When it comes to proofing, in-plants use a variety of methods, both virtual and tangible.

By Carol Brzozowski

Customers, Knox says, use proofs more to check content than color.

“Our customers haven’t said a lot about color difference,” Knox says. “We notice it more.”

Those that are concerned about color after seeing a digital or PDF proof usually do a press check, she adds.

Pleasing vs. Accurate Color

Likewise, Johnson feels that some customers only require pleasing colors. For them, Printing Services can use a standard color printer or even PDFs for proofs because they are not color-critical. Designers who can’t get across campus to the in-plant to check a proof also may get PDF files. The shop sends PDFs for about 30 percent of its small jobs and only for final corrections on large jobs.