Trust, but Verify
Once you submit your files, we don't just blindly hit "Print". Every project goes through a proofing stage. This is your contract with us. By approving the proof, you are saying "This file is correct, print it exactly like this."
1. Digital Proof (Soft Proof)
For all projects, we generate a PDF proof after the building stage. This starts processing immediately after you press "Complete & Proof", and should be available for review within a few minutes.
What to Check:
- Bleed: Do your images extend past the trim line? Or is there white in the bleed?
- Safety: Is any text too close to the edge in your safe zones?
- Pagination: Are the pages in the right order? (e.g., Page 1 is the first right-hand page). Did you forget to include Pagination?
- Spelling: This is your last chance to catch typos. We do not provide any form of spell checking in our process.
Limitations: You cannot trust color accuracy on a digital proof. Your monitor is calibrated differently than our press. It is a "content proof", not a "color proof".
2. Hard Copy Proof (Physical Proof)
For a small fee (typically $30-$60), we will print a single copy of your book and ship it to you. This is an actual bound unit made on the production equipment.
What to Check:
- Color: This is exactly what the final run will look like.
- Paper Feel: Is the paper too thin? Too thick?
- Lamination: Do you like the feeling and presentation?
- Binding: Open the book. Check the gutter margin. There may be some variation/refinement in alignment on the full run, as we have more opportunities to fine-tune during the run.
When to Order One:
- If you are ordering 500+ copies. The cost of a proof is tiny insurance against a $2,000 mistake.
- If color accuracy is critical (e.g., Art Books, Photography).
- If this is your first time printing.
- We often provide "Free Physical Proof" discount codes at events, keep an eye out for those. Those act as rebates, providing the price of your original proof towards a full run.