Digital Proofing--Proof Positive

Digital technologies have given commercial printers the means to gain real money-saving efficiencies. Systems such as computer-to-plate and PDF-based workflow automation have leapfrogged printers into the digital era. The problem, however, has been convincing customers to go along for the ride.

Digital proofing is the perfect example. Over the past 10 years or so, as print buyers endured, even embraced, the front-end digital revolution, they had one thing on which to rely: On the other end of the process, their old friend, the analog proof, would be there to tell them if what they saw was really what they were going to get. But now, they ask their printer, "You want to replace that with yet another unfamiliar technology?"