Printing what is a proof

If artwork has been created using one of the various professional software packages, the chances are the colour and accuracy will be of high importance. The issue designers have with artwork creation is that computer screens do not display true pantone colour.

We discuss the complications of screen colour and working with pantone colours in more detail here Understanding Pantone and Colour , Avoiding the pitfalls of Pantone and CMYK reproduction and Using computer screens for print Why colour and some images on screen are not accurate.

To ensure the best possible end result, accuracy can be improved prior to printing by requesting print proofs — with different options, depending on the level or accuracy required. Printing proofs will give you the opportunity to check you are happy with your design prior to your main order being printed. There are varying levels of proofing options available, with pros and cons to each which we will explain.

Screen proofs use pre-press computer software to check the file has been set up to the correct printing standards. Checks such as image resolution, fonts, colours are set to the correct format, etc. A report is generated which highlights any errors and allows the commercial printer to notify you to correct this. Screen proofs allow you to check that the layout is correct and the fonts, images and indicative colours are as required.

Since ripped PDF proofs are merely screen proofs the colours are not accurate, but with the assistance of any feedback corrections can be made. A minimal set charge may be included in the cost of the printing estimate to cover this, however usually there is no charge. These are printed on paper using inkjet, toner or laser printers. Some people prefer to see printed versions of proofs rather than screen proofs, for this reason most commercial printers will offer this service. For printed jobs that have large page volumes — scatter proofs can be requested which results in just a sample selection of random pages being printed for spot checks.

These proofing methods are known as low resolution proofs since they will not print the exact high quality of graphics and imagery. Pros: Hard proofs are easy to produce and provide the client with a proof nearly identical to the finished product.

Press proofs are made on the same printing press the job will be printed on, offering superior comparisons. Pros: Press proofs are virtually identical to the finished product, ensuring optimal color comparisons. Cons: Press proofs take a considerable amount of time to set up, lowering turnaround times and increasing costs. Below is a list of questions to help guide you through the proofing process. A Ries Graphics printing specialist can help you determine the best proofing method for your project and your budget.

Digital Printing. Your browser does not support the video tag. Click Here for Full HD. Plotter Proof Plotter proofs are hard samples produced on a high-resolution ink jet printer showing how the design created on the computer will print in the final production. Soft Proofs PDF Soft proofs provide the ability to view a simulation of your printed piece on a computer screen.

It is truly the only way to ensure that our customers will end up satisfied with our work. Imagine if you sent a massive job to the press and were upset with how it came out. Now we need to go back to the drawing board. The entire print process would have to start over. Instead, we only need to make minor adjustments between each round of proofs. The end result has more steps but is actually much faster than simply sending a job off to be printed and hoping for the best.

Besides that, there are also major cost savings. Imagine reprinting a million brochures or a hundred thousand pamphlets. When you look at a picture on your computer, and we look at the same picture on ours, we see two different images. Even two identical units can have slight variances! The same is true for printers. You might print out a sample at home to get an idea of what your work will look like, but it will not match what our presses can do.

Large-scale printers are far more complex and produce very different results from what you see at home or in the office. Print proofing takes what we see on screen and puts it into your hands. It lets you feel, see, and even smell your final product. Any adjustments you make to your proofs will appear on the final print exactly as you expect them to. Print proofing follows a fairly simple process. There are several steps to taking your ideas and putting them on a printed page.

First, we lay out the document to be printed, including images and text. You will need to provide us with all the content for the job. We use low-quality samples, sometimes called readers, to make sure the layout and text are placed exactly where you would like them to go.

Once the layout, text, and images have been perfectly placed, the proofing process can start. We print a high-quality proof using the same paper as your final job.

When this is finished, we show it to you so that you can make any corrections or suggestions. A clear plastic overlay may be applied to allow you to write or mark specific areas of the proof. Corrections on proofs are usually related to color. Perhaps an image came out too dark or on a particular type of paper has a different hue: we can go back and adjust those individual images.

Then we print another round of proofs.