Specs
Soft Proof specs
Setup notes and briefing numbers for Soft Proof.
Monitor targets before approval
The soft proof specs page lists the setup details behind a usable screen-to-print comparison. It covers monitor state, viewing conditions, file intent and profile selection so approvals are not based on guesswork.
A soft proof only helps when the screen is in a known state. Set the display to a stable white point, sensible luminance, and the ICC profile actually assigned by the operating system before anyone compares it with vinyl, paper, or banner output. In Gauteng offices with bright daylight, an over-bright monitor can make a print look dull when the file is fine.
Room light matters as much as the profile name. Check proofs away from direct sun, coloured walls, and mixed lamp temperatures so the FastJET, Stormjet, or Skywalker output is judged under repeatable viewing conditions. A quick photo of the monitor setup and the print beside it helps when the same job is reviewed again after load-shedding or a workstation change.
Numbers worth writing down
Record the monitor brightness, white point, rendering intent, document profile, and RIP profile used for the comparison. Those details explain far more than a verbal note saying the red looked weak or the grey looked warm. One consistent screen-to-print method is easier to repeat across a production shift than swapping settings for every operator.
Match the file intent to the output condition before you compare anything on screen. If the artwork is built in CMYK, note which profile was supplied, whether black point compensation was used, and which media preset the printer ran on. If the screen and the print still disagree, send us a photo of the printed sample and we will check your Soft Proof settings.
- Monitor white point and luminance logged
- Viewing light checked before sign-off
- RIP preset noted with media name
Screen checks for SA shops
Johannesburg sunlight through office glass can shift perception during the day, while coastal humidity around Durban can change how a print dries before it is reviewed. Cape Town studios often move between daylight and interior lighting, which makes a neutral grey check worth doing before approval. Soft proof notes should therefore include when and where the print was viewed, not just what machine produced it.
Power interruptions can reset displays, wake a second monitor, or leave an older workstation on the wrong profile after restart. Dust on a panel and tinted desk lighting also affect judgement more than most teams expect. Compare the sample only after the monitor has warmed up properly and the print has reached a settled appearance.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Brief details to send
Send the job size, substrate, RIP name, machine model, and the exact issue seen on screen versus print. Mention whether the problem sits in skin tones, solid brand colour, neutral greys, or shadow detail. That makes the Soft Proof specs note useful from the first check.
Store the calibration note while the test prints, RIP preset and monitor target are still easy to verify. Include the paper white point, viewing light, rendering intent and the ICC profile used for the screen comparison. When a buyer queries colour later, the proof record shows which settings were approved and which display conditions were used.
What our Colour Management customers say
Verified Google reviews