Good to know
What is a proof, and what should I check on it?
The short answer
A proof is a preview of exactly what is about to be made, sent to you to approve first. Nothing is made until you say yes. It is your last chance to catch a wrong phone number, a missing letter, or a logo in the wrong place, so read it slowly.
What a proof is
Before a job is printed, stitched, or engraved, the final artwork is laid out the way it will be made and sent to you. That is the proof. For printing it is usually a PDF. For a shirt, a pen, or a sign it is usually a picture of your logo on the item, with its size, position, and colors noted.
Approving it means: yes, make it like this. That is why it is worth five careful minutes.
What to check
Go down the list, one thing at a time. Reading for typos and checking the size are different jobs.
- Every word. Read it out loud. Names, titles, and headlines are where typos hide.
- Every number. Phone numbers, addresses, dates, times, and web and email addresses. Call the number. Type the address.
- The logo. The right version, in the right colors, with nothing stretched.
- Size and position. The finished size, which side is the front, and where the logo sits on the item.
- Colors. The ink, thread, or product colors listed are the ones you expect.
- The edges. Nothing important sits too close to where the piece will be cut or folded.
- The order itself. The quantity, the paper or the product, the sizes, and anything personalized, such as names.
Kinds of proof
Which kind a job gets depends on the job. If seeing the real color or holding the real item matters to you, say so at the start.
- A digital proof is a file you look at on a screen, most often a PDF. It is the most common kind, and it shows the layout, the wording, the size, and the position.
- A printed proof, also called a hard proof, is an actual print. It is used when color has to be judged on paper.
- A sample is one finished piece made ahead of the rest, for a job where the real thing has to be seen or handled first.
What a proof on a screen can't show
A proof on a screen is exact about layout and wording. It is only a guide to color: a screen makes color with light, and every screen is set a little differently.
It also can't show how a paper feels, or how thread sits on fabric. If one of those matters, ask about a printed proof or a sample before you approve.
After you approve
Approval is the go-ahead. A change after that can mean starting over, so if something is wrong, or you're simply not sure, say so first.
Asking for a change to a proof is normal. That is what a proof is for.
Questions
More about proofs
Don't see yours? Call 419.224.8747 and ask a person.
EXCELLENT4.9 from 58 Google reviews, rated 4.9 out of 5. Opens our Google Business profile in a new tabDo I have to approve the proof?
Yes. Nothing is made until you approve it, so the job waits for your answer. The sooner you reply, the sooner it starts.
What should I send back?
A clear yes, or a list of changes. Something like 'Looks good, except the phone number should end in 8747' is exactly right.
Should someone else check it too?
Yes. A second reader catches what the writer's eye skips. Forward the proof to whoever knows the details best before you approve.
Why does the color on my proof look different on my phone and my computer?
Every screen shows color a little differently, and none of them shows ink. Treat color on a screen as a guide. If a color has to be exact, say so before you approve.
RGB and CMYK explainedWhat is a virtual proof or a mockup?
A picture of your logo placed on a photo of the product. It shows size and position well. Treat its colors as a guide, not a match.
What if I find a mistake after I approve?
Say so right away. If the job hasn't started, it can often still be fixed. Once it is made, it is made as approved, which is why the proof deserves a slow read.
Also worth a look
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Tell us what you're making. You'll see a proof before anything is made.