PDF Tools
PDF Print Production API Overview
The PDF Print Production API prepares PDFs for professional printing with precise control over page geometry, color, and output compliance. Enforce standard or custom trim sizes using multiple measurement units, define bleed on all sides, and generate bleed content using mirror image or pixel repeat modes. Add production marks such as trim marks, registration marks, tint bars, and optional slug text for job identification. Manage color spaces including RGB, sRGB, CMYK, and Gray, and embed industry-standard PDF Output Intents such as FOGRA, GRACoL, SWOP, and Japan Color for print consistency. Custom ICC profiles are supported when required. Optimize output by downsampling images, setting target resolution, and selecting precise page ranges, making the tool ideal for automated, print-ready PDF workflows at scale.
Precise Trim and Bleed Control
Enforce standard or custom trim sizes, define bleed, and generate bleed content using mirror image or pixel repeat modes.
Production Marks and Slugs
Add trim marks, registration marks, tint bars, and optional slug text to meet professional print house and prepress requirements.
Color Management and Output Intents
Convert and embed color spaces including RGB, sRGB, CMYK, and Gray, and set industry-standard or custom ICC OutputIntent profiles.
Print-Ready PDF Compliance
Prepare PDFs suitable for professional printing workflows, including output intent embedding and controlled rasterization.
Customizable Parameters
Fine-tune your automation with these powerful conversion options
File
File Supported formats: .pdfFile to be converted. Value can be URL or file content.
Password
StringSets the password to open protected PDF.
TrimSize
Collection Default: defaultPage size to enforce on every page. Default keeps each page’s current size; Custom activates TrimWidth / TrimHeight.
TrimWidth
IntegerWidth of Trim Box in millimeters (mm) when TrimSize is set to Custom.
TrimHeight
IntegerWidth of Trim Box in millimeters (mm) when TrimSize is set to Custom.
BleedTop
Integer Default: 3Thickness of bleed added above the Trim Box (top edge). Specify a single numeric value in millimeters (mm) to extend the page beyond the trim area at the top for full-bleed printing.
Range: 0 .. 30BleedRight
Integer Default: 3Thickness of bleed added to the right of the Trim Box (right edge). Specify a single numeric value in millimeters (mm) to extend the page beyond the trim area on the right for full-bleed printing.
Range: 0 .. 30BleedBottom
Integer Default: 3Thickness of bleed added below the bottom of the Trim Box (bottom edge). Specify a single numeric value in millimeters (mm) to extend the page beyond the trim area at the bottom for full-bleed printing.
Range: 0 .. 30BleedLeft
Integer Default: 3Thickness of bleed added to the left of the Trim Box (left edge). Specify a single numeric value in millimeters (mm) to extend the page beyond the trim area on the left for full-bleed printing.
Range: 0 .. 30BleedMode
Collection Default: noneDefines how additional bleed content is generated when bleed is requested. Choose Mirror to mirror page content outward into the bleed area for a realistic full-bleed preview, Stretch to extend edge pixels into the bleed, or None to disable bleed fabrication.
TrimMarks
Bool Default: FalseAdds crop marks outside the Bleed Box.
RegistrationMarks
Bool Default: FalseAdds registration targets centred ≥3mm outside Bleed Box on each edge.
Slug
StringText placed on the bottom of the Media Box (e.g., printed file name, order number, customer information, etc.).
TintBars
Bool Default: FalseAdds grayscale and color control bars at the top of the page, positioned outside the Trim Box.
ColorSpace
Collection Default: defaultSet PDF color space. The Default option leaves the color space as is.
OutputIntent
Collection Default: noneEmbeds ICC profile as PDF OutputIntent. Choosing Custom requires OutputIntentIccFile to be provided.
OutputIntentIccFile
File Supported formats: .iccEmbeds ICC profile as PDF OutputIntent. Required when OutputIntent is set to custom.
