Do Away With Proofs

What is the best way to assure a quality printed product? Take the proofs out of the pressroom. A publisher or in-plant can use soft proofing and PDFs for its internal proofing. If a page is complete, they can use a black-and-white laser proof for viewing.

I spoke on this subject at a meeting of Wisconsin printers and publishers and I saw that the printers agreed more than the designers, publishers or catalogers. At the magazine where I worked, the printers were given targets that had to be hit for density and dot gain. Forget print contrast; you really do not need to worry about these numbers. It is dot gain that determines your contrast.