A and Side B — ~240 MB in - client Side A and Side B together.

Finished double-sided production PDF showing about 522 megabytes output file size — ~522 MB out - full finishing and bleed pockets, not double the artwork data.

Why this matters: Duplicating and flipping full-resolution art on all four bleed edges would balloon file size and slow every RIP. Pressley embeds Side B once and instances it where needed - precise, repeatable, and practical for real production volume.

Proof in Illustrator

Same production file opened in Illustrator - links palette and wireframe view show how instances build the sheet.

Adobe Illustrator preview of production PDF with Links panel showing linked and instanced assets — Preview mode - every link listed, no hidden duplication.

Same Illustrator file in wireframe view proving instance-based double-sided bleed construction — Wireframe - same links, instances placed for flipped bleed pockets.

Huge time saver

Taglines That Work on Press and on the Roll

Your files are tagged automatically: top tag - left side, up; bottom tag - right side, down. Press operators can read the job on the first passes of the head; finishers can read the tag while unrolling - no manual flipping or re-tagging.

Production file top bleed tagline on the left side, oriented up for the press operator — Readable on the first passes of the press head.

Production file bottom bleed tagline on the right side, oriented down for finishers unrolling the roll — Readable when finishers unroll the job from the roll.

Five-page single-sided production PDF with finishing applied to every page — One upload, consistent finishing on every page - no manual step-and-repeat through prepress.

Six-page RIP-ready production PDF with all A sides on the left and all B sides on the right — **Six pages, perfectly collated.** Every page on the left is Side A; every page on the right is Side B - built in client print order and RIP-ready. Pressley pairs and collates; it does not impose sheets onto a press form.

Pressley is not imposition software. It builds production PDFs with correct A/B pairing and collation so work goes straight to the RIP - precise, repeatable, and aligned to shopVOX every time.

Special Capabilities

Automatic Scale Factor

Pressley provides the correct scale for every file - either 1:1 or 1:10 - automatically determined from your shopVOX job data. No manual scale decisions.

File Naming

Strict but clear conventions ensure files are matched correctly.

Separate Proofs

Production files are generated independently from simplified PDF proofs.

Automated Production-Ready Files