File Editor (formerly File Inspector)

The article covers PrimeCenter V4.6 and later, including PrimeCenter V5.

• In PrimeCenter V4.6, the feature is named File Inspector and focuses on file checking actions.
• In PrimeCenter V5, File Inspector becomes File Editor and adds file editing actions through the Tools panel.

File Editor is a dedicated studio for inspecting individual files, correcting issues, and preparing files for production workflows.

Access File Editor

Open File Editor (formerly File Inspector) from its dedicated icon in the left navigation bar of the PrimeCenter main interface.

1. Import Image Files

This area provides access to file loading, searching, and sorting functions, and supports the same range of input file types as Layout Creator:

• Raster files: JPEG, PNG, PSB, PSD, TIFF

• Vectorial files: AI, EPS, PDF, PS, SVG

    Known limitation

  EPS files cannot be edited with tools unless file optimization is applied during import.

Refer to existing documentation for detailed information on File Manager features.

Edit file dimensions

Introduced in PrimeCenter V4.7.

You can edit file dimensions. As in Layout Creator, these dimensions correspond to the file CropBox (or MediaBox if there is no CropBox). 

Apply automatic actions

Introduced in PrimeCenter V5.0.

Import settings let you automatically apply actions to all imported files.

• File optimization: fix PDF boxes and remove unnecessary information.
• Clipping path: preparation for files with open contours, useful for true shape nesting in packaging use cases.

2. Preview Files in Studio

The File Inspector features a dedicated Studio for inspecting individual files in detail. It visually represents various elements within the file, such as Cut Contours and PDF Boxes, each highlighted with a distinct color. This visual representation facilitates a comprehensive assessment of the file’s structure.

The File Inspector studio has the same rules and orientation adjustment capabilities as the Studio from Layout Creator. It also offers the following basic features:

Clipped Preview

The Clipped preview offers a helpful visual check during design:

The feature is disabled by default. When enabled, it temporarily hides content outside of cut contours in the studio preview, providing a visual representation of how the artwork will show up by default in the Layout Creator studio.

Refer to existing documentation for detailed information on the Layout Creator.

3. Detect and Manage contours

The Detected Contours area, as its name suggests, shows you the contours that were detected in the file loaded into the studio.

If the software cannot recognize any contours, a message stating "No cut contour is defined" will be displayed. In these cases:

• You can send your file to a recipe and utilize a check/fix profile to create a contour from a PDF box or from page content.
• Or starting from PrimeCenter V5.0, you can create contour from PDF box or page content directly from the Tools panel.

Cut Contours

At the top, the software shows you those cutting contours whose names match the software's Cut Contours List. 

Other Contours

The File Inspector identifies additional contour types not found in the standard Cut Contours List. These "Other Contours" are not distinct contour types themselves, but may include elements intended for printing or shapes intended for cutting, such as registration marks or boundaries, that were incorrectly named and are therefore unrecognized as cut contours.
 

Unrecognized contours can be converted to Cut Contours by dragging them into the Cut Contours area or using the "Replace with one of my cut contours" option in the 3-dot menu (  ).

The conversion can be reversed by dragging the contours to the "Other Contours" area or using the "Revert to detected contour" option in the 3-dot menu (  ).

Refer to existing documentation for detailed information on Cut Contours.

4. Manage PDF Boxes

This area displays the PDF boxes present within the file. You can manage these boxes, including editing their position and size. The interface also highlights any missing PDF boxes, enabling you to create them using Layout Creator.

Align CropBox with Media Box

This toggle aligns the CropBox to the MediaBox boundaries. When enabled, the CropBox is locked, preventing manual margin adjustments (as it remains aligned with the MediaBox).

PDF Box Details and Editing

Each PDF Box element (e.g., TrimBox, BleedBox, MediaBox, CropBox) is visually represented, displaying its color and name. Clicking an element opens a menu enabling modification of its properties:

• TrimBox Configuration:
  • The menu allows setting the position (x, y) and size (w, h).
  • The "Align to Cut Contours" toggle aligns the TrimBox to the file’s cut contours. This option is disabled if no cut contours are present.
  • If the software cannot find a TrimBox, a message stating "No TrimBox is defined" will be displayed. In this case, you can send your file to a recipe and use the Layout and Editing tools to create one.
• Other PDF Box Configuration:
  • For other PDF Boxes, a margin can be set in millimeters relative to the preceding box (e.g., for a BleedBox, the margin is relative to the TrimBox; for a CropBox, the margin is relative to the BleedBox).
• A "Reset" button restores the element to its default settings.

Refer to existing documentation for detailed information on PDF Boxes.

5. Edit Files with Tools

Introduced in PrimeCenter V5.0.

The Tools panel adds editing capabilities in addition to contour and PDF box checks.

The tools list mainly includes editing tools, and also supports custom profiles and individual file checks.

How editing with Tools works

• Select a tool to automatically add it to the action list.
• Adjust the tool settings.
• Apply one tool directly or apply multiple configured tools at once.
• Review results in the studio preview.

Select a tool

• Quick actions are usage-based and update over time, showing the tools you use most often.
• Or use   Add to open the full tools list.

Apply Status

When you apply a tool, a status immediatly shows you whether the action worked as expected:

•   A check mark means the tool was applied successfully,
•   while a warning mark lets you know that something needs attention.

To protect the integrity of the applied result, tool settings become read-only after application, represented by the lock icon  .

Edit tools settings

Undo

If you want to adjust anything, simply use Undo (Ctrl / Cmd +Z), update your settings, and apply the tool again.

Undo is not limited to tools: it also covers changes made to detected contours and PDF boxes, giving you a consistent way to step back across your edits.

Reset

If you prefer to start over completely, use Reset to clear all applied actions and return to the original file, without deleting it or importing it again.

6. Export Files

You can finalize your work in several ways:

• Send the file to an existing recipe when you already have a prepared workflow.
• Send the file to a new recipe when a dedicated workflow is needed for the current file. (introduced in V5)
• Export as PDF when you need a production output. You can convert the file to a standard PDF.