Soft Proofing: Fact and Fiction

Soft proofs save customers money on one or possibly multiple sets of proofs. For example, the least expensive low-res proof you can get from us is $21. This adds up quickly if you proof several versions of a multiple-page newsletter.

When it comes to a final accurate four-color process proof, however, soft proofs very rarely replace a high-resolution printed proof in our in-plant. The main reason is that using soft proofs as final color proofs requires calibration of your customer’s computer monitor to the monitor being used in your prepress department. Many of our customers on campus can’t afford the latest versions of the software they are using. What are the chances of these budget-challenged customers buying an expensive monitor, calibration software, and then calibrating the monitor weekly? Just about zero.