How should I prepare my files for color-critical print projects?

For color-critical work, do not trust your monitor. Screens display in RGB light and printing happens in CMYK ink, so the two never match perfectly, and brightness or calibration can push a screen even further off.

To prepare a color-critical file:

• Build and check your file in CMYK color mode
• Set your intended CMYK values deliberately rather than letting a conversion decide them
• Order a hard copy proof to see the design on the actual stock before committing to the full run

A physical proof is the only reliable way to confirm color, since it shows how the ink truly reproduces on the paper you have chosen.