Proofing options

Back to Technical Support

This page is a guide to the proofing options available at Gomer Press.

Softproofs

Sometimes referred to as digital ozalids or PDF proofs. These are PDF file proofs that have been processed through our prepress software, and will highlight any potential issues caused by font corruption or incorrect transparency settings. Problems are very uncommon if print-ready PDFs are prepared correctly. This is the quickest form of proofing because we do not need to wait on postal services, and proofs can be shared with multiple parties instantly. Softproofs are sometimes low resolution to keep file sizes manageable, and so you may see pixelation in images which is no cause for concern. If errors such as low-resolution images are detected in our pre-press checks, we will inform you and work with you to correct the issue. It is very important to have “use overprint preview” set to “always” in Adobe Acrobat to view softproofs. This can normally be found in “preferences”.

Laser proofs

(also known as content proofs, positional proofs, ozalids or plotters) are basic hardcopy proofs that are intended only for checking content. Many people still prefer to check on paper rather than on screen. These proofs are not intended to show colour accurately, image quality, or paper quality. As with softproofs, print-ready files are processed through our pre-press software, allowing us to identify any potential issues before output. There is no need to return laser proofs to Gomer prior to printing. Please note that we are not able to supply traditional folded section plotters.

Inkjet proofs

(also known as Epson proofs, digital cromalins, press proofs, or Sherpas) are colour calibrated to the press, measured on output with an inline spectrophotometer, and highly accurate for colour and image quality… but not paper. Our standard COATED (Fogra 51) proofing paper is Heidelberg Saphira semi-gloss 200gsm, and this is used whether your job is printed on gloss, silk, satin or matt paper. These proofs are quite glossy, and this should be kept in mind if printing on matt/silk papers. Standard proofing paper for jobs on UNCOATED (Fogra 52) is Saphira Heidelberg uncoated matt 180gsm. Inkjet proofs should be returned to Gomer prior to printing so that they can be matched to on press. If you have concerns about colour or image quality, outputting a few pages to inkjet proof before printing is a very good idea. We accept press proofs from 3rd parties to match to on press (ie repro houses), but request that they include sign off strips to verify calibration to ISO/FOGRA standards. We can still match to press proofs supplied to Fogra 39/47 (older standards) if required.

Wet proofs

These are the most expensive and most accurate form of proofs. They are expensive because they are printed on the B1 XL106 press on the actual stock that will be used on the job. They are therefore accurate for content, colour, image quality and paper stock. We can output a selection of images rather than pages from the book, so that more content will fit on a B1 sheet. This is what is known as a scatter proof. One advantage of wet proofs is that multiple copies of the same sheet do not cost extra. They are output on a press that runs at 18,000 sheets per hour!

Running Sheets

(aka F&Gs = folded and gathered sections) These are not proofs at all, but are often confused with proofs when they arrive. Running sheets are a set of folded and gathered and trimmed sections, produced after the job has been fully printed and folded, but before it is bound. Running sheet stage is too late to be making corrections, but a problem or an error spotted here is still a lot cheaper to fix than reworking the entire book. We don’t always send out running sheets, but often do to give our clients the chance to review production quality and content one last time before the books go on our binding lines.

Next: Colour Repro