Development of a Python-Based Prepress Application for Document Color and Size Conversion in Print-Ready Files

Abstract

The prepress stage plays a critical role in ensuring the feasibility of design documents before entering the printing process, helping prevent printing defects. However, the conventional checking and processing of print-ready documents are still performed manually, leading to time inefficiency. At the same time, commercially available software in the current industry tends to be costly and possesses complex system architectures. Therefore, this study aims to design a simpler Python-based prepress application to validate color modes and perform automatic paper-size conversions. The method employed is experimental, utilizing a Research and Development (R&D) approach. The program was designed using the Python programming language, leveraging the PyMuPDF library for internal metadata extraction and CustomTkinter for the graphical user interface (GUI) design. Testing of the conversion results was conducted by comparing parameters against Adobe Photoshop, alongside assessing the system's computational processing speed within the application. The results indicate that
the application successfully extracted document metadata, converted color modes into pure CMYK, and adjusted paper dimensions accurately. This study concludes that the developed Python-based preflight application is capable of streamlining the workflow of printready document inspections, minimizing the risk of human error, and enhancing prepress production time efficiency for small to mediumscale printing industries.