An order passes four points where you can say yes, no or change it. Each one settles a different question, which is why the order matters. These steps are stated in our photo frame and board catalogues; the quote confirms how they apply to your order.
Guide
Approving artwork and colour: digital proof, sample and photo before dispatch
Quick answer: On a frame or board order we share a digital proof of artwork and colour before production, and colour is matched to your reference sample or colour code and approved on a sample. We ask for sample and photo approval before dispatch. Your specification is kept on file, so repeat orders match the first order.
Have a brief? Send it.
Tell us the product, a rough quantity and whether it carries your brand. We reply within 1 business day, with questions or a quote.
The approval gates, in order
| Gate | What you approve | What we state |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Digital proof | Artwork and colour, before production starts | A digital proof is shared before production |
| 2. Colour on a sample | The colour, matched to your reference sample or colour code | Colour is approved on sample |
| 3. Sample and photo before dispatch | The finished goods, shown by sample and photo | Approval comes before dispatch; checks you specify can be discussed |
| 4. Repeat order | Nothing new, if the specification is unchanged | Your specification is kept on file so repeat orders match the first order |
What a digital proof settles, and what a sample settles
A digital proof is shown on a screen. It is the right place to check the artwork, the crop, the text and the intended colours. It cannot show the feel of a surface or how a colour sits on the real material, which is why colour is approved on a sample as well. Our guide to soft proof or hard proof before a bulk print run explains why a screen is a prediction and a physical piece is the sign-off.
Samples are always paid, and by agreement the cost can be reimbursed or adjusted in the final order. The samples page and the guide on sampling before a bulk order cover that step.
Giving a colour reference we can match
Our catalogues say colour is matched to your reference sample or to a colour code. Either a physical sample or a colour code can be the reference. Either way, the match is approved on the sample, not on the proof alone. Standard frame colours are Black, White, Dark Brown, Natural Brown, Golden and Antique Gold, and any other colour is made to your specification.
- Send the artwork file as set out in the artwork file checklist.
- Say which colour is fixed, such as a brand colour, and which can flex.
- Name the person who signs off, and approve in writing.
Checks that surround the approval
Approval is one part of the quality picture. Every piece is checked before packing, and drop and packaging tests are done per order. Buyer-specified checks can be discussed, so if your market needs a particular test, ask in the enquiry. Transit damage and replacement are handled in the order terms, agreed per order.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Do we see artwork and colour before production?
Yes. A digital proof is shared before production, and the colour is matched to your reference sample or colour code and approved on a sample.
How do I approve a sample before production?
Check the sample against your written brief, then approve it in writing. The approved sample is the reference for the run, and we ask for sample and photo approval again before dispatch.
Will the printed colours match my screen?
A screen shows a prediction, not the finished item. That is why colour is approved on a sample, matched to your reference sample or colour code.
What about repeat orders?
Your specification is kept on file, so repeat orders match the first order.
More for buyersTerms, samples and guides
Enquiry
Tell us what you need made
Send the product, a rough quantity and your brand. We reply in writing with questions or a quote.