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Prepress Tool

PDF Coverage Analyzer

Upload a PDF, inspect page-level CMYK coverage, and compare monochrome output without leaving the browser.

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Higher DPI can improve precision, but it also increases processing time.

Method

What the analyzer measures

The tool reports page-level CMYK ink coverage and separately estimates monochrome coverage after converting the original PDF into grayscale.

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Privacy

What happens to uploaded PDFs

This tool is designed around browser-side processing. Review the privacy page for the exact handling model before using it on production documents.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is CMYK ink coverage?
CMYK ink coverage is the percentage of a printed page covered by each ink color — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). It is used by print shops to estimate ink consumption and set accurate pricing for print jobs.
How is ink coverage calculated?
The tool uses Ghostscript's inkcov device to rasterize each PDF page at the selected DPI and measure the average ink density per channel. Results are reported per page and as a document average.
Does the tool upload or store my PDF files?
No. All processing happens entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your PDF never leaves your device and is not sent to any server.
What DPI should I use for analysis?
600 DPI is recommended for most documents and gives accurate results. Use 300 DPI for very large or complex files if you encounter memory errors. Higher DPI improves precision but increases processing time.
What is the difference between 4-color and 1-color printing coverage?
4-color (CMYK) coverage shows ink usage when printing in full color. 1-color (monochrome) coverage shows the equivalent black ink usage after converting the document to grayscale, useful for estimating black-only print costs.
What PDF types are supported?
The tool supports standard PDF files. Encrypted or password-protected PDFs are not supported. Very large files may require a lower DPI setting to process within browser memory limits.
Is the PDF Coverage Analyzer free to use?
Yes, the tool is completely free. No account or registration is required.