DTF Glossary
Preflight
Preflight is the structured check performed before release to find file and layout conditions that may make output wrong: physical size, effective resolution, alpha, colour metadata, artwork bounds, overlaps, off-sheet placement, white source, spots, mirror state, and RIP handoff. A finding is evidence for review, not automatic customer approval.
In practice
Good preflight is staged. Check the approved source, the prepared canonical item, the complete packed sheet, and the exported artefact in the target queue. Each boundary can introduce a different failure.
NestSheet surfaces advisory preflight information rather than using it as a universal production gate. Operators can continue, so the shop must define its own release criteria and waiver record.