Proofing

It is common for customers to make edits to their files after reviewing their hard (printed) proof. We will preflight and process the new files and supply a soft (PDF) proof so that you can confirm that all final changes are in the files we will use for production.

In some cases, you may decide to order another printed proof. Additional proofs are charged at the same rate as the original, $75 setup fee plus a variable per-page cost based on page dimensions.

We generally discourage getting more than two printed proofs. The longer the time between printings, the more variables can affect print consistency. Press maintenance and even temperature and humidity changes can cause color shifts in the print. If you are trying to tweak a particular image and we feel the adjustments are subtle enough that they fall within the normal range of color + density variation of the presses, we will let you know.

For both hard (printed) and soft (PDF) proofs, you should review everything carefully to be sure that the cover, contents, text and images all look as they are meant to appear in the final book. Double check that the pagination (left- and right-side pages) is correct, that text and images and graphics appear as they should, and that the version you provided us is the most up-to-date, including all of your final edits.

To evaluate print quality and color accuracy, we strongly recommend a hard proof. Review your printed proof in natural light (sunlight), as that will give the truest representation of print color and density. Take notice of any materials, such as the paper stock, cover stock, linen sample, etc., and make sure you are satisfied with your selections.

Hard proofs include the entire contents of your book, printed with the same press and paper used for the final book printing.

If your book has a printed cover, printed endpapers, or dust jacket, those will also be printed and sent to you.

Hard proofs are collated and trimmed to size, but not bound or laminated.

We do not provide hard proofs for linen covers or foil stamping.

Hard (Printed) Proofs

• For all hard (printed) proofs, we charge a $75.00 set up fee plus a per-page print cost that varies with book page dimensions.
• The charges include materials and labor for setup, a preflight check of your files, and USPS Priority shipping.
• Expedited proof shipping via UPS Next Day Air is available for an additional charge of $60.Soft (PDF) Proofs

Soft (PDF) proofs

• Delivered via email and do not incur any fees.

Soft proofs are emailed to you as PDF files.

You will be able to see the final pagination, layout, and edge trim of your book on your computer display.

We will send soft proofs for all printed material included in your book order. This may include the book contents, cover, dust jacket, inset image and endpapers.

Note: For projects where color accuracy or image print quality is of high importance:

• We strongly recommend a printed hard (printed) proof.
• Even with color-calibrated monitors on both ends, soft proofs can not truly represent the color or materials of the actual book.
• The only true color and print reference is a hard proof.

After you've reviewed your hard (printed) proof or soft (PDF) proof and are ready to move your book into production, you can sign our brief production approval form.

We will confirm that we received your proof sign off, and that we are starting on production of your order.

If you have a hard deadline for your order, it's always best to review your proof as soon as possible to keep your order timeline on schedule. For deadline orders, we will typically give you guidance as to when you need to approve the proof for production in order to meet your delivery date.

If there isn't a hard deadline, you can take a bit more time to review your proof. However, our production schedule is in constant motion so it's always best to approve any proof as soon as possible in order to avoid any delays. Similarly, it's best not to let too much time pass between the printed proof and approval, as press and environmental conditions could change and affect color consistency.

Hard proofs older than five weeks are considered 'expired.' We cannot guarantee color accuracy beyond this timeframe, and recommend starting the proofing cycle over again with a new printed proof.

It's common to notice things in your proof that you want to change – typos to fix, images to adjust, photos to replace, etc. You can make edits to your files and upload the revised versions, and decide if you want to see a soft proof, a hard proof, or proceed straight to production.

If you receive your hard (printed) proof and are unhappy with the results, contact us directly via email to let us know what the problem is. In the unlikely event of a mechanical or software issue on our end that led to a flawed proof print, we will reprint the proof at no charge.

If you are unhappy with the proof and wish to cancel your order, we will refund any payments made, minus the proof cost.

We do not sell proofs outside of book orders, so you must place an order with us in order to get a hard (printed) proof.

After we receive a payment from you (a payment in full or a 50% deposit for orders over $1000) we will process and print your proof. This will typically take 2-3 days.

All proofs include standard shipping via USPS Priority Mail, which usually takes 1-3 days depending on your location.

If you need your proof sooner, we can ship via UPS Next Day Air for an additional fee of $60.

Proofing is an important part of the book printing process.

The proof will confirm that your design, graphics, and images print as expected.

Before sending us your files for proofing, you should have already checked things like grammar, spelling, and page numbering.

Many customers need to make edits to their files after receiving their initial proofs. If you need to see an additional proof after making edits, you will have the option to pay for another hard proof, or receive a soft proof without incurring additional cost.

Soft (PDF) Proofs

• All orders include PDF “soft proofs” at no additional charge.
• We will run preflight checks on your print-ready PDF files to look for errors, then process your files to ensure that they print well on our presses.
• You will receive a soft proof PDF from us for review on your computer display.
• Soft proofs are often sufficient for books that are all or mostly text, or for books where absolute color accuracy is not crucial.

Hard (Printed) Proofs

• We can also produce a printed “hard proof”, which will add some cost to your order.
• We strongly recommend hard proofs for all books where color rendition, image quality, and graphic detail are important.
• A printed proof is the only way to get see an accurate representation of what the final printed book will look like.