InDesign

Print a hard proof

A hard proof (sometimes called a proof print or match print) is a printed simulation of what your final output on a printing press will look like. A hard proof is produced on an output device that’s less expensive than a printing press. In recent years some inkjet printers have the resolution necessary to produce inexpensive prints that can be used as hard proofs.

  1. Choose View > Proof Setup > Custom.
  2. In the Customize Proof Condition dialog box, select the device you want to simulate, and click OK.
  3. Select Preserve RGB Numbers or Preserve CMYK numbers, and click OK.

    This option determines how InDesign handles colors that do not have a color profile associated with them (for example, imported images without embedded profiles). When this option is selected, InDesign sends the color numbers directly to the output device. When this option is deselected, InDesign first converts the color numbers to the color space of the output device.

    Preserving numbers is recommended when you are following a safe CMYK workflow. (See Using a safe CMYK workflow.) Preserving numbers is not recommended for printing RGB documents.

  4. Choose File > Print.
  5. If a printer preset has the settings you want, choose it in the Printer Preset menu at the top of the Print dialog box.
  6. Adjust settings as desired for this document.
  7. Click Color Management on the left side of the Print dialog box.
  8. Under Print, select Proof. The profile should match the proof setup you specified.
  9. For Color Handling, choose Let InDesign Determine Colors.
  10. Select Simulate Paper Color to simulate the specific shade of white exhibited by the print medium as defined by a document’s profile (absolute colorimetric rendering intent). This option is not available for all profiles.
  11. Press either Setup (Windows) or Printer (Mac OS) to access the printer driver dialog box.
  12. Turn off color management for the printer, and click Print to return to the InDesign Print dialog box.

    Every printer driver has different color management options. If it’s not clear how to turn off color management, consult your printer documentation.

  13. Click Print.