The Proofs Arrive From the Printer

October 14, 2014
We have our proofs from the printer! This part of the proofing process is quite interesting. The printer was sent the digital file as a high resolution PDF with all the images embedded and from this they send back the “ozalids” which are basically the book’s pages in blue-print form on a low quality paper and then assembled into signatures (sections) of 16 pages each. It is a number of these signatures (30 in fact) which are then bound and form the book itself. Then the cover is drawn and bound to the book.

At this point in the proofing process we check that all page numbering is still there, captions have not moved from their photos and that the book is assembled in the correct order (sounds funny but I’ve heard of books where pages have been put in wrong places, I once saw a page that was upside-down). Once we do the sign-off for this phase the book is then printed and we are sent the running sheets for final approval, these are the actual printed pages, just not bound. After we approve the running sheets the book pages are folded, assembled, stitched, bound, trimmed and shipped to us.

Arvalee checking against our print out

Arvalee checking against our print out

The color proof pages

The color proof pages

Cover art on the dummy binding

Cover art on the dummy binding

Dummy book binding, blank pages bound for sizing the cover and spine

Dummy book binding, blank pages bound for sizing the cover and spine

Signature proofs as ozalids

Signature proofs as ozalids

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