What’s Changed
Multi-part PDF previews have been improved to properly handle documents that include a mix of page sizes and orientations.
Previously, previews assumed all pages were the same size. This caused issues when working with documents like cover spreads and single-page inserts, where page dimensions differ. Larger pages could appear cropped, while smaller ones could be misaligned.
Now, the preview system detects page sizes on a per-page basis and adjusts automatically. This ensures every page is fully visible and displayed correctly, regardless of size or orientation.
What It Was Like Before
Before this update, the preview was based on the size of the first page uploaded.
If subsequent pages were larger, they wouldn’t fit properly in the preview window. This often resulted in:
- Cropped pages
- Scrollbars to view full content
- Distorted or inconsistent previews
This made it harder for users to confidently review their artwork before placing an order.
How It Works Now
The preview system now intelligently adapts based on the pages in your document.
If all pages are the same size, the preview behaves as expected and uses the standard page flip (booklet-style) view.
If different page sizes are detected, the system automatically switches to a single-page preview mode. Each page is scaled to fit within the preview window, ensuring nothing is cut off.
This happens automatically - no manual configuration is required at the product level.
Feature Enablement
This improvement is controlled by a feature switch:
Multipart:UsePerPagePreviewDimensions
- By default, this setting is disabled
- It can be enabled for specific customers via our internal database - please contact our support team if you wish to enable this setting!
Once enabled, the new preview behaviour will apply to supported MultiPart products.
Where You’ll See the Difference
This is especially useful for products that include:
- Cover spreads and inner pages
- Mixed portrait and landscape pages
- Documents with inserts or varying formats
In these scenarios, previews will now reflect the true layout of the document, making it easier to review and approve artwork.
Tips for Best Results
To get the most out of this improvement, it’s still good practice to structure your products clearly.
If your product includes different sections (such as covers and inner pages), consider separating them logically using MultiPart setup. This works particularly well alongside the improved preview handling.
Also, ensure your PDFs are exported correctly and reflect the intended final layout.
Troubleshooting
If previews still appear cropped or incorrect, the first thing to check is whether the feature switch is enabled.
If the feature is enabled but previews still don’t behave as expected, review the uploaded file to confirm that page sizes are correctly defined within the PDF.
If a document with consistent page sizes is switching to single-page preview, this may indicate hidden inconsistencies in page dimensions.
Summary
This update makes multi-part PDF previews far more accurate when working with mixed page sizes.
By automatically adapting the preview mode and ensuring every page fits correctly, it removes common frustrations like cropping and distortion. The result is a clearer, more reliable preview experience that better reflects the final output.