🚀 go-pugleaf

Tech,

Glad it was clear and helpful. One last thing.

If possible, get your commercial printer to print and mail you color proofs to sign off on before the job is run. These are called "contract proofs" for a reason. It shows you what the job should look like when it comes off their press, and it is their job to match the press run to their proof, within tolerances allowed by the standard they are following (if any). They should have some statement on their website. The press run is rarely exactly the same and you may see some differences in density, color, contrast, etc, but it should be close. When possible, I attend the "press check" right before the job is run and I work with the printer to make final adjustments to get it as close as possible. This usually involves a few compromises. If the final printed job migrates too far from their proof, they will have to reprint the job at their expense, but it has to be beyond the leeway allowed. I am assuming a press check will not be possible due to distance, so color proofs supplied by the printer are even more important, especially on a job of this size.

Ask for their tolerances, criteria for accepting or rejecting the job, etc. They may say they adhere to SWOP standards, or whatever. Hopefully, you will not have any need to worry about this, but it could save your butt if there are any disagreements over the finished job.

Since it is a book with lots of pages, they should also provide you with a mockup of the finished book to be sure images, page order, text and other elements are as they should be. This may be a low rez, B&W or blueline document to keep cost down. It just helps to make sure all elements are laid out properly, with proper bleed, etc.

Best of luck. Let us know how it turns out.

Lou