Different types of proofing

Proofing is an important part of the production process. An opportunity for Swallowtail Print, designers and customers to check the content and layout of a printed product. Proofing helps to ensure everyone involved in a project is happy and it allows for any inaccuracies to be spotted and corrected.

To ensure we meet the needs of all of our clients, we provide a variety of proofing options. To help you find the type of proofing that will meet your requirements, here’s a quick rundown of what we offer.

PDF proofs

Fast and affordable, PDFs are our most popular type of proof. Unlike other methods of proofing, PDFs can be sent out over the internet in a matter of hours. This is a huge advantage for clients who are working to tight deadlines and those trying to stick to limited budgets.

Though you won’t have a physical product to check when you receive a PDF, you’ll still get an excellent idea of the layout of your product and will be able to check for any spelling mistakes, typos and other errors.

Inkjet proofs

Also referred to as plotter proofs they are a fantastic low cost option. Inkjet proofs are used for checking content, layout and pagination. Because inkjet proofs can be made up into booklets or brochures, clients can check everything is on the right page and that the product flows exactly as it should.

Sherpa proofs

Sherpas are the most accurate type of proofing that we offer. They are a high quality digital proof which will give you an excellent idea of how your printed product will look when it rolls off of the production line. We use different output profiles to simulate coated or uncoated paper stock.

Sherpa proofs are output with the pages imposed, so that they laid out as they would be printed not as they would appear once they are folded and trimmed. For this reason we will supply an additional set of inkjet mock-up proofs for checking pagination.

Wet proofs

Another type of proof used is wet proofs. These are taken straight off of the press at the start of a production run. They will be carefully checked for clarity and colour accuracy as part of the production process.

All proofs will include bleed and crop marks. Only wet proofs are printed on the actual paper that will be used for the print run.

To find out more about different types of proofing or any other of our high quality services, take a look around our website or get in touch with a member of our expert team today.

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