Proofing

You will be asked to proof your publication before it is made ready for final production. Proofs will come as close to resembling the finished product as possible with technology available to Public Affairs and Marketing and Printing Services.

You are expected to inspect the proof carefully to ensure all elements are in place and correct. A project request/status form will be sent to you with your proof copy. You must sign this form, noting changes if needed (with a red pen), and return it to the publications coordinator/manager at Printing Services, CH 150. If no changes are required, sign on the “FINAL PROOF” line and return the form with your proof and envelope to the publications coordinator.

Although the publications coordinator/manager will review your product, you have the final responsibility for accuracy of all text. In the case of a publication that needs to be corrected after it is press-ready or printed, if the client failed to catch the error during the proofing stage, the client must pay for the extra work or reprinting.

What you should look for on your proof copy:

• Check for typographical errors
• Check photos and captions
• Verify that text falls into columns and breaks correctly from page to page
• Check page numbers
• Check line breaks and hyphenated words
• Check accuracy of dates and times
• Check spelling
• Check spacing

Blueline Proofs

If your job is to be run on a press, film negatives are output from electronic files after page proofs are approved. The film is then stripped into position and processed to make a blueline. A blueline is a one-color representation of how your job will be laid out. You will be called by Printing Services to go there (Cremer Hall 150) and review the blueline just before your job goes on the press.

Changes at this stage can be costly to you and delay the job.

What you should look for on a blueline proof:

• Check photographs to make sure they are in the right place
• Check copy blocks to make sure there are no missing lines at the end of columns or pages, and no broken lines of type
• Check page numbers and sequence

Errors after the Proofing Stage

In the case of a publication that needs to be corrected after it is press-ready or printed, if the client failed to catch the error during the proofing stage, the client must pay for the extra work or re-printing. If the error was the responsibility of Public Affairs and Marketing or Printing Services, the client will not be charged for the extra work.

Last Updated June 9, 2008