Capitol Press - Printing Essentials reference guide.

Proofing Your Work

There are different types of proofs available. Some types are made before the film is produced and others are produced from the actual film. Once the film is produced, changes are more costly. This is why it is best to proof your work and make any necessary changes before film is made.

Proofs made BEFORE film:

Lasers - Are quick and inexpensive to produce. Confirms file contents, shows position, color splits, and copy so you can check for any necessary type corrections. Fattens the appearance of thin type and photo reproduction quality is mediocre.

Epson Color Proofs - Are pretty accurate. Shows 90-95% color accuracy. Color images look brighter and sharper than they will on press. Black and white photos look somewhat flat. The Epson (unlike the actual printing process) produces images without dots. The advantage is that they cost much less than the cost of a laminate proof, and changes are made without requiring new film.

Proofs made AFTER film:

Patch Proof - Is used to spot check color and photographs throughout the piece. Images are output on a single page.

Blueline - Is a single color proof used to show position, pagination and folding. Reproduction quality of photos and showing color splits is poor. Low in cost.

Print Proof (Velox) - Inexpensive and good for showing black & white photos and tints. However, the black is darker than can be printed and will not show as great of a tonal range as when printed. In addition, hard to follow color splits need to be screened which can be confusing. Always get a print proof when you have photos in the job.

Colorkey or Color Proof (Overlay) - Shows color separation. Each color is split on a clear overlay. There is a limited selection of colors (12). If the overlays move and are not lined up exactly, colors can look out of register. This type of proof is best for 2-3 color jobs. Used with a blueline to show folding.

Match Print, Color Art, or Laminate Proof - Best for showing 4-color process. Usually functions as the "contract" proof. Can be mounted to the paper the job will print on. Yellow will appear cleaner than what will run on press. Does not accurately show dot gain in 1% - 5% range-gradation starting points will be stronger on press. Limited range of colors available.

Press Proof - Is produced directly from the printing press. Very expensive, since the press must be set up and operated to produce the proof. This is the only true color representation of the finished product.

NEXT: HOW TO DO A PRESS CHECK »

What to look for on a proof:

Are there typographical errors in the headlines or callouts?
Are all the pages there and in the correct sequence?
Do headers, footers, and folios line up?
Do borders and rules that crossover pages align properly?
Are all elements in correct register?
Have live image areas been masked over or trimmed out?
Are photos correctly placed, scaled, and cropped?
Have any images been flopped?
Is the trim size correct?
Is the folding correct?
Is each element the right color? Is the color vivid and rich?
Have critical color areas been accurately matched?
Are there blemishes, spots, or broken letters?
Were corrections from previous proof, if any, made correctly?
Check for typos again.