Remember when sending a client a physical proof of a print job was a chargeable service? That seems to have disappeared when we went to electronic distribution and suddenly clients started expecting a free emailed PDF proof. Many challenges arose with this system due to color inconsistency, productivity loss due to multiple revisions, etc. Today’s soft proofing systems offer convenient sharing, color accuracy thanks to screen calibration, automation, enhanced project monitoring, and other benefits that improve your workflow and reduce costs. How can you implement a system like this in your business? Here we spoke with Dan Caldwell, President of Remote Director, on the latest soft proofing innovations and how they can be the solution you’ve been looking for. Want a preview? Before you read this take a guided tour of Remote Director. PIA: What are the downsides of traditional soft proofing? DC: Most people feel that a PDF proof displayed on a monitor should cost nothing. But this has been eroding our value and profits as print providers. It used to be that the physical proof was like a signed “contract” for what we would deliver to our customer as the final job. These contract proofs had value and were charged for as part of the prepress costs. However as desktop publishing and CTP removed the need for creating film-based proofs, we shot ourselves in the foot by devaluing the cost of professionals in prepress. To regain prepress value, we can’t un-ring the bell of emailing free PDFs, but we can offer a better solution to restore value to the client, improve productivity, and create an automated audit trail for comments, revisions, and signoffs that were previously hidden in various email threads.. PIA: What is the solution? DC: Using today’s soft proofing systems, we provide a server-based solution where the final full-resolution files from prepress can be stored for all stakeholders to review. These systems eliminate the need for low-resolution files to be created along with the duplication required by email. PIA: Can you tell us about some of the key benefits of these systems? DC: There are plenty of benefits. For instance some systems can be automated with your current workflow software to provide hands-off creation. Once set up, files are added automatically and reviewers receive an email with the link to open the proof on their desktop. Using the provided tools, users can mark up and sign off on the proof. Another key functionality is the color management these systems provide through screen calibration. As dictated by the prepress coordinator, you can assign each user with a role that defines what tools they have access to. For example a legal viewer would not need the color...

Remember when sending a client a physical proof of a print job was a chargeable service? That seems to have disappeared when we went to electronic distribution and suddenly clients started expecting a free emailed PDF proof. Many challenges arose with this system due to color inconsistency, productivity loss due to multiple revisions, etc. Today’s soft proofing systems offer convenient sharing, color accuracy thanks to screen calibration, automation, enhanced project monitoring, and other benefits that improve your workflow and reduce costs. How can you implement a system like this in your business? Here we spoke with Dan Caldwell, President of Remote Director, on the latest soft proofing innovations and how they can be the solution you’ve been looking for. Want a preview? Before you read this take a guided tour of Remote Director. PIA: What are the downsides of traditional soft proofing? DC: Most people feel that a PDF proof displayed on a monitor should cost nothing. But this has been eroding our value and profits as print providers. It used to be that the physical proof was like a signed “contract” for what we would deliver to our customer as the final job. These contract proofs had value and were charged for as part of the prepress costs. However as desktop publishing and CTP removed the need for creating film-based proofs, we shot ourselves in the foot by devaluing the cost of professionals in prepress. To regain prepress value, we can’t un-ring the bell of emailing free PDFs, but we can offer a better solution to restore value to the client, improve productivity, and create an automated audit trail for comments, revisions, and signoffs that were previously hidden in various email threads.. PIA: What is the solution? DC: Using today’s soft proofing systems, we provide a server-based solution where the final full-resolution files from prepress can be stored for all stakeholders to review. These systems eliminate the need for low-resolution files to be created along with the duplication required by email. PIA: Can you tell us about some of the key benefits of these systems? DC: There are plenty of benefits. For instance some systems can be automated with your current workflow software to provide hands-off creation. Once set up, files are added automatically and reviewers receive an email with the link to open the proof on their desktop. Using the provided tools, users can mark up and sign off on the proof. Another key functionality is the color management these systems provide through screen calibration. As dictated by the prepress coordinator, you can assign each user with a role that defines what tools they have access to. For example a legal viewer would not need the color...

Remember when sending a client a physical proof of a print job was a chargeable service? That seems to have disappeared when we went to electronic distribution and suddenly clients started expecting a free emailed PDF proof. Many challenges arose with this system due to color inconsistency, productivity loss due to multiple revisions, etc. Today’s soft proofing systems offer convenient sharing, color accuracy thanks to screen calibration, automation, enhanced project monitoring, and other benefits that improve your workflow and reduce costs. How can you implement a system like this in your business? Here we spoke with Dan Caldwell, President of Remote Director, on the latest soft proofing innovations and how they can be the solution you’ve been looking for. Want a preview? Before you read this take a guided tour of Remote Director. PIA: What are the downsides of traditional soft proofing? DC: Most people feel that a PDF proof displayed on a monitor should cost nothing. But this has been eroding our value and profits as print providers. It used to be that the physical proof was like a signed “contract” for what we would deliver to our customer as the final job. These contract proofs had value and were charged for as part of the prepress costs. However as desktop publishing and CTP removed the need for creating film-based proofs, we shot ourselves in the foot by devaluing the cost of professionals in prepress. To regain prepress value, we can’t un-ring the bell of emailing free PDFs, but we can offer a better solution to restore value to the client, improve productivity, and create an automated audit trail for comments, revisions, and signoffs that were previously hidden in various email threads.. PIA: What is the solution? DC: Using today’s soft proofing systems, we provide a server-based solution where the final full-resolution files from prepress can be stored for all stakeholders to review. These systems eliminate the need for low-resolution files to be created along with the duplication required by email. PIA: Can you tell us about some of the key benefits of these systems? DC: There are plenty of benefits. For instance some systems can be automated with your current workflow software to provide hands-off creation. Once set up, files are added automatically and reviewers receive an email with the link to open the proof on their desktop. Using the provided tools, users can mark up and sign off on the proof. Another key functionality is the color management these systems provide through screen calibration. As dictated by the prepress coordinator, you can assign each user with a role that defines what tools they have access to. For example a legal viewer would not need the color...

