Offset printing help: How to approve proofs of newsletters, price lists, directories, catalogs, newsletters

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How to approve a proof

Approving proofs is a serious job. The approved proof becomes the bible for your printing company. Every step of the way they will compare their work to the approved proof. Take your time and review it carefully.

The first rule is to make sure you have something to compare the proof against. Most likely the last proof you looked at before sending the job to the printer. This could be a hard copy proof from your designer or a laser output from your printer, etc. If you last saw a PDF, print it out and compare the final proof to the hard copy.

Iĺve created a handy proof approval checklist in PDF form. Use it to make sure you do a thorough job of reviewing your proof.

Proof flip tool
A good way to check proofs is to lay the new proof over the old one. Make sure the two line up. Keep both proofs stationary by pressing down on the upper left corner. Flip the top proof over, exposing the first proof below it. As you do this you can check for text reflow, fonts (bold, font types, etc.), bleeds, image position and a whole host of other items. Click here to see a video showing this process.

Things to approve on all proofs

Final trim or page size
Are the typefaces the same as what you used?
Are the font styles (bold, italic, etc.) the same as you used?
Copy flow, has the text rewrapped? Use the proof flip method above.
Bleeds, or lack thereof
Scaling ad clipping of logos, pictures and images. Graphics can be enlarged or clipped during the electronic prepress process.
Check the exact position of perforations or die cutting. If itĺs not accurately represented on a proof, ask your printer!
Have any corrections to the previous proof been done, and done correctly?
Are there any misspelled words or typographical errors? How closely you check this is really up to you. In reality you should have checked for these problems long before the job was sent to the printer.

Digital dylux proofs

Pagination, are all the pages in the correct order?
Backup, do the pages or images back up each other correctly?
Does the piece fold correctly? Definitely ask if youĺre not sure. A good way to mark the proof is to fold one panel over and draw a few lines across the proof.
If the piece is in color, and so is the proof, check for general color breaks. You canĺt check for accurate color, but you can make sure the elements are in the correct general color family.
If there are crossovers are they accurate? A crossover is where a graphic element is split between two pages, matching up at the spine.

Contract color proofs
A contract proof should be quite accurate to what the final printed piece will look like. Check the color to make sure itĺs what you want. This may, or may not, be like the previous proof looked like.

Press proofs

Do you like the color? Even if the color matches the contract proof you approved you may not like it. This is it-the last chance to change the color.
Is the stock correct?
Are there any "hickies" or blemishes?
Does the ink look smooth over the entire press sheet?
Is the ink color consistent over the entire press sheet?
Is the trapping of type and elements correct?
Do the fronts and backs line up correctly?