The Benefits of Online Proofing for Graphic Designers

Here’s a little story about online proofing from our graphics designer.

Designers without online proofing tools are a harrowed lot. On the 14th of May, I created a front-page website layout mock-up that I believed would win Web by, Emmy and who knows what other awards on the website-o-sphere. I immediately shot off an email to all our stakeholders with 3 variants of that mock-up and began my endless fight for reviews, and the brain-damaging search for which review came first.

A hair-pulling week later, my happier co-worker introduced me to QuickReviewer, an online proofing software that helps designers get reviews without having to torture themselves every day. 

First things first—what is QuickReviewer?

As I explained earlier, QuickReviewer is an online proofing software that helps you get your reviews in time, in one place, without drama. Gone are the days of juggling physical copies, deciphering illegible handwritten notes, making Excel sheets for review timelines, and enduring lengthy feedback cycles. 

Online proofing tools like QuickReviewer revolutionize your workflow and bring efficiency, collaboration, and client satisfaction to the forefront. In this article, I will share my personal experience and delve into the numerous benefits of online proofing for graphic designers, empowering us to spend more time on our designs and streamline our review processes.

Driving efficiency by keeping everything in one place

It happens to the best of us. I get totally lost in the 16 million tabs and trillions of files I have on my desktop. A week after creating a neat directory structure for the client’s files, I am at a loss when asked about a file from a project completed the previous month. I am sure this has happened to you too. With QuickReviewer, the excellent storage revolution ensures that all the client files stay in a folder, away from the mind-altering chaos on your desktop. If you need files from last month, just look them up in QuickReviewer, and there you have it! Files appear like magic! 

Streamlined collaboration

Remember when collaboration meant countless email threads and tedious meetings and millions of coffee cups? Not anymore. Online proofing platforms like QuickReviewer provide me with a centralized space to collaborate seamlessly with clients, team members, and external and internal stakeholders. I can now effortlessly upload my designs and share them with just a few clicks. Real-time accessibility enables stakeholders to view the designs instantly and provide feedback directly on the platform. This streamlined collaboration process eliminates unnecessary delays and ensures that everyone is on the same page. I have experienced firsthand how this has drastically reduced communication barriers, allowing for faster iterations, efficient decision-making, and ultimately, improved project outcomes (and fewer incidents of hair pulling and accelerated baldness)

Feedback, right when you need it, exactly where you want 

Feedback is the lifeblood of any creative process, and as a graphic designer, I rely heavily on constructive feedback to refine my work. Online proofing tools like QuickReviewer transformed the way I gather feedback. The commenting, annotation, and markup capabilities of these platforms have made receiving feedback a breeze. Clients and team members can directly pinpoint specific areas of improvement on the designs, eliminating ambiguity or misinterpretation. The clear and precise annotations guide me through the necessary changes, resulting in reduced revision cycles and faster project completion. This efficient feedback loop has saved me valuable time and improved the overall quality of my designs, ensuring that they align with the client’s vision and expectations.

Version Control and Comparison

Every tried comparing V1 and V2, especially when you do not remember what date you finalize and sent out V1? Managing multiple design versions has always been challenging, leading to confusion and potential errors. With online proofing, I have gained complete control over the design iterations. QuickReviewer offers robust version control features that allow me to effortlessly organize and compare different versions. I no longer need to rely on manual file naming conventions or juggle multiple folders to keep track of changes. Online proofing tools provide me with a clear timeline of design evolution, making it easy to refer to previous versions or revert to earlier designs if needed. The ability to compare versions side by side has simplified decision-making processes, enabling me and my clients to make informed choices based on the progress and evolution of the designs.

Real-Time Accessibility and Flexibility

The flexibility offered by online proofing tools has been a game-changer for me as a graphic designer. I am no longer confined to my office desk or limited by geographical constraints. With these tools, I can work remotely and access my projects anytime and from anywhere. Whether collaborating with clients in different time zones or reviewing designs while on the go, online proofing tools have empowered me to work on my terms. Additionally, QuickReviewer supports various file formats, ensuring that I can upload and share designs in their original format without the hassle of conversion or compression. This real-time accessibility and flexibility have increased my productivity and enhanced the accuracy and representation of my designs across different mediums and devices.

Workflows

Streamlined workflows reduce the blame game and ensure transparency and accountability at every step of the process. QuickReviewer removes the bottlenecks in any review workflow and ensures everyone knows where a particular design or review is stuck. This transparency helps to quickly eliminate delays in the review process and sets accountability accordingly. With QuickReviewer, it is not always the designer’s fault! 

Parting thoughts

Online proofing tools such as QuickReviewer have transformed how designers work, offering a range of benefits that enhance collaboration, efficiency, and client satisfaction. Through streamlined collaboration, efficient feedback loops, version control and comparison, real-time accessibility, and flexibility, as well as secure and centralised storage, designers can elevate their work to new heights. As a formerly halr-pulling-induced-balding graphic designer myself, I can attest to the tremendous impact that online proofing has had on my productivity, creativity, and overall project outcomes. Embracing these tools has allowed me to focus on what I do best—creating captivating designs—and has positioned me to thrive in the digital age of innovation and design.

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