How do you proof variable data? Does your customer specify records they would like to see proofed? Do you just print the first x records? Do you generate random records to proof from the entire recordset? Do you proof specific pieces (ie. longest fields, shortest fields, etc.)?
How many records should be included in a variable proof?
Full Version: Proofing Variable Data
Lately I'm having a lot of PDF proof requests mostly for "complex" variable jobs, but now it looks like our all of our Salesfolk are now going for this...they don't have to drive the proofs anywhere they just email them.
More time to Golf, Shop, Lunches etc. This actually creates more work because you need to make your layout for PRINTING, then you need to "save as", and take out any imposition / Layout you have, create a new "page size" for 1 up, change your output format to Postcript and print whatever records are needed for the proof, save this to a file, then distill that file to a .pdf. Much more work and if the customer wants to make changes then you have to start all over. I also run Presssheets for proofing too, then move on to other jobs until the proof is ok, a day or so later.
Printshop Mail and an IGen
More time to Golf, Shop, Lunches etc. This actually creates more work because you need to make your layout for PRINTING, then you need to "save as", and take out any imposition / Layout you have, create a new "page size" for 1 up, change your output format to Postcript and print whatever records are needed for the proof, save this to a file, then distill that file to a .pdf. Much more work and if the customer wants to make changes then you have to start all over. I also run Presssheets for proofing too, then move on to other jobs until the proof is ok, a day or so later.
Printshop Mail and an IGen
I understand what you are saying about the sales reps needing more time for other priorities 
Do you do your imposition in Printshop Mail? I have not used it for quite sometime and don't remember how we used it. Can't Printshop Mail output PDFs?
How many different records do you produce for a proof?
Do you do your imposition in Printshop Mail? I have not used it for quite sometime and don't remember how we used it. Can't Printshop Mail output PDFs?
How many different records do you produce for a proof?
QUOTE(rugby148 @ Aug 9 2006, 09:25 PM) [snapback]577[/snapback]
I understand what you are saying about the sales reps needing more time for other priorities
Do you do your imposition in Printshop Mail? I have not used it for quite sometime and don't remember how we used it. Can't Printshop Mail output PDFs?
How many different records do you produce for a proof?
I do almost 100% of our vdp through PrintshopMail. Yes, it can output direct to PDF (just select your adobe printer in the print menu). Do I care if its already imposed? No. If I feel the customer requires to see it one up, then I just do a crop or trim and shift of my resulting PDF through any one of many PDF tools.
Regarding the randomness of records...easy. I do a sort of the data in PSM of a couple fields to mix them up. Then, I just print whatever number of records needed (usually 20 is requested). Sometimes I'll simply print the whole darn file to PDF and let them see that.
Hope that helps.
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