Hey all you postpress professionals out there! Did you make it to this year’s BIA Conference? Attendees say, “the presentations were top-notch and covered a very wide range of topics,” and, “I would attend again for more of the same speakers, topics, and tours.” Benefits It’s evident that the BIA offers excellent membership perks, including professional networking, promotion, award opportunities, and the most recent BIA Conference. Here networking and learning about some of the latest advancements that enable greater value-adds to your product and service lines were some of the standout benefits. But this event also presented a unique opportunity to talk business with potential customers! The first-time co-location with the Print Leadership Summit offered face-to-face time with print customers. Takeaways Now, we all know that what’s most essential about any conference is its takeaway value. Did attendees learn anything here that they can share with their company and apply? If you ask BIA attendees, the answer is YES! One attendee said, “I came away energized, excited, and ready to share all I learned.” Download speaker Scott Warrick’s session handouts for Living the Skills of Tolerance. Take a look at what 2015 BIA Conference attendees are saying: “The convention was great. The speakers were full of information and knowledge and covered many necessary topics for businesses to hear. I came away energized, excited, and ready to share all I learned.  It was fun meeting so many people from all walks of life. I still think of that week a lot and have my convention packet sitting right here in my office ready at any time to glance at if I need to. I would attend again for more of the same speakers, topics, and tours.” Landon Osborne, Vice President – Plant, Houchen Bindery, Ltd., Printing Industry Midwest Member “I thought [the 2015 BIA Conference] was really good, the presentations were top-notch and covered a very wide range of topics. This was my third time in four years! I do enjoy getting out to see the tours also. [The co-location with the 2015 Print Leadership Summit] worked well. I saw many print customers who were attending the PLS. “[BIA benefits I would like to see in the future include] some type of a round-table session, like the  vendor rapid fire, whereby members could get up and talk to the others about our own particular capabilities. I think it could be of benefit to all the members. Most all of us as members (that I know) have extremely different types of capabilities and services.”  Martin Pugh, Director of Sales & Marketing, Houchen Bindery Ltd., Printing Industry Midwest Member If you want to be part of a group working together to become...

Hey all you postpress professionals out there! Did you make it to this year’s BIA Conference? Attendees say, “the presentations were top-notch and covered a very wide range of topics,” and, “I would attend again for more of the same speakers, topics, and tours.” Benefits It’s evident that the BIA offers excellent membership perks, including professional networking, promotion, award opportunities, and the most recent BIA Conference. Here networking and learning about some of the latest advancements that enable greater value-adds to your product and service lines were some of the standout benefits. But this event also presented a unique opportunity to talk business with potential customers! The first-time co-location with the Print Leadership Summit offered face-to-face time with print customers. Takeaways Now, we all know that what’s most essential about any conference is its takeaway value. Did attendees learn anything here that they can share with their company and apply? If you ask BIA attendees, the answer is YES! One attendee said, “I came away energized, excited, and ready to share all I learned.” Download speaker Scott Warrick’s session handouts for Living the Skills of Tolerance. Take a look at what 2015 BIA Conference attendees are saying: “The convention was great. The speakers were full of information and knowledge and covered many necessary topics for businesses to hear. I came away energized, excited, and ready to share all I learned.  It was fun meeting so many people from all walks of life. I still think of that week a lot and have my convention packet sitting right here in my office ready at any time to glance at if I need to. I would attend again for more of the same speakers, topics, and tours.” Landon Osborne, Vice President – Plant, Houchen Bindery, Ltd., Printing Industry Midwest Member “I thought [the 2015 BIA Conference] was really good, the presentations were top-notch and covered a very wide range of topics. This was my third time in four years! I do enjoy getting out to see the tours also. [The co-location with the 2015 Print Leadership Summit] worked well. I saw many print customers who were attending the PLS. “[BIA benefits I would like to see in the future include] some type of a round-table session, like the  vendor rapid fire, whereby members could get up and talk to the others about our own particular capabilities. I think it could be of benefit to all the members. Most all of us as members (that I know) have extremely different types of capabilities and services.”  Martin Pugh, Director of Sales & Marketing, Houchen Bindery Ltd., Printing Industry Midwest Member If you want to be part of a group working together to become...