Digitally printed hard copy proofs (mockup)
In most cases, a digitally printed mock-up copy is probably the most popular choice for individual artists, authors, publishers, and designers. It combines almost everything you need to review a proof before the actual printing. To some extent, it can be regarded as a duplicate edition of your final printed items.
For a book, it includes proper paper, size, sequence, binding, page count, full color printing and finishes. When it comes to a packaging, it also covers correct paper, size, structure, full color printing and finishes. The only difference to your final item is that this is produced using digital printing machine (here we use HP Indigo 12000), while in the actual production we use offset printing presses. Nonetheless, digitally printed copy is a significant preview of your final print outcome. By reviewing the digital proof, you can either adjust the color on your files once you find anything unsatisfied, or you can approve it to have us follow the colors in actual bulk printing.
(Digitally printed mock-up corrugated box vs. mass production piece)
(Digitally printed mock-up hardcover book vs. mass production copy)
It is obvious that a digitally printed proof would not be a cheap proofing option because it needs to go through many processes. An alternative can be digital printing your books or packaging paper wrap in loose sheets without mocked up. It also can help you check the print result but at much lower cost.
Assume you have ordered a dummy for the purpose of checking size, paper, binding of a book, or structure of a packaging. Now you want to check how is the print output of your file. Digital printing on the actual paper stock would be a quick and economical solution. Without the need to get these sheets bound into a book or wrapped onto a box, you save time and money to check a color proof.
(Example of digital proofs on loose sheets without mocked up)
