Articles

Perhaps you’ve heard of the soft proof, hard proof, and press test proof in one or the many times you availed of printing services. Publishers can choose all three options to check how their layout appears on the sample and correct anything before the printer goes into mass production. But here is how the three differ: 

• SOFT PROOF. A soft proof is when your printing services provider sends you back an electronic file to double-check they got the correct artwork and remind you to double-check the details on your design after it has gone through the printer’s processing. Because soft proofs are often sent as PDFs, some people refer to this process as PDF proofing.

• HARD PROOF. Hard proof is when a printer provides digital proof of your product by printing, cutting out, folding (if needed), and binding (if required) a sample to give you an idea of what the final product will look like after printing. Since hard proofs are digital prints, they are very close to the final output of digital printing requirements. But for an offset printing job, they are merely used to check the colors, layout, cuts, and bindings; they don’t necessarily represent the final look of an offset print because some printing elements vary between digital and offset printing.  

• PRESS TEST PROOF. Clients concerned about the final printed material looking different than a digitally printed hard proof prefer doing press test proof to ensure the outputs look as close to their artwork as possible. If you are going on press and you’re not 100% confident with just a digital proof, which is hard proof, then you can come on site of the printing press while they are laying ink on paper for a press test proof. You can also learn about what happens during a press proof on our separate blog and video. 

For your printing service needs, feel free to contact Michael Duhr and our team at Foote Printing.