Proofing Paper

[ThePhotoDude]

What is proofing paper used for?

I give small proofing samples to clients who require it for colour and tone assessment before giving me the OK to print the larger pieces.

I have a couple of rolls of different types of proofing paper untouched. I'm not sure what to do with it?
Is this what I should be giving my customers?
But assumingly the D-Max and gamut will be different then the big final print so what's the point?

My paper supplier gave me a 30m roll of a proofing paper they are pushing to try out, but what do I use it for?

Thanks

[Czornyj]

What is proofing paper used for?

I give small proofing samples to clients who require it for colour and tone assessment before giving me the OK to print the larger pieces.

I have a couple of rolls of different types of proofing paper untouched. I'm not sure what to do with it?
Is this what I should be giving my customers?
But assumingly the D-Max and gamut will be different then the big final print so what's the point?

My paper supplier gave me a 30m roll of a proofing paper they are pushing to try out, but what do I use it for?

Thanks

Proofing paper is used in printing industry for contract proofs preparation. Apart from prepress applications it's rather useless.

[bill t.]

It's one of the reasons why printing-press proofs have at best a casual relationship to what actually emerges during the run.  Cut it into 6" rolls and store it in the lavatory.

[Colorwave]

I've seen people discussing proofing paper fairly often here on LL and have never understood its value.  "Just like this . . . except different" never has seemed worth the effort to me.  I proof on the final media, on scraps when I'm lucky and have some left over.

[Czornyj]

I've seen people discussing proofing paper fairly often here on LL and have never understood its value.  "Just like this . . . except different" never has seemed worth the effort to me.  I proof on the final media, on scraps when I'm lucky and have some left over.

It's useless for photographic purposes. Proofing paper is optimized for offset press print simulation.

[digitaldog]

IF you want to make a print on an ink jet to simulate what you'll get on another device, having paper that matches closely is useful. Generally speaking, proofing paper is an ink jet paper that simulates some kind of contract proof or press sheet.

[rdonson]

The answers given so far are all true but depending on your printer you may find a use for some proofing papers.  For example on my HP Z3100 I use the HP Professional High-Gloss Contract Proofing Paper for sports posters.  The color and saturation is good and the cost is inline with what people are willing to pay.  I've been happy with it for this purpose.

[Guigui]

What is proofing paper used for?

I give small proofing samples to clients who require it for colour and tone assessment before giving me the OK to print the larger pieces.

I have a couple of rolls of different types of proofing paper untouched. I'm not sure what to do with it?
Is this what I should be giving my customers?
But assumingly the D-Max and gamut will be different then the big final print so what's the point?

My paper supplier gave me a 30m roll of a proofing paper they are pushing to try out, but what do I use it for?

Thanks

My printer came in with a bunch of proofing paper sheets. I used them to make some test prints and to check color consistency, then I moved to fine art papers.

[nemophoto]

I've used proofing paper in my inkjets to create "dead-on" proofs for printers and clients. The surface and color are much closer to the final coated offset sheet used in traditional CMYK printing. A properly calibrated system/paper profile with a quality RIP is about as close as you can get to WYSIWYG off a print run.

[Pete Berry]

I use inexpensive papers printed with the same profile my archival papers are printed with for "proofing" samples. By simply adjusting driver "Color Settings" (which in the iPF5100 remain active with PS controlling colors and driver management off) I can get a very close match between RR UltraPro 2.0 Satin and Ilford GFS; and between RR Polar Matte and Innova PhotoSmooth Cotton.

The colors in both pairs are spot-on, with small differences contrast and saturation compensated in the driver settings - much closer than trying to achieve the same results with individual profiles.

Pete