Why Proof Printing Is a Must-Have Step in Self-Publishing

If you're preparing to self-publish your book, you're probably juggling a dozen things: finishing edits, choosing a printer, planning marketing, and so on. But before you hit “Print” on hundreds of copies, there’s one absolutely essential step you shouldn’t skip — printing a few proof copies.

Think of proof printing as your book’s dress rehearsal. It’s where you get to see, feel, and experience your book exactly the way your readers will. And trust us — no matter how confident you are in your files, a printed proof will show you things your screen never could.

1. Test the Text Size and Layout

That font size that looked perfect on your laptop? It might feel too small when printed on paper. Or maybe your margins seemed fine until you actually try reading the book with your hands.

Printing 2 to 5 physical copies gives you the opportunity to evaluate how your text looks and feels. Is the spacing comfortable for the eyes? Are chapter titles easy to spot? Is the layout pleasing on the page? These are subtle but powerful factors in the reader’s experience.

2. Adjust Binding and Spine Thickness

Your book’s spine is more than a place to put your title — it’s the backbone of your book, literally. When you're printing 300+ pages, spine width becomes critical. A mismatch between your design and actual spine width can result in a crooked cover or text getting lost in the fold.

A proof copy lets you see how the spine really turns out, especially if your book has high page count or thicker paper. This is the time to correct it — before you order 500 copies with the wrong spine size.

3. Check Color Accuracy and Image Quality

This is especially important for books with full-page images, illustrations, or photography. Colors on screen are one thing; printed colors can look quite different depending on paper type, printer settings, and ink behavior.

Proof printing lets you spot issues with brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness in real life. You can fine - tune image resolution, tweak your color profiles, and ensure everything looks crisp and vibrant.

4. Evaluate the Reading Experience

Reading a physical book is a tactile experience. With a printed proof in hand, you can ask real questions:

• Is it easy to flip through?
• Does the weight feel right?
• Do the pages lay flat enough?
• How does it feel to hold and read for 10–15 minutes?

This feedback is priceless and can only be gathered through holding a physical copy.

5. Catch Final Typos and Design Errors

No matter how many times you’ve reviewed your manuscript on screen, typos and formatting errors often hide until they’re printed. A proof copy gives you one more chance to catch small mistakes, misaligned text boxes, page numbers, or headers that just feel “off.”

Trust us — you’d rather spot them now than hear about them from your readers later.

At Call2Print, we’ve helped hundreds of authors around the world bring their books to life — and it almost always starts with a handful of proof copies. Need help getting started? We’re here to make the process smooth, affordable, and friendly.