Vol. 1 / Issue 14

What are “Proofs” ?

A proof is a way of ensuring that we have set your type and images accurately and that everything is positioned according to your requirements. It serves as an agreement between customer and printer and as a color reference guide for adjusting the printer before the final job is run. Typically when we produce a proof it will be sent to your email or printed on paper with a physical or hard-copy proof, which can be viewed in our facility or delivered to you in person. Email proofs are usually sent as a PDF file. Physical proofs are usually done on the paper or material specified for the job and from the equipment that will ultimately print it. Hard-copy proofing usually involves laser printing to produce high-quality one-off copies of the production artwork. The main objective of proofing is to produce either a soft or hard copy of what the final product will be produced.

Do you proof my files before they print?

We work very hard to ensure complete accuracy of each and every job. Proofing is the last step before your file is printed. We always try to catch human errors or any computer bugs from programming code in a program. However once you approve the file for printing via email, in person or electronic form submission we are not responsible for any errors in your file. Client approval is mandatory before a job is printed. Which is why we always ask you to approve your file before production. We strongly recommend that you print and proof your file internally prior to sending it to our company. It can be valuable to have co-workers review and get their input to help expedite the proofing and production process in this fast pace, quick turn environment.

Why do you need my approval to print my file?

When we open your document, the formatting and fonts may change in files that are not in a PDF format.  Even if you send us a PDF, colors sometimes look different on your computer screen than they do when they are printed. Typos can happen and checking a proof gives you another chance to catch them before production.

Why doesn’t my printed piece match what I see on my monitor?

Every monitor is different and the same file will look different on each. This is also true with digital printing. The file may look one way on your monitor but after the file is processed the image/file is “rasterized” which can cause variations in colors. Our knowledgeable and experienced crew will ensure that your final product is properly color matched. When the color is not a solid color such as cyan, magenta, yellow or black (halftones, or combinations of colors) digital printing uses dots of those colors to make all other colors. This is why we suggest doing a physical proof (not an email proof) of your file before proceeding with the whole job to ensure you know what will be produced and be the final product. If you have any questions about the proofing process, please contact us today and let one of our experienced staff help you get started.