Seshat checks print files against the order, and fixes them

Every print shop knows the files that arrive: no bleed, a photo far too small, RGB instead of CMYK, A4 artwork for an A5 flyer. Someone in prepress opens each file, fixes it or writes to the customer, and waits. Seshat does that work.

Seshat is named after the Egyptian goddess of writing and measurement, and she is Rekhu's knower of print files.

It understands the order

Seshat checks a file against what was ordered, not against fixed rules. An A4 file for an A5 order is a question ("scale it down?"), not an error code. For every finding Seshat decides:

• Fix: what it can repair safely, such as bleed added by mirroring the edges, a missing trim box, RGB to CMYK or fonts embedded.
• Ask: what is the customer's to choose, such as a photo that will print blurry or text too close to the cut.
• Refuse: what cannot be printed, such as a password-protected or damaged file.

It explains, in the customer's language

Seshat looks at the page as well as the numbers. The customer reads what it found and what it does in plain words, with one clear question when they have to choose. For example: "There is no bleed around your design. We add 3 mm so no white edges appear after cutting."

What it checks and fixes

It checks:

• size, trim and bleed;
• the real resolution of every picture as placed;
• RGB and spot colours, total ink, fonts;
• page count, text that is too small, lines that are too thin;
• white set to overprint, transparency, text near the trim;
• pictures, EPS files and zips of files.

It fixes:

• bleed and size (scale, fit or fill);
• the trim box;
• colours to CMYK;
• fonts.

Text stays text: the fixed file is still vector. A proof shows the page with its trim, bleed and safe zone.

For developers

$check = Rekhu::seshat()->for($user)->check($request->file('artwork'), ['width_mm' => 148, 'height_mm' => 210], explain: true);
$fixed = Rekhu::seshat()->fix($check['file_id'], 'auto', $order);

Install it with composer require rekhu/core and php artisan rekhu:core --install=seshat. Every check is counted per customer, so you can charge your own customers for it.