154 Graphic Communications
Production
Proofs
Depending on the complexity of a project and
previous arrangements with the printer, a number
of proofs must be reviewed before the job goes to
press. Proofs serve as samples for the customer
and guidelines for the press operators. Proofs can
be made directly from digital fi les, viewed online,
or run off on a proof press. Cost variations often
determine the type of proofs requested at different
stages of prepress production. The most commonly
used proofs today are soft proofs and digital proofs,
Figure 7-37.
Soft Proofs
Soft proofs are electronic fi les that represent
what the fi nal printed page will look like. These
proofs may be press-ready fi les created using the
project composition fi les submitted to the printer.
Soft proofs may be delivered via e-mail or accessed
on the Internet, and are most often saved as PDF
fi les. Soft proofi ng jobs has become a common
industry practice, as it takes advantage of information
technology to save the time and expense involved in
producing printed proofs. Additionally, the client is
able to review proofs in a signifi cantly shorter time
frame and may instantly approve pages or send
comments through e-mail or a secure Web site.
Online soft proofs are posted and managed
using Web-based applications specifi cally developed
for electronically proofi ng documents. While each
printer may not use the same interface, the functions
and tools available to proof a job are similar from
one application to the next. Some of the common
Web-based proofi ng applications are Kodak InSite,
eProof, inMotion, and proofHQ.
Digital Proofs
The two most common types of digital proofs
used today are laser proofs and ink-jet proofs. Laser
proofs are printed onto paper using electronic fi les.
They are produced by an industrial laser printer and
may be in black and white or use four colors. They
are an inexpensive type of proof. However, the quality
is said to be less than that of ink-jet proofs.
Ink-jet proofs are produced by a printing process
that generates four-color proofs directly from the
digital fi les. Ink-jet proofi ng is often used as a contract
proof, replacing the press proof. The color simulates
what will be produced on a press. However, there
is often no halftone dot, so conventional screening
problems such as moiré patterns cannot be predicted.
Ink-jet proofs can be presented early in the proofi ng
process because they are very inexpensive.
Matchprint™ Digital Halftone has become an
industry-standard halftone contract proof. The actual
digital fi le that will be used to create the printed pages
is sent to a precalibrated ink-jet printer to produce
Soft Proofs Digital Proofs
Figure 7-37. Different types of proofs. Printed color proofs commonly include colors bars, registration lines, and
cut marks on the page. Soft proofs include the same information in color proofs, but the client may approve or
reject each page individually.