Proofing

Examples:

• Blueline - Sometimes called a Dylux, it’s a one-color proof made from all four separation films. Always created as part of the print preparation process whenever plates are being made, the blueline is used to check the placement of text and images, cropping, finished size, reverses and tints, page sequence, crossovers and backups, traps, registration and folds—but it isn’t used for checking color. The proof is bluish in color and the image fades with time.
• Final proof - A final proof, or contract proof, becomes a legal contract between the producer and the customer, once the customer has signed the proof. It must be understood by the customer that the proof doesn’t represent the exact appearance of the press sheet. The final proof only simulates and predicts the appearance of the final printed piece. It’s used in the press room as a guide to compare colors while the piece is running on the press.
• Composed proof - A composed proof is helpful for checking color breaks once the loose color has been corrected. It will be used on press by the customer and printer to judge color, and is considered by printers to set the expectations for color while on press.
• Composite overlay - Also known as a (Kodak) Color Key™, each layer is a separate color overlaying one another. The colored layers usually represent the color separations (CMYK) and/or spot colors. The composite overlay proof can be useful for checking colorbreaks, trapping, text and layout, but isn’t as good as other types of proofs for matching color while on press.
• Digital color proof - Less expensive than a composed proof, this type of proof (also called an Iris® proof) is a good gauge for color breaks but isn’t as accurate for checking actual color as a composed proof.
• Ink drawdown - Provided by the ink supplier to the printer, this is a special ink formulation prepared on the paper upon which a job will be printed. Ink drawdowns are the only way to see how ink and paper will interact before going on press. They’re often used for uncoated papers to get a sense of absorption rates when matching colors, such as corporate logos, or when attempting to match the same colors on different papers
• Loose color proof - If a job has color separations, a loose color proof is often produced by laying down the colors of the job on film to allow the printer and designer to compare the scanned color against the original transparency or image. The purpose of loose color proofs is to review the hue, values and overall balance of color tone (e.g., check skin tones). If silhouettes exist, look for accurate cropping. Be sure that any problems with the original, like lint or uneven backgrounds, are fixed.
• Paper dummy - A paper dummy using the paper that has been specified shows how a job will be assembled and is useful when a document has numerous pages or when a project will be assembled by hand, such as a pocket folder. While often produced earlier in the production process as part of the pre-production discussion, it’s a good idea to ask the printer for another dummy as the job progresses if changes have been made in the interim.
• Press proof - Press proofs are the only way to view an accurate proof, but they can be costly. A press proof involves using a press to generate a printed image before the actual press run. It’s used mainly to simulate printing processes using the actual plates, inks and paper. A press proof is the best type of proof, particularly for projects using stochastic screening.
• Scatter proof - Scatter proof is the term used to describe a proof of an individual photo or group of photos that haven’t been included as part of the complete page layout. Scatter proofs are used to check color before the final proof. Several photos can be grouped and proofed at the same time to save on time and materials. It’s best to view scatter proofs in a color-viewing booth with controlled lighting for the most accurate color proofing.
• Scoring sample - A dummy of the job is made with the specified paper and is used for checking the scoring, in advance, for potential cracking or other problems.
• Spot color proof - The colors used on spot color proofs are also known as “matched” colors, special colors or by one of the brand name Pantone® colors. If trying to match a spot color with process colors, very few will match. Many spot colors are outside the color gamut of process inks. The paper stock that’s used for a job will also provide different results than might be expected. The use of varnishes or coatings can also change the appearance of the color.

It’s good to know how to finish the printed piece before starting. Some things to keep in mind are:

• Final proof - A final proof, or contract proof, becomes a legal contract between the producer and the customer, once the customer has signed the proof. It must be understood by the customer that the proof doesn’t represent the exact appearance of the press sheet. The final proof only simulates and predicts the appearance of the final printed piece. It’s used in the press room as a guide to compare colors while the piece is running on the press.
• Galley proof - Today, in production, text could be set in a word processor program and output on a laser printer to be proofread. The laser output may also be called a galley proof.
• Laser proof - A document is created on the computer and then sent to a printer in the form of a page description language (PDL), most commonly PostScript. Laser printers have image resolutions from 300 dots per inch (dpi) to 1200 dpi. Printouts are used during the design stages for customer approval on initial concepts and also for proofreading purposes. The low cost and efficiency of the printer and its output make it a good choice for the initial proofing process.
• Soft proof - A color proof on a computer monitor, also known as a soft proof, is based on the “additive color process,” where all colors are formed with the additive primary colors: red, green, and blue. A soft proof can be useful during the design process, but it’s of very little use as a tool to match with the colors attained through the printing process, whether it be on a printing press or on computer printers.