er little things like registration and orientation. Do not be surprised if they put a loupe in your hand (if you don't know what a loupe is, see number one).

All players have now had a chance to play the game. The client and firm worked together for a desired result and then you draft a vendor to join the team. The proof and press check are the only ways the vendor can be certain that they know your plays and what you are expecting them to do. Everyone at this point is expecting the same outcome, or are we? In the final article of this series, I'll discuss the outcome an

So you've selected your vendor, worked out the cost, pre-pressed your files and off they go. This is the time where you will await glorious days if not weeks for your project to come to fruition. You've seen your file on computer and life is good. I am here to tell you it is not and I will even let you in on a secret, just because your computer can create it does not mean that the printer can print it. I know, you're shocked, hence the purpose of proofs and press checks. I'll explain as I give you some insight into press checks.

1. Let your design firm do it. We know what we are looking at we designed it. Upon receiving files the printer will typically send a proof. Depending on the size job this can be a pdf or an an actual print. We check for discrepancies and have the chance to change any file configurations at this point. Here's an example. We had a huge job with lots of parts on press. When we received the proofs back we noticed some stray lines in two of the illustrations. This anomaly occurred because the printer could not interpret a special effect (layman's terms) we were using in one of the programs. Instead of printing the effect it simply drew a box around where the effect should have been applied. By catching this on the proof we were able to adjust the files and resubmit them to the printer.

2. Printers do not make money if the press isn't moving. Did you know that printers will have three shifts of workers to constantly keep the presses churning out the work? That's right, your 10-page brochure may be getting ready for final press at 3am. Why is this important? It's called a press check. This is where someone from our firm will drop everything at a moment's notice and drive out to the printer to see a page come right off press. We make sure there aren't any surprise colors or orientations. Often times we will leave this in the hands of our experienced printer associate, but the bigger the job the more they want to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

3. Know what you are looking at. If you insist on handling your own proofing and press checks, know what you are looking for. You are looking to see that there are no stray lines on the artwork, you are looking for color accuracy within your determined tolerance (your delta), and you are looking for many other little things like registration and orientation. Do not be surprised if they put a loupe in your hand (if you don't know what a loupe is, see number one).

All players have now had a chance to play the game. The client and firm worked together for a desired result and then you draft a vendor to join the team. The proof and press check are the only ways the vendor can be certain that they know your plays and what you are expecting them to do. Everyone at this point is expecting the same outcome, or are we? In the final article of this series, I'll discuss the outcome and

t we are looking at we designed it. Upon receiving files the printer will typically send a proof. Depending on the size job this can be a pdf or an an actual print. We check for discrepancies and have the chance to change any file configurations at this point. Here's an example. We had a huge job with lots of parts on press. When we received the proofs back we noticed some stray lines in two of the illustrations. This anomaly occurred because the printer could not interpret a special effect (layman's terms) we were using in one of the programs. Instead of printing the effect it simply drew a box around where the effect should have been applied. By catching this on the proof we were able to adjust the files and resubmit them to the printer.

2. Printers do not make money if the press isn't moving. Did you know that printers will have three shifts of workers to constantly keep the presses churning out the work? That's right, your 10-page brochure may be getting ready for final press at 3am. Why is this important? It's called a press check. This is where someone from our firm will drop everything at a moment's notice and drive out to the printer to see a page come right off press. We make sure there aren't any surprise colors or orientations. Often times we will leave this in the hands of our experienced printer associate, but the bigger the job the more they want to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

3. Know what you are looking at. If you insist on handling your own proofing and press checks, know what you are looking for. You are looking to see that there are no stray lines on the artwork, you are looking for color accuracy within your determined tolerance (your delta), and you are looking for many other little things like registration and orientation. Do not be surprised if they put a loupe in your hand (if you don't know what a loupe is, see number one).

All players have now had a chance to play the game. The client and firm worked together for a desired result and then you draft a vendor to join the team. The proof and press check are the only ways the vendor can be certain that they know your plays and what you are expecting them to do. Everyone at this point is expecting the same outcome, or are we? In the final article of this series, I'll discuss the outcome an

simply drew a box around where the effect should have been applied. By catching this on the proof we were able to adjust the files and resubmit them to the printer.

2. Printers do not make money if the press isn't moving. Did you know that printers will have three shifts of workers to constantly keep the presses churning out the work? That's right, your 10-page brochure may be getting ready for final press at 3am. Why is this important? It's called a press check. This is where someone from our firm will drop everything at a moment's notice and drive out to the printer to see a page come right off press. We make sure there aren't any surprise colors or orientations. Often times we will leave this in the hands of our experienced printer associate, but the bigger the job the more they want to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

3. Know what you are looking at. If you insist on handling your own proofing and press checks, know what you are looking for. You are looking to see that there are no stray lines on the artwork, you are looking for color accuracy within your determined tolerance (your delta), and you are looking for many other little things like registration and orientation. Do not be surprised if they put a loupe in your hand (if you don't know what a loupe is, see number one).

All players have now had a chance to play the game. The client and firm worked together for a desired result and then you draft a vendor to join the team. The proof and press check are the only ways the vendor can be certain that they know your plays and what you are expecting them to do. Everyone at this point is expecting the same outcome, or are we? In the final article of this series, I'll discuss the outcome an

see a page come right off press. We make sure there aren't any surprise colors or orientations. Often times we will leave this in the hands of our experienced printer associate, but the bigger the job the more they want to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

3. Know what you are looking at. If you insist on handling your own proofing and press checks, know what you are looking for. You are looking to see that there are no stray lines on the artwork, you are looking for color accuracy within your determined tolerance (your delta), and you are looking for many other little things like registration and orientation. Do not be surprised if they put a loupe in your hand (if you don't know what a loupe is, see number one).

All players have now had a chance to play the game. The client and firm worked together for a desired result and then you draft a vendor to join the team. The proof and press check are the only ways the vendor can be certain that they know your plays and what you are expecting them to do. Everyone at this point is expecting the same outcome, or are we? In the final article of this series, I'll discuss the outcome an

er little things like registration and orientation. Do not be surprised if they put a loupe in your hand (if you don't know what a loupe is, see number one).

All players have now had a chance to play the game. The client and firm worked together for a desired result and then you draft a vendor to join the team. The proof and press check are the only ways the vendor can be certain that they know your plays and what you are expecting them to do. Everyone at this point is expecting the same outcome, or are we? In the final article of this series, I'll discuss the outcome and one of the many leaps of faith you will have to take with your design team.