Exporting a Print PDF from Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop is best used for image-based or single-page designs. For multi-page projects, Adobe InDesign is usually a better tool.

Prepare the File

• set the document resolution to 300 PPI
• convert the document to CMYK Colour
• if bleed is required, extend the canvas size to include the bleed area

Save as PDF

Go to File > Save As and choose Photoshop PDF.

Adobe PDF Preset

Choose [Press Quality] to fill in most of the recommended export settings.

General Settings

• leave Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities unchecked to keep file size lower
• set compatibility to Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3) or above

Compression

• downsample images to 300 PPI for anything above 450 PPI
• choose JPEG compression
• set quality to Maximum

Marks and Bleeds

Photoshop does not automatically add marks and bleeds in the same way as InDesign, so you need to build the bleed into the document yourself.

Make sure all critical content stays inside the safe area.

Output

• set colour conversion to Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers)
• use FOGRA39 for coated stocks
• use FOGRA29 for uncoated stocks
• include the destination profile

Security

You can set passwords or permissions if needed, although this is uncommon for print-ready PDFs.

Final Check

Save the PDF and open it in a viewer to confirm the artwork, colours, and bleed all look correct.