Tips for conducting a press check

If you are printing a new job that requires perfection, why not conduct a press check? This is done as the print run gets underway in order to make sure the outcome is exactly what you want. While errors should have been corrected during the proofing stage, the main purpose of a press check is to make sure that the colour on press comes as close as possible to the colour proof.

Here are some tips for conducting a successful press check.

First thing is first

Take an overall view of the document. Does it look and feel they way you wanted it to?

Check the copy on the press sheet. Are there any last minute mistakes? Make sure to check that the latest version of your project, including any amendments on the proof, have been carried out on press.

Colour

Colour proofs are valuable guides, but due to the inherent differences between colour proofing techniques and printing itself, proofs will match the printed sheet with varying degrees of exactness. Pay particular attention to flesh tones to ensure any skin looks natural. Also, pay attention to your corporate colours and the overall balance across the sheet.

If you require any changes remember that any alterations in one colour will affect the other colours on your page. Talk to your Account Manager and the Press Operator to ensure you achieve the best results.

Paper Stock

Double check the paper you are printing on is the correct colour, weight and texture. Asking your Account Manager for samples before you decide on a stock is a great way to ensure you choose the right one for your project. But it is important to remember different stocks produce different results when printing.

Registration

Registration refers to how the colours are aligned on the paper. Check that the colours are overlapping appropriately, that the edges of the images are sharp and that type is clear. Are the images and text sharp and clear? Are they straight on the paper?

Defects

Something as simple as a piece of dust on the press can cause a defect the whole way through a print run. That is why in the initial stages of printing it is essential that the Press Operator checks the job before printing the entire run. Check for broken type, odd scratches, smudging, hickeys, spots or ghosting.

Don’t worry, Dobson’s does it better!

If you can’t make a press check, don’t worry! Your Account Manager as well as the Press Operator will carry one out for you. At Dobson’s our state-of-the-art colour management process ensures accurate translation from file to proof to plate. If you have signed off on a PDF or hard copy proof you can rest assured that Dobson’s will do our best to maximise your results on press every time.

If you would like to conduct a press check, talk to your Account Manager in the initial stages of your next job.