EmbedFonts
Bool Default: TrueEmbed fonts in PDF.
SubsetFonts
Bool Default: TrueInclude in the output PDF document only the font characters that are used in the original document.
DownsampleImages
Bool Default: FalseReduces images above resolution to save file size.
Resolution
Integer Default: 300Target resolution (PPI) used for rasterization tasks such as bleed fabrication and image downsampling.
Range: 10 .. 800PageRange
String Default: 1-lastSet page range to convert. The parameter understands digits and keywords such as even, odd, and last (for example: 1,2,5-last). Regardless of the range specified, a maximum of 100 pages will be processed per conversion.
StoreFile
Bool Default: FalseWhen the StoreFile parameter is set to True, your converted file is written to ConvertAPI’s encrypted, temporary storage and made available via a time-limited secure download URL, valid for up to 3 hours. After this period, the file is permanently deleted.
When StoreFile is set to False, conversion happens entirely in-memory. The raw file bytes are streamed back in the API response without touching disk or external storage, ensuring maximum security and zero persistence so that only you can access the content.
Integrate using REST-API
Ready-to-run code samples for quick conversion and automation.
Preflight Features
The PDF Print Production tool takes an existing PDF and applies print-specific adjustments in a single conversion. This includes page size normalization, bleed handling, production marks, color space conversion, and image optimization.
Instead of exporting PDFs and fixing them afterward, print-ready output becomes part of the generation process itself.
Trim & Page Size Control
You can enforce standard print formats such as A2–A6, Letter, or Legal, or define custom trim sizes using exact measurements. Units can be specified in pt, in, mm, or cm, depending on your workflow.
If needed, the original trim size can also be left unchanged, making it easy to adapt the API to different input sources.
Bleed Handling
Bleed is essential for professional printing, especially for full-page designs.
With the PDF Print Production API, bleed can be set independently for each side of the page. When bleed content doesn’t exist in the original PDF, it can be generated automatically using BleedMode:
- Mirror - reflects edge pixels for a natural continuation
- Stretch - extends page content into the bleed area
This avoids visible white edges after trimming.
Production Marks
The API can automatically add common production marks required in print workflows:
- Trim marks (
TrimMarks) for cutting guidance - Registration marks (
RegistrationMarks) for color alignment - Tint bars (
TintBars) for color control - Slug text (
Slug) for job identifiers, filenames, or internal notes
All marks are applied consistently and positioned correctly for print output.
Color Management
Print workflows often require specific color spaces. The API allows you to enforce:
Default(no changes)RGBCMYKGrayscale
This helps ensure compatibility with printing equipment and avoids unexpected color shifts.
Image Optimization & Resolution
To keep PDFs efficient without sacrificing quality, the API supports:
- Image downsampling to reduce file size
- Resolution control (PPI) for rasterization tasks
- Proper handling of images generated during bleed creation
This is especially useful for high-volume processing where performance matters.
Fully featured code snippet example
Below is a complete code snippet example specifying trim size, bleed size, bleed mode, and other preflight properties:
curl -X POST https://v2.convertapi.com/convert/pdf/to/print \
-H "Authorization: Bearer api_token" \
-F "File=@/path/to/my_file.pdf" \
-F "StoreFile=true" \
-F "MeasurementUnit=in" \
-F "TrimSize=a4" \
-F "BleedTop=0.125" \
-F "BleedRight=0.125" \
-F "BleedBottom=0.125" \
-F "BleedLeft=0.125" \
-F "BleedMode=mirror" \
-F "TrimMarks=true" \
-F "RegistrationMarks=true" \
-F "Slug=Order #12345 - FOGRA51 - Trim 210x297" \
-F "TintBars=true" \
-F "ColorSpace=cmyk" \
-F "DownsampleImages=true" \
-F "Resolution=300" That's all it takes to automate the preparation of a polished, print-ready PDF!
Integrate within minutes
Easy PDF Print Production automation using our simple REST-API
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