A proof helps check artwork before production. A PDF helps with wording and layout, while a physical proof or sample can help assess color, material or finishing. Confirm what the selected proof represents.
When proofs are worth it
New designs, critical color, or large quantities justify a proof. One-off reorders of an unchanged job often do not. Your printer can say when a proof is standard or optional for that product.
Soft vs hard proof
A soft proof is an on-screen preview. A printed proof may simulate production color on a different device or stock; a production sample may use the actual process and material. Neither is a universal guarantee. Ask what is represented and what variation to expect.
When to insist on a proof
- First run of a new design or new vendor.
- Color or brand must match a standard.
- High quantity or high consequence of error.
Common mistake
Approving a proof without checking it. Once you sign off, we run. Errors found after approval are the most avoidable cause of reprints.