Proofing & Checking Artwork
Before any project goes to press, it’s essential to check that your artwork is accurate, correctly formatted, and print-ready. Proofing is a crucial stage in the print production process, helping to ensure the final result looks exactly as intended—avoiding costly reprints and disappointment.
- Always review a proof before printing – it’s your final chance to catch errors and avoid costly reprints.
- PDF (soft) proofs are ideal for checking layout, text, and design elements, but colours may not be exact.
- Hard copy proofs offer a more accurate colour representation and are useful for brand-critical or premium jobs.
- Wet proofs provide the highest level of colour accuracy by using the actual press, paper, and inks – best for large or high-value litho print runs.
- If unsure about your artwork setup, send us your file for a quick pre-flight check to ensure it meets print-ready standards.
What Are Proofs?
A proof is a visual representation of how your design will appear once printed. Think of it as the printing equivalent of proofreading a book before publication. Proofs are prepared by the printing company and supplied to the client for review. This step allows you to confirm that:
- The layout is correct
- Text reads properly with no spelling or grammar errors
- Fonts, images, and graphics display correctly
- Colours are as expected
- There are no unexpected shifts, cropping, or technical issues
Proofs act as a final safety net before full production. They help catch errors that would be expensive or impossible to fix once thousands of copies are printed. A small oversight—an incorrect phone number, a missing logo, a shifted image—can quickly turn into a costly mistake.
Artwork Checking
If you’re unsure whether your artwork is set up correctly, we’re here to help.
Before submitting files, you can review our Accepted File Formats Guide. If you still have concerns, you’re welcome to send us your PDF or even a single sample page from a larger document. Our studio can perform a quick pre-flight check to ensure everything appears in order.
We use the full Adobe Creative Suite, along with specialist pre-press tools such as Enfocus PitStop Pro, which allows us to verify:
Before submitting files, you can review our Accepted File Formats Guide. If you still have concerns, you’re welcome to send us your PDF or even a single sample page from a larger document. Our studio can perform a quick pre-flight check to ensure everything appears in order.
We use the full Adobe Creative Suite, along with specialist pre-press tools such as Enfocus PitStop Pro, which allows us to verify:
- Correct colour profiles (CMYK, spot colours, RGB)
- Colour ink coverage limits
- Image resolution (to avoid pixelation or blurriness)
- Embedded fonts and font substitution issues
- Bleed, trim and safe zone settings
This service gives you confidence that your artwork meets the required production standards before proofing or printing begins.
Types of Proofs
Different proofing methods offer varying levels of accuracy and cost. The type of proof you’ll receive depends on the printing method, budget, and how critical colour accuracy is to your project.
1. PDF (Soft) Proofs
A PDF proof—sometimes called a soft proof, digital proof or RIPped proof—is the most common and cost-effective method. We import your PDF into our RIP (Raster Image Processor), which converts the file into print-ready data. The proof you receive is data-accurate, meaning what you see on screen is what will print in terms of layout and content integrity.
A PDF proof accurately confirms:
A PDF proof accurately confirms:
- Text, fonts and spacing
- Graphics, shadows and transparency effects
- Page layout, trim, and bleed
- Correct pagination
However, to keep file sizes manageable for emailing and speed up turnaround, soft proofs are usually lower resolution. They are not colour-accurate due to screen variation and compression, so colours may appear slightly different from the final printed piece.
Best for: general content checking and most digital print jobs.
2. Hard Copy (Printed) Proofs
A hard copy proof—also known as a paper proof or Epson proof—provides a physical printed sample of your artwork. Produced on a calibrated inkjet proofing device (such as our Epson P700), this proof offers a closer representation of how the final printed item will appear.
Key benefits:
- More accurate colour reproduction than soft proofs
- Allows you to physically check paper texture, clarity, and detail
- Helps verify image quality, contrast, and ink coverage
Although digital print technology now closely matches litho output, hard copy proofs are still valuable when colour accuracy is important.
We recommend a hard copy proof when:
- Printing premium products or high-value projects
- Corporate branding or colour consistency is essential
- Final job will be printed lithographically
Hard copy proofs may carry an additional charge and will be posted to you for approval.
3. Wet Proofs
A wet proof is the highest-accuracy proofing option. It is produced on an actual lithographic press using the exact paper stock and inks that will be used for the final print run. This means the result is a true representation of how the full job will print.
Why choose a wet proof?
- Exact colour reproduction and ink behaviour on your chosen stock
- Ideal for large-volume, high-profile, or colour-critical work
- Provides the highest level of assurance before print
As wet proofs require press setup, plates, and materials, they are more expensive and not usually recommended for short-run or standard marketing items.
Best for: luxury products, packaging, brand colours that must be precise, high-value or large-quantity litho print runs.
Which Proof Should You Choose?
| Proof Type | Colour Accuracy | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| PDF (Soft) Proof | Low | Content checks, most everyday print work |
| Hard Copy Proof | Medium-High | Important branding or colour-sensitive jobs |
| Wet Proof | Very High | High-value, large-run litho printing where colour must be perfect |
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. You can request amendments, and we’ll issue a revised proof. Significant design or layout changes may incur an additional charge depending on the scale of revisions.
Not exactly. Screens display colours in RGB and often show them more brightly than print. Printed colours use CMYK (or spot colours), so some variation is normal unless a calibrated or wet proof is used.
Once a proof is approved, we print exactly as signed off. Unfortunately, we can’t accept responsibility for errors noticed after approval – which is why careful checking is vital.
Check spelling, crop marks, bleed, contact details, logo placement, page numbers, alignment, and colour expectations. Reviewing on a computer and a printed copy can help spot issues.
Yes. If you have Pantone or brand-specific colours, let us know. We can match brand colours closely using CMYK builds or spot colours, and a hard or wet proof can confirm accuracy.
We strongly advise against it. Missing the proof stage—even with perfect artwork—removes your final safeguard and increases the risk of costly errors.
