Profile vs Preset
Preflight Profile
Inspects a file against checks and reports pass / warn / reject. Runs at intake, while the customer waits.
Optimization Preset
Unconditionally transforms a file to a target shape. Runs in processing, or on demand as a job.
What a preset can do
A preset bundles any of these transforms:| Transform | What it does |
|---|---|
| Scale images | Downsample images to a target resolution (e.g. 300 DPI). |
| Compression | Re-encode images — JPEG/JPEG2000 quality, JBIG2/CCITT for bitonal. |
| Color conversion | Convert to a target space (e.g. CMYK), handle spot colors and overprint. |
| Gray to 1-bit | Convert grayscale to bitonal (optionally Otsu). |
| Text to outlines | Outline text — all, or non-embedded only. |
| Flatten layers | Flatten optional content (layers) into a single layer. |
| Hairlines | Thicken thin strokes to a minimum width (e.g. 0.25 pt). |
| Strip | Remove thumbnails, annotations, form fields, JavaScript, attachments, private data, and more. |
Create one
Create the preset
Go to Library → Optimization Presets and create a new preset. Name it for its purpose (e.g. Web-safe 150 DPI, Press CMYK 300).
Enable the transforms you need
Turn on each transform and set its parameters — target resolution, color target, JPEG quality, minimum hairline width, and so on. Everything left off passes through untouched.
Where presets are used
In a Workflow
Select the preset in a workflow’s optimize step. Files are reshaped during processing, after the trigger.
As a one-off job
Run Optimize a PDF File from the Jobs screen to apply a preset to a single file and download the result immediately.
Because presets are independent, the same preset can be reused anywhere a forced output is required, without being tied to a specific rule or workflow.