Proofing

Why?

Even though you have provided us with your logo, all of the text details and maybe even a copy of your previous printed stationery, in creating the digital files that we will use to create the plates that we will print from things may go wrong or change. A proof is a final check that we are about to print is exactly what you want.

Signing off a proof is not a formality or hoop to go through it is your chance to check that what is about to be printed is correct. We will print what formed the signed off proof. If you sign it off as OK, we print it and you later notice a mistake unfortunately the costs associated with any reprint will be your responsibility.

Types of Proof

We offer 3 different types of proof.

E mail proofing

All new orders will receive FOC an emailed proof (technically known as a PDF). This allows you to check layout and text (spellings etc). However everyone’s computer monitor is slightly different and the colour of the e mail proof on screen is unlikely to be an exact match to what will be printed. It will however show you for example which bits of a logo are yellow and which red, but it can’t be relied on to show the exact yellow and the exact red.

Inkjet Proofing

An Ink Jet Proof provides an accurate representation of the colours that are going to finally be printed. It is printed on what is in effect an upmarket colour computer inkjet printer. To create the proof it uses Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black inks mirroring the colour processing that is used in Full colour process printing. Inkjet proofing is therefore only useful in colour checking for full colour process printing.

Wet Proofing

A wet proof is a single actual printed copy of what we will go on to print in the quantity you require. It therefore uses the exact inks or mixes of inks that we will use on your job letting you see the exact colours that the finished job will be. However in order to produce the single copy we need to go through exactly the same preparations that we would if we were going to run the whole job, therefore there is a not insignificant cost associated with a wet proof..

What to look for

This is your last chance to check that what we are about to print is what you want! If you “sign off” a proof that is what we will print. Although we will make every effort to set the artwork as you have specified in your order mistakes sometimes do happen. It is up to you to check and make sure that we are about to print what you want.

Although it sounds obvious checking a proof is more than just glancing and seeing if it looks OK. As well as looking at whether logos look right, there are all sorts of other details where mistakes may slip in.

Things to check include phone and fax numbers (are they right and do they work?!). Company registration numbers and VAT numbers where applicable. Spellings of names, addresses and postcodes. This is not an exhaustive list but if any of these are wrong, really your stationery will not be useable! It is worth taking a few minutes to make sure it is right.

Author's Corrections

We are not mind readers. We do everything we can to set the artwork as you specify in the order. When we send you a proof it is because we think we have done as you have asked us. Proofing is an opportunity for you to check that we have done as you’ve asked. It should not be an opportunity for you to change your mind about what you want and introduce changes in the brief from the original order.

Changes made at proof stage that move away from the original order/specification are referred to as author's corrections. As we have by then set artwork as originally ordered we reserve the right to make additional design and proofing charges for author's corrections made at proof stage.