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Publishing guides · Proofing and output

Print and PDF checklist for a product catalogue

Freeze approved content, confirm production requirements and inspect the exported product catalogue as a separate final file.

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Written and reviewed by Megal Software Limited. Published . Last reviewed and updated .

Before you output

Printing and PDF export require a paid Professional subscription

You can create and edit your product catalogue for free, and a Free account can view a watermarked print preview. To actually print it or create, export or download a PDF, you must have an active Megal Publisher Professional subscription. You need to be signed in to subscribe. Review the £5.99 monthly and £59.99 yearly choices first; when you select one, sign in or register and Megal Publisher will return you to that exact plan before checkout.

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Practical workflow

Work through the publication in a fixed order

Separate content, structure and proofing decisions so a late correction does not undo earlier work.

Freeze the approved content

Do not begin final output while facts are still moving. Confirm cover and catalogue scope, category navigation, product name and image, features, variants and price and ordering, terms and contact information and record the approved revision. Product codes, variants, dimensions, prices, availability and terms should come from a controlled source rather than retyping. Run spelling, design and accessibility reviews, then save the editable .mpub before creating a PDF. A later correction needs a new proof; editing after approval without repeating review breaks the audit trail.

Confirm production requirements

Check pagination, cross-references, colour expectations, image resolution and the validity period of prices before release. Ask whether the destination expects RGB or process CMYK handling, bleed, crop marks, a particular page size or another PDF standard. Megal Publisher provides PDF output choices, but printer requirements remain external. Crop marks should be added only when requested, and bleed matters only when artwork intentionally extends beyond trim.

Choose the PDF output

For standard PDF output, Megal uses Exact Layout + Search: the browser-rendered page preserves visible appearance while a searchable text layer, tagged structure, image alternatives and safe hyperlinks are added separately. Use this output to share the publication and prepare your final proof.

Inspect the real final file

Open the exported PDF independently. Verify page count, order, size, trim and bleed boxes, text, images, transparency and links. Inspect critical detail at 100 percent and print a representative physical proof where the product catalogue will be printed. Check that the result still avoids allowing each product block to evolve independently until customers can no longer compare like with like. Archive the approved PDF with the editable project and source notes.

Use before sign-off

A short working checklist

Final output checklist

  1. Content, data and revision identity are approved before export.
  2. Page size, orientation, bleed and crop-mark requirements are confirmed.
  3. The selected PDF route matches the priority of editability, search and appearance.
  4. Every exported page is inspected outside the editor.
  5. A physical proof is checked when size, folds, binding or stock matter.
  6. The approved PDF and editable .mpub are archived together.
Keep the source and proof together. Megal Publisher can keep the page objects editable in an .mpub project. Preserve the source facts and the approved output as separate records so later changes can be checked.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about PDF and print compatibility

Does Exact Layout + Search certify a PDF standard?

Exact Layout + Search does not by itself certify PDF/UA or PDF/X compliance. If your printer or recipient requires a particular standard, confirm their requirements and validate the final file through the appropriate preflight process. The final-output checklist above helps you prepare that proof.

Continue the workflow

Related product catalogue guides

Move to the next production decision or compare the same task for another publication format.

Foundational references: Microsoft Publisher alternative · Direct PUB import evidence · Megal Publisher instruction manual.

Make your product catalogue with Megal Publisher

Put this guide into practice: arrange your words and pictures, check the layout and keep an editable .mpub master for your next update. Create and edit for free; subscribe when you need printing, PDF or export.

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