2. proofing
This refers to any copy of the job supplied back to the customer for checking before the job proceeds.
This can take the form of a digital proof
- Hi-resolution proof which gives an indication of what the job and colour will look like. Other forms of this are digital chromalin
- a low res “contract” or “content” proof, this is the name suggests shows all the content (to check everything is in the right place and there are no font issues) as opposed to the actual colour to be re-produced.
An electronic proof
- A hi-res pdf in either page by page format or imposed (imposed is how the job looks with the pages in the correct position to be folded or finished once printed – this is how the job will actually be shown when on the printing press).
- A low res pdf which as the above but is smaller so it is easier to email.
- There are many other variations to the above electronic proof.
Drawbacks with the above method are that this is a different technology to the actual litho printing – although the digital machine can be calibrated to the actual printing machine – it is still only a representation of what the printing machine will achieve. This is especially true where you are printing on a paper with no coating (un-coated) where the digital will show a far brighter image than can be achieved on the actual printing press.
A wet proof
This is done from the actual printing plates – but on a special machine called a proofing press – generally this only prints one colour at a time on top of the last colour. Although this is the method that has been used for years – it has a couple of draw backs 1) If anything is wrong with the copy or otherwise – new plates will have to be made – incurring plate charges b) The proofing is done 1 colour at a time and the colours therefore are printing wet on dry – un-like an actual production machine which prints wet on wet – therefore the result may be slightly different.
On Machine Proof/Production machine proof/Press Proof: This is done the actual production printing machine, it will show exactly how the job will reproduce in every respect. The draw back is that it is very expensive compared to any other proofing process.
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