Printers Cite Choices For Proofing Options

Along with its rising importance, proofing has become a diverse process, with many different technologies used for the same basic purpose. TrendWatch Graphic Arts surveyed printers about the most-used technologies to generate for position only (FPO) or concept proofs, internal workflow proofs, and final proofs for client sign-off.

At the top of the FPO proofing list is color copiers; 30% of all print businesses say that they use color copiers for FPO or concept proofs. This is up 22 percentage points since Spring 2002, when TrendWatch last surveyed printers on proofing. PDF or Quark (or other application) files attached to e-mail are used by 27% of print businesses for FPO or concept proofing, up 18 percentage points. Use of desktop ink-jet printers used for FPO or concept proofs is down slightly, from 23% in the previous survey to 20% at present.

For internal workflow proofs, 21% of respondents say they use color copiers, up from 18% two years ago. Meanwhile, 19% use PDF or Quark files attached to e-mail, up from 13%, and 19% use desktop ink-jet printers, an unchanged percentage.

For final proofs for client sign-off, PDF or Quark files attached to e-mail comes in as the top proofing method, 38%, for all print businesses, up from 25% two years ago. In second place is color copiers at 27%, an increase from 16% two years ago. Number three is desktop ink-jet printers, at 26%, up from 21%.

Filmless workflows have nearly halved the number of surveyed firms that use single-sheet proofs made from film (like Matchprint); use of film-based proofs has dropped from 46% two years ago to 25% in the current survey.

Overall, clients will continue to dictate the popularity of a given proofing method, with those fussy about color fidelity demanding more rigorous methods. By the way, TrendWatch data indicates that demand for critical color work is waning; information culled from creative markets buttresses this point.