What are the best proofreading and quality control practices for print design?

I started my career as a copywriter and this was one of my greatest weaknesses. One of my early mentors suggested a hack. He advised me to read everything in reverse. Start from the end and read your way to the beginning… that way there’s no flow in the sentences and any wrongly spelt word stands out. You can then read as usual to check grammar! Its become second nature!!! and it works.

Before diving into the design process, it's crucial to review the content of your print project. This encompasses text, images, logos, and all other elements you'll be incorporating. Ensuring accuracy, clarity, consistency, and relevance of the content is essential. Additionally, verifying permissions and rights for copyrighted or trademarked materials is a must. You can leverage tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid for proofreading and editing your text, and tools like TinEye or Google Images to check image source and licensing. As a professional and experienced graphic designer

My main thing would be a Proofreading Checklist: Create a checklist of common errors you tend to make. It could include things like checking dates, names, phone numbers, addresses, and other crucial details. The goal is to ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the design.

Don't copy check your own work - preferably get someone else to go over it. Always remember that online spell checkers do just that, they very rarely check context etc. Their are many examples were online checking, just doesn't spot the correct word. Use a proof reader, their experts in making sure the write word is in the wright place. ;-)

read your text aloud. If it sounds like a cheesy infomercial, it might need some sprucing up. ????? well, I couldn't help but disagree with that because even if your content is accurate, it doesn't hurt to add a little drama. Imagine your product description read by Morgan Freeman now that's epic! ???? let me tell you about an example I've seen, and trust me, it's a real page turner. There was this logo that looked like a potato, not a good kind of spud. double check your logos, folks, you don't want to be the next big chip sensation! ???? and if you're ever in doubt about image rights, just remember, copyright infringement is not a good look. It's like wearing socks with sandals in the fashion world. ??♂???

Just to nit-pick the AI article writer here - it says "You can use tools like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop to set up and adjust your specifications." I would say "must" instead of "can." If you don't set your specifications you're stuck with the default. Be a pilot, not a passenger!

Pre-Flight and Print-Ready are your friends. I always check this before printing my files and continue doing so as it has become a habit.

Before designing your print project, review all the content thoroughly. Ensure text, images, logos, and other elements are accurate, clear, consistent, relevant, and legally allowed. Use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid to proofread and edit text. Verify the source and licensing of images with TinEye or Google Images. By checking these aspects, you can ensure high-quality and professional print projects.

Developing a good relationship with a printer is key. Anytime I send something to print I ask the printer to let me know immediately if there is an issue with my file setup. If you do make a mistake it's always good having someone down the production line who's looking out for you.

See if you printer has templates for something that's already been printed in this size. It helps a lot with making sure you don't miss things, like folds or pockets.

Attention to detail is key. Analyzing alignment, spacing, hierarchy, contrast, balance, and readability ensures that the design is not only visually appealing but also conveys the intended message effectively. Using specialized tools like Adobe Acrobat or InDesign for various viewing modes and calculators for grids and ratios can greatly aid in creating a well-structured and visually pleasing print layout.

To ensure your print design is visually appealing communicates effectively, and is easy to navigate, carefully review the layout. Consider alignment, spacing, hierarchy, contrast, balance, and readability. Use tools like Adobe Acrobat, InDesign, Grid Calculator, or Golden Ratio Calculator to help you achieve a well-proportioned and harmoniously structured design.

In print media design, selecting the right typeface is often overlooked. It's a critical element that influences readability, aesthetics, and message delivery. Designers should consider the project's context and audience, delve into font variations, and avoid high-contrast fonts that can hinder readability and design harmony. Typeface choice is a strategic decision that can make or break a printed piece's impact.

Color management is critical in print design. Test colors across devices, paper types, and printing methods for consistency. Use Adobe Color or Coolors to experiment with color palettes. ColorZilla or Eye Dropper can match colors from screen to print. Pantone or CMYK Converter converts and compares colors for print-specific color management. Proper color management guarantees final print looks professional.

The most used colour tool here in the studio is a printed book of thousands of Process Colour swatches. It contains every colour in the CMYK gamut, to the nearest 5%. You can see a colour on-screen, but it isn't until you hold up a printed square in natural light that you truly get a sense for it. As your end result is printed it only makes sense to check your colours from a printed source.

Color variations can lead to a significant discrepancies between the digital and printed versions of a project. Test colors on various devices, paper types, and printing methods to ensure that the final result aligns with the your intent and the client's expectations. Understand specialty inks and differences in things like coated and uncoated paper as they look very different.

If you start working on print projects — the 1st thing you have to do is calibrate your monitor. This will give you confidence that colors "What You See Is What You Get" in the end. Because you can NOT erase/fix the results on the paper :)

Also review colors for potential accessibility issues with special attention to information communicated exclusively with color (e.g., a map or diagram in which red lines indicate X, green lines indicate Y). Adobe Color has tools for choosing accessible color schemes. Google Chrome also has developer tools that allow you to simulate visual deficiencies. However, an easier check is just to make sure that nothing is communicated by color alone.

I send the finished project to colleagues not only from the graphic design department, but also to people not related to design but close to the recipient of the content. Sometimes focusing on the graphic aspects we miss something that the recipient of the final content can catch.

Proofs are often mandatory before running a full-scale print. It's still a good idea if you're not required as it can save you a lot of time and money in the event of a mistake.

The "Press proof" is a must for most "high amount copy" projects –> Just imagine yourself - your color mistake on the catalogue's first page with 1 mln copies. I had such an experience once upon a time. + Try to avoid the use of digital proofs - they are useless in color testing.

Proofs are essential in print design especially when being done in a large quantity. The last thing you want is a $30k mistake because you used the incorrect you’re. That being said, I find it to be best practice to have someone who has never seen the project review and read the proof. Designers, copy writers, and editors can and will miss simples mistakes because you because blind to them. Your brain fixes the mistake and you miss it. If you have no one, I find reading the entire copy out loud helps find those small, yet killer, mistakes.

Don't belive in a digital proof. Always require the printing house to proof in the target technology if possible. Digital proofs, despite fervent assurances and wishful thinking, do not ensure 100% accuracy, especially if unusual enhancements such as printing on silver foil are involved. Find out what is the maximum percentage of pigments you can use to avoid overprinting. Ask if the profile of the target machine is not enriched in some way. Sometimes employees of printing houses add more magenta because customers want to see strongly red lips :)

Printing a proof off for your client is key. I have had clients that trust me enough they don’t want the proof but I later force them to review it before moving forward. You are not a mind reader and physically presenting your work to your client will save you mistakes, time, and money.

Back when I was working in print, I used to print out a sample design. Run it though my colleagues for proofreading. Then finally my boss who’d also proofread then sign off the print.

Lo que comenta ese artículo son obviedades para los profesionales que llevan muchos a?os trabajando en el tema hay muchas cosas más a tener en cuenta