- [Instructor] If you're scheduled to attend a press check
there are some things that you ought to know
about life in the pressroom.
First of all, you need to pay attention to scheduling
but that also means that you need to be prepared to wait.
The printer tells you what time to get there
but truthfully that's an approximation.
After all an earlier job
might delay the running of your job.
So you have to expect delays.
If you're running a large job
there are going to be delays between different sections
of that large job.
They'll have to clean up the press, change the plates,
start up for the section that they're running next.
And of course there could be unexpected delays,
a paper break or a press problem
which by the way is very rare.
So that means that you need to be flexible.
So what should you bring with you to a press check?
Well, any of your comps or dummies
that you might've kept not sent to the printer,
any proofs that you have.
Now usually contract proofs
are going to stay at the printers and travel with the job
but if you have any bring them with you.
If you've used any special swatches
for stocks or ink chips bring those along.
And by the way it might not be a bad idea
to bring some snacks and wear comfortable shoes.
Because there may be delays
you might want some reading material
so bring your iPad or magazines or books.
You'll be checking for mechanical issues on the press run,
the content, any corrections that you've asked for.
Make sure that they've been made.
Check against that contract proof that you signed off on.
You want to take a look at type.
Make sure that there's no missing or broken text.
No incorrect font, no font substitution.
No reflow of texts, no typos.
And to make sure that image color is as you expected
and the crop is correct.
And then there are little problems
that can happen on press.
Hickeys which are little blank spaces in the printing.
Picking where perhaps a little bit of papers
gotten stuck to the paper that's being printed, pulls off
and then there's no ink behind it.
Pinholes and any other printing problems.
Again, you're checking against your contract proof.
These are mechanical problems.
And then trapping where dissimilar colors meet.
You want to make sure that there's no little white gap
and you also want to make sure that that trap isn't too heavy
and becomes kind of obvious.
As you're checking color, do a general check
to make sure that that color matches your contact proof.
Make sure that the color break is correct.
In other words, things are the color that they ought to be.
Is that headline supposed to be red?
Make sure that there's color consistency
across the press sheet.
And make sure that there's color consistency
in crossover content.
In other words, a picture that spans pages two and three
make sure that on those separate sheets
that the color matches.
Again the pressman keeps good track of this
but it's also up to you to approve it.
Check for mottling in large color areas
especially on digital presses.
Be reasonable.
There are limitations to even the most wonderful press
and of course you have to keep in mind
that requesting changes at this point
that's going to have an impact on your deadline
and let's face it some things just take time.
Loading paper onto a press, cleaning the press
and finally be kind to the pressman.
Keep in mind he's an expert
and he's responsible for making your job
look the way you expect it to.