Free Print Production Project Template
A print production project covers intake, layout, colour prep, preflight, printer sign-off, and handover steps for taking artwork to press.
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The files look fine on a screen, but the press run is where small misses turn into muddy images, off blacks, and trims that drift. The Print Production Project project keeps print work moving in one place, from the first brief through prepress and printer sign-off, so the handoffs don’t rely on memory or a half-updated thread.
The board reads like a production pipeline. Each column holds the checks that answer the questions buyers always raise, like which formats are actually usable, who owns prepress, how colour gets handled on paper, and who talks to the printworks. The deep blue and burnt-sienna palette sits under Raleway headings and Roboto body text, so the board stays legible when the work gets technical... and when somebody needs an answer quickly.
- Project intake Collect the brief, source files, and printer specs, then confirm the technical requirements before any layout work starts.
- Artwork and layout Keep design and production artwork together, including dielines, catalogues, and other print layouts that need to survive prepress.
- Preflight and proofs Track press-ready exports, preflight checks, and proof submissions so approval doesn’t get separated from the files.
- Printer liaison and amends Capture proof feedback, apply amends, and record press sign-off so the final export matches what the printer approved.
- Handover and close Deliver final packages, archive masters and notes, and move the job through the last admin steps before closing.
Once the template is in Plutio, the board runs as a project with 19 cards already placed in order. You add your own dates, assign the work to the right people, and then track each stage through to handover and close, including the final invoice step.
We went from spending hours on every proposal to creating fully customized ones in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration - we timed it.
What is on this board
6 columns carrying 19 cards. Adding it builds the whole thing as a project in your workspace, with every column and card in place.
| Column | What is in it |
|---|---|
Project intake | The column holds the intake cards for the brief, source assets, and printer requirements, leaving you to confirm the specs before the rest of the work starts.
|
Artwork and layout | The column tracks artwork rebuilds and layout tasks for print and editorial work, so the production files stay tied to the design decisions they came from.
|
Image and colour prep | The column covers CMYK image prep, profiles, and black build, which means colour decisions get handled before proofs start coming back.
|
Preflight and proofs | The column carries preflight, PDF/X packaging, and proof submissions, so the printer sees the right export and the checks are recorded against it.
|
Printer liaison and amends | The column keeps proof feedback, amends, and sign-off in one run of cards, leaving a clear trail from printer notes to the final files.
|
Handover and close | The column finishes the job with delivery, archiving, and closing steps, including the card that issues the final invoice in invoicing.
|
What happens when you install it
- A project is created with its board, 6 columns and 19 cards already there.
- Nothing carries a due date, because a board holds the order the work runs in rather than a calendar. The dates go on once you know when the job starts.
- Every card opens as a task with its own description, assignee, dates, subtasks and files, and columns are renamed, reordered or deleted like any other.
Who it is for
Print designers, packaging design studios, and print & editorial teams who need a repeatable board for taking artwork through prepress and press approval.
Questions about this project template
What’s the difference between a print production project and a design project?
A print production project follows the work after design decisions exist, focusing on specs, preflight, proofs, and printer sign-off. The board structure reflects that handoff from artwork to press-ready delivery.
Does the board include colour and black build checks?
Yes, the workflow includes an image and colour prep stage that covers CMYK prep, profiles, and black build. Those steps sit before preflight and proofs, where they matter most.
Does the workflow cover preflight and PDF/X exports?
Yes, the board includes a preflight and proofs stage that calls out PDF/X press packages and preflight checks. The related cards keep exports and proof submissions tied to the same job.
Who is supposed to talk to the printer on a job like this?
The board includes a printer liaison stage, which is where proof feedback, amends, and sign-off get tracked. The assignments on those cards make it clear who owns the conversation.
Does this template include dates and a schedule?
No, the board carries the order of the work rather than a calendar. You add your own dates based on the press slot, proof turnaround, and internal review timing.
Can the same workflow be used for packaging and editorial print?
Yes, the artwork and layout stage covers both packaging dielines and print & editorial layouts like brochures and catalogues. The rest of the stages still apply because preflight, proofs, and printer sign-off don’t change.
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