Online Approval is really a very simple process - clients book-in jobs with our production department as usual, and then receive an email when this has been done. The email will contain a link to the Online Approval web site where they can then upload their PDF files.

Our server will take a look at the files and automatically generate a report that gets emailed back to the client. If the PDF is suitable, a member of EPC's pre-press team will then create the online proof which will, in turn, notify the client. If the PDF has errors or other issues then it will say so on the clients' report so the original file can be amended and then re-uploaded. We believe that correcting the original files to be properly print-ready is always a wise policy and saves having multiple copies that differ from one another.

The online proof is a raster image created by the same engine as our digital proofers and platesetter, so it's very accurate in terms of what you see is what will be printed at EPC. However, be aware that, because computer screens vary hugely in their ability to display colour, the colour you see on screen will not be accurate. If you require colour accurate proofs we can, of course, produce them for you.

It is also possible for us to fully automate the Online Approval system if required. Fully automated means the Upload will automatically trigger the creation of the proof, so the client could in effect upload and proof any time, any day, anywhere - until they're completely satisfied.

Usage of the fully automated Online Approval depends on how confident the client is in creating print-ready PDFs as they wouldn't have any input from EPC Pre-press staff in this situation. 'Print-ready PDFs' are files created with settings designed to work specifically with printing presses. We can assist in this by providing profiles for Quark, InDesign and most applications created by us specifically for printing at EPC. PDFs created with these settings should have no problems flying through the Online Approval system.

To register for Online Approval simply contact your sales representative or email sales@epcdirect.co.uk

Once registered you will be sent a user name and password, and a link to the Online Approval site where more detailed instructions are available. Once registered, all submitted jobs will be proofed via Online Approval.

It's that easy.