Describe the problem you are trying to avoid
“High quality” means different things for a photograph, a form and a business card. Identify what matters in use: small text that can be read, a surface that can be written on, an acceptable color reference or a fold that leaves the content in the right place.
Bring an existing sample if it explains the goal. Note what you want to retain and what should change. That gives a proof review a clearer purpose than choosing a premium-sounding material name.
Look at the artwork at its placed size
Check the original image dimensions and how large the image appears in the layout. Enlarging an image does not create missing detail, and changing its file extension does not repair it. A resolution label alone is not enough to assess the result.
Supply an original vector logo where one exists, rather than a screenshot taken from a website. Ask the supplier to assess important photographs, fine lines and small reversed text in the proposed output. Confirm file, bleed and font requirements for the job instead of applying one generic export recipe.
Use a focused proof checklist
| What you notice | What to review |
|---|---|
| A photograph looks soft | The source image, its placed size and the representative printed result. |
| Text is difficult to read | Its actual size, weight, contrast and surrounding background. |
| A color looks different | The agreed reference, stock, process and conditions used to compare the samples. |
| A piece feels wrong for its use | The stock, finish, writing surface and finished construction. |
These checks help identify questions; they do not diagnose every cause from a screen image. Agree which concerns the proposed proof can resolve before authorizing production.
Handle a relevant material sample
For business cards, compare the feel and surface against how the card will be used. If someone needs to write on it, test the proposed surface with the intended writing tool.
For brochures, review the fold and page order as well as the printed face. For mailed documents, consider the complete packet and envelope, not just an isolated sheet.
Record the selected stock and finish. Terms such as matte or glossy can help describe a preference, but they do not identify an exact product or guarantee a particular result.
Make color approval specific
Supply a named or physical color reference when color is important. Ask how it will be represented using the proposed stock and production process. Do not treat a screen display or a color name as a promise of an exact match across different materials.
Keep the approved proof and specification together, noting any accepted limitations. A later reorder can then be compared with an actual reference instead of memory.