Get A Printing Proof

How many times have you printed out a layout and the colors look very different from what is on your monitor? What you don’t want is a client seeing their printed product looking different than what they’ve approved. So get a printering proof.

Sometimes designers go to great lengths to calibrate their monitors to their home or office printer. And that’s great if you’re printing out the actual product on that printer. But I doubt you’d do that for a job that calls for a run of about 5000 pieces.

Not matter how exact your monitor is to your printer, it’ll probably look different when it comes off of the printing press. So make sure you add in time and money in your budget to get a printing proof.

GET CLIENT APPROVAL

When you send your files to the printer they will print out a proof that will represent what their printing press will produce. And that is what you have the client approve. The printer will use that proof to make sure all of the pieces they print out will match that approved proof. And that is exactly what you want.

The client may say “I trust you” and leave it in your hands to be the only one to approve the proof, but taking the time to get their approval on it is better than having the job done and them wondering why the color looks different. Believe me, it happens.

It’s worth the trouble to take this precaution and keep your reputation intact.