Why do you need printing proofs before mass production of luxury packaging
Brand companies, especially brands in perfume, cosmetics and other luxury goods field, want to make sure that their packaging prints come out exactly as planned, especially if they order large quantities. Any error in the main print will ruin the entire batch and also do harm to your brand reputation.
This is why proofreading is so important. It is our team's mission to catch any errors or minor mistakes that may have slipped through the cracks on a project. We at Ketsana pack are dedicated to ensuring the quality of your print comes out exactly as you want, which is why we use print proofing as one of our main methods to do so.
What does printing proof mean?
Proofs, essentially, are trial runs of whatever you are printing or designing. It is a quick and efficient way for design and print companies to ensure that everything is correct and that no errors are present before sending them to the customer. Additionally, the customer can make any final adjustments that are necessary to ensure that the finished product meets their specifications.
For a perfect representation of the batch, proofs are made using the same materials and calibrations as final jobs. Even though the proofing process may seem unnecessary at first glance, it is actually one of the most important parts of the printing process because the end result will be an indistinguishable sample of the final product.
There are a variety of ways in which printing proofs can be produced, but none of them stands out as being superior to the others. Considering that there are so many types of proof, it is important to understand each type of proofing and what makes some of them so popular based on their intended purpose.?
Soft proofs
Soft proofs are electronic files made for computer display, such as PDF files. Soft proofs are popular because they are emailed to clients for approval, enabling a faster proofreading process. They simulate the appearance of the final printout. Due to their affordability, soft proofs are typically used in simple and straightforward print projects, such as business cards, flyers, and postcards.
Hard proofs
Hard proofs are physical samples, whereas soft proofs are only digital files. They are typically used for more complex print projects. For instance, a hard proof might be provided for a brochure or book to ensure the pages, margins, and general construction are accurate.?
?It is also common practice to provide a hard proof for custom rigid boxes that have unique folds, varying ink shades, die-cut sections, embossed areas, or anything else that requires special attention before production.
Wet proofs
The wet proofing method is the most accurate proofing method available, since it allows you to see what the finished print will look like. However, wet proofing is the most expensive proofing method.
The wet proofs are printed on either litho or digital presses with the same stock and inks as the final product, making them ideal for printing jobs that require pantone colors. For this reason, they are completely colour accurate and a perfect representation of the final product.
Mock-ups of the final printed job can also be requested in some instances - the proof is made into an exact one-off copy of how the final printed item will look.
Litho printing (offset printing) proofs require the manufacture of plates, the installation of the press, and the actual printing of the job. When printing high-profile items in large quantities, colour accuracy is critical. That's why it's a good idea to get a wet copy proof first.
What are the benefits of print proofing?
Proofing is beneficial in many ways, not only because it saves time and money, but also because it helps our clients achieve better results.
In addition, there are several technical reasons why we need proof. It is the only way we can ensure our customers are satisfied.
Cost-effective and time-saving
Imagine if your packaging design was sent to press and you were unhappy with how it came out. You now need to start over. The entire printing process would have to be redone.
Proofing saves us from having to reset the whole process. We only have to make minor changes between proofs. This process is actually faster than sending a design to print and hoping for the best.
Additionally, you will save a lot of money. Just imagine reprinting a hundred thousand pamphlets or a million brochures. While proof is more expensive, it is much cheaper than paying for an entire set of something you do not like.
Maintaining color accuracy
We see two different images when we look at the same image on our computers because the color varies from one monitor to the next. Even identical units can differ slightly!
It is similar to printers. You might print out a sample to see what your work will look like at home, but it won't compare to what our presses can accomplish. In contrast to what you see at home or at the office, large-scale printers are much more complicated and produce very different results.
The print proofing process allows you to see, touch, smell, and even feel your final product before it is printed. You can make changes to the proofs and they will appear exactly as you intended.
Process of print proofing
In most cases, the proof process occurs about halfway through the entire process, after the design and planning stages have been completed.
PDF conversion
To send the final print to the client for review, the final print is converted to a pdf format.
Print the proof
A second step is printing a high-quality proof using the same materials that will be used on the final printout. Upon completion, we show it to you so that you can make any corrections or suggestions. In order to write or mark specific parts of the proof, a clear plastic overlay may be applied.
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Make adjustments as needed
If there are no edits (usually related to color shifts), we print another proof for final verification. If there are no edits, the proof is completed and sent to production.
What to look for in print proof
In checking proof, there are a few important things to look for, and if anything is missing later, it could prove costly to correct.
Text – You should check spelling and grammar carefully, manually. Most editing software includes tools to do this for you automatically, but they are not flawless.
Design - Ensure that you have checked every color used, every picture, and every line on the proof. Also, make sure that the typeface used is correct and that it is consistent throughout.
Layout – In addition to the overall design, the layout also needs to be checked. Borders, paragraph spacing, logo placement and white space all need to be done the way you asked without compromising the overall design.
Physical elements – If the final product needs to be assembled or folded, make sure that it will fold properly and that the panels are positioned correctly. Have the correct paper stocks been used?
Important information – If the packaging will include contact information, is the address correct? What about the phone number, website URL, or social profiles? These are all essential and shouldn't be overlooked.
Proofing equipment specialized for printing
To ensure that proofs match perfectly, we use advanced equipment such as printers and monitors carefully chosen to ensure accuracy.
Calibration of colors
It's essential to have precise control over color when printing. The problem is that light and ink work differently. A screen contains red, green, and blue pixels, while printers use cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink.
To ensure that what we see on the screen matches what we see on paper, we color-calibrate our monitors and printers in a series of rigorous tests and corrections.
Proofing Printers
In order to qualify for print proofing, a printer must meet strict specifications. Even then, configuring a printer for proofing can take weeks. At Ketsana, our machines are regularly maintained and tested to ensure their accuracy remains intact.
Operators with specialized skills
It doesn't matter what tools you use if the person using them doesn't know what to do. We take pride in our team. Our print staff is experienced and ready to help.
Let Ketsana Pack handle your packaging projects
Overall, print proof is a crucial step in meeting quality standards both with the printer and with the client. It drastically reduces errors and saves time and effort both for the client and the business.
Never skip the proof if you want consistently high-quality prints!
Ketsana Pack offers full-service luxury packaging with more than 10 years of experience.?Our team treats our clients like family and always works hard to provide our customers with the most suitable rigid boxes at competitive prices. Contact us to get started on your packaging project as soon as possible.
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