Press Check: Day Two

Posted by Derek Powazek on 3 November 2006.

After our successful cover check on day one, we were excited to get to the meat of the issue (literally). I was joined by my colleague Ford to color do the color check of the interior.

This is Jeff. He's been running web presses for 18 years - about half his life. Here's how a press check works: Jeff brings in the pages, fresh from the presses, and puts them down on the CVS (remember from last time?). We compare them to the proofs, make any necessary color corrections, and off they go!

It's a lot of little tweaks, but it can make a big impact on the final product. We're printing on Sterling Ultra Dull 80-pound paper. Don't let the "dull" fool you - this is the good stuff, and the photos on it just sing.

Later we took a tour of American Web's second facility, where the printed covers and signatures are bound together, cut, and mailed. This is LC. She's been working here for 25 years, and a little later in he shift, JPG Issue 7 went whizzing by her. Thanks, LC!

I'm back in San Francisco now, tired but very excited about this amazing transformation. JPG is growing up! Thanks for coming along for the ride.