Before it's time for the press check,
there are important steps that you've already taken.
For example, you've signed off on those final
proofs, and that's what really sets this in motion.
But make sure that before you did that,
you obtained any necessary approval from your own client.
This is no time to be making changes.
Any changes at this stage of the job could have an impact on the scheduling
of the job and could certainly have an impact on the cost of the job.
Confirm the schedule.
Make sure you know when your job is going to
run and when your presence is required for the press check
and, if this is your first press check, it might be
a nice idea to take a plant tour ahead of time.
That way, you have some sense of the
press room environment before you attend the press check.
On the day of the press check, be mindful of the schedule,
arrive early, and be prepared for multiple stages of a complex job.
For example,
something like an annual report doesn't print all
at once, so you might have to attend one
press check for the cover, one press check for another part of the job, and so forth.
So that may mean some back and forth, going to the press
check, leaving the facility, coming back for another segment, and so on.
And there may be other breaks in the action as well.
For example, a paper roll change, or the very
rare occasion where something mechanical goes wrong with the press.
That is exceedingly rare.
But that means you still need to be flexible and
in fact, some printing plants run 24 hours a day.
You're job may run in the middle of the night so
you might want to be sort of emotionally prepared for that possibility.
Basically, prepare yourself for the long haul.
It's a good idea to wear
comfortable shoes, bring reading material, bring snacks,
and just be ready for whatever happens during the run of your job.