lintPDF
A linter for print PDFs. Catches the things that break presses before they break presses.
What it is
lintPDF is a personal project I’m building to catch print-PDF problems before files reach a press. Trapping issues, font embedding gaps, color profile mismatches, page-size inconsistencies — the recurring failures that delay every print job at least once a month.
It runs as a CLI for shops that integrate it into their pre-press workflow, and as a hosted check at lintpdf.com for one-off files.
Why I built it
Existing PDF preflight tools are either expensive enterprise products with steep learning curves, or web-based “does it open?” checkers that miss the actual print-floor problems. I wanted something that:
- Knows what a press operator looks for, not just what the PDF spec allows.
- Reports problems in language a CSR or production manager can act on — not a flag dump.
- Runs locally so files don’t leave the shop’s network when that matters.
Status
Shipping incremental updates as I learn more from the shops using it. The hosted version handles ad-hoc checks; the CLI is the integration path for shops that want it in their pipeline.