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How do we convince customers that proofs are on target?
June 21, 2007
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Question: How do we demonstrate to our customers that our proofs are dead-on?
You need to certify proof quality. And to get to that point, your first step is to use process control to find the “sweet spot” of your proofing system. This is the place where your proof accurately forecasts what your printer or press will produce.
Now, keep it there!
The next step is to keep the proof at that point. And from there you want to continually improve the system, so it is reliable. Once you are able to produce proofs that consistently conform to a known quality level, it is time to let the world know your proofs are certified to be consistent. And that they are repeatable based upon objective factual information.
Proof is in the label
The most important part of a certification system is the label we attach to the proof that either contains a snapshot of the quality data or, even better, points the proof viewer to a Website where detailed information about this proof is easily obtainable. The label also needs to contain an overall Pass/Fail status for instant evaluation by the viewer of the proof.
Good as a contract
The process of certifying a proof is important because a proof that is signed off as being okayed by end customers forms a contract. This is a promise for performance. Your internal customer for that proof—your pressroom or digital print center—now has to match that proof to live up to the contract’s terms.
Covering prepress’ back
When proofs are consistent and repeatable, it is much easier to consistently and repeatedly match them on press. Also, when they are having difficulty matching the proof on press, they are more likely to focus on the press rather than blaming a proof that conforms to standards they have matched time and time again in the past. In its own interest, the pressroom will check the certification label to make sure that the proof itself falls within the standards established by the process control system.
Posted by Mark Vruno on June 21, 2007 | Comments (0)
