1 What is a Thumbnail Proof?

A thumbnail proof is a reduced-size version of your artwork printed on the exact paper you plan to use for the final print.

It uses the same printer, pigment inks and ICC profile as the full-size print, simply at a smaller scale.

What it’s good for

• Checking overall colour balance and mood,
• Comparing two or three paper options side by side,
• Seeing how darks, mid-tones and highlights feel on the chosen stock, and
• Confirming that resolution and detail are sufficient at the intended size.

Thumbnail proofs are a quick, economical way to make sure you are happy with the overall look before we print at full size.

2 What is a Proof-Strip?

A proof-strip is a targeted test used to fine-tune colour and tone. We take a cropped section of your artwork and print it several times side by side, each time with slightly different settings.

For example, we might vary:

• Overall colour balance (warmer / cooler),
• Contrast or shadow detail, and
• Overall vibrancy or saturation.

You then choose the strip that best matches the look you want. Once you’ve decided, we apply those exact settings to the entire image before running the final print or edition.

This is particularly useful for:

• Reflective or metallic paints,
• Very saturated reds, violets, blues or greens,
• Skin tones and other sensitive areas, and
• Images where subtle changes in contrast make a big difference.

3 Choosing the Proof Area

For proof-strips to be meaningful, we need to sample the most critical part of your image. When you order a proof-strip, we’ll usually ask you to indicate where we should take the crop from.

In most cases, this will be:

• The part of the artwork with the most important colour work (e.g. faces, focal objects),
• Areas where reflective or metallic paints are present, or
• Regions with fine tonal modelling (soft gradients, subtle transitions).

If you are unsure which area to choose, we can make a suggestion based on the image you supply.

4 When Proofing is Most Helpful

Proof-strips and thumbnail proofs are optional, but they are strongly recommended when:

• You are producing a limited edition or high-value piece,
• The original artwork is difficult to capture (e.g. glossy, metallic or heavily textured surfaces),
• You are unsure which paper best suits the work, or
• You need to match an existing print or previous edition as closely as possible.

For straightforward jobs with good, well-prepared files, many artists are comfortable going straight to a full-size print. For anything colour-critical, a quick proof can save both time and uncertainty.

5 Related Topics

• Paper Guide
• Printer & Ink Technology
• Preparing Image Files
• Giclée vs Fine Art printing
• Back to FAQs