Print estimate guide
Build repeatable print estimate inputs from PDFs
Repeatable estimating starts by separating facts from commercial judgment. PDF page dimensions and hashes are facts; stock, setup, waste, finishing, margin and the quoted price belong to the estimator.
Collect one deterministic batch
Choose the customer files or a folder, sort them consistently and keep duplicate copies distinguishable. Record a source hash for every document.
Summarize page and finishing signals
List page counts, size groups, orientation and bleed relationships. Keep mixed sizes and invalid geometry visible instead of normalizing them away.
Separate color classes
Report grayscale, probable color and unknown as different columns. Include the exact page-level reason so another person can challenge or confirm the evidence.
Export a portable handoff
Write readable PDF and Markdown alongside CSV and JSON, then hash every generated artifact. Omit absolute source paths so the handoff does not expose a workstation's folder structure.