Without doubt, the four most important words in printing are, “Did you proofread this?” It sounds so simple, it sounds so obvious, but the biggest reason for re-printing something we encounter is the failure to proofread.
As we often point out on our blog, printing is a process. There are certain steps and standards that need to be followed in order to produce high-quality work. As printers we take that seriously. We put serious effort and training into our pre-press and on press teams on best practices. We sweat the small stuff.
However, we need to point out that there are certain things our team can’t control, and one of those is proofreading. Certainly, we can read through your document for spelling and grammar. We can’t however check all your names and numbers. We can’t see a mistaken phone extension or email address.
These kinds of mistakes can cost money. We have unfortunately seen projects be printed, bound, and shipped, and only after boxes are opened and the finished piece looked through is a big error found. This means the whole printing process has to start over again. Time and Money!
So what should you proofread? The list below may sound obvious, but more often than not failing to proofread these little things causes major printing headaches.
3 things you must proofread before printing
1. Spelling and Usage
Our pre-press team is pretty good at catching some familiar errors. Their vs. There. Its vs. It’s. Sound familiar?
What we can’t catch are problems with names or places. Be sure to double and triple check the spelling of a name when you receive a proof. Watch out for a last letter being chopped off when a designer cuts and pastes from a spreadsheet list of names. Be sure that auto-correct hasn’t changed what you intended to write into something else.
2. Phone Numbers and Contact Information
If we could only give one tip for better proofreading, We might say; Call the phone numbers listed in a document. Pick up the phone, and dial. Check the extension. Make certain no numbers were transposed during typing.
The same goes for email addresses, or twitter handles, or websites. Take your time and go through them. The last thing you want is for one mistake in your contact information to mean a customer can’t get a hold of you, and you need to reprint all your business cards, post cards, or letterhead.
3. Mind your edges, your folds, and your bleed
When you do your final proofread of a project for printing, you want to pay attention to all the areas where there are edges. The edges of the paper, the edge where paper is folded, and the edges of your images that fall into the bleed. More than anything else design-wise, these 3-things are notorious for causing headaches after something is printed.
Ask yourself: Does the image sit too close to the edge? Is the text too close to the line of a fold. Do I want this image or graphic element to bleed off the page?
For non-designers, use of printing words like bleed can cause quite a few blank stares, and maybe even a little fear. But it is an important thing to pay attention to on a proof. Feel free to read through our primer on bleed here.
Of course, a lot of these issues will be taken care of by our pre-press team. We will always point out areas of concern. But we can only do so much. We won’t know exactly how you see your design in your head. So you need to take the time to proofread not only text, content, and grammar, but also the over all layout of your design, and where certain elements sit on a page.
And when you have questions or concerns, ask our team. We will be happy to help guide you through potential design errors or printing concerns. That kind of communication is what helps get everyone on the same page for fantastic print.
cutpasteandprint Printing, graphic design, binding, and promotional product specialists in Huntingdon Valley, PA. We proudly serve the Bucks and Montgomery County areas with superior quality, great customer service, and a commitment to getting you and your the best possible printed materials. Our services include: Digital Printing, Offset Printing, Graphic Design, Promotional Items, Bindery, and Copying.
estimating@cutpasteandprint.com • 215.364.3898
