🖨️ 5 Questions to Ask Before Approving An Art Proof

Approving fabric prints shouldn’t feel like holding your breath and hoping for the best. One missed detail can turn a flawless concept into a very public headache on the show floor.

But here’s the good news — confident approvals aren’t about luck. They’re about knowing what to look for (and having a partner who already does).

Here’s a countdown of the five questions that can save your sanity, your budget, and your client’s confidence — plus what a great fabric partner is doing behind the scenes to keep you covered.

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5️⃣ Were PMS colors clearly called out and matched?

Consistency is everything. If PMS values aren’t called out, checked, and matched, your brand colors risk drifting from one build to the next.

A great partner double-checks PMS values, tests them, and keeps your red, blue, or green loyal every single time.

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4️⃣ Was a PMS color test done?

Colors behave differently on screens, paper, and fabric — especially under trade show lights.

A great partner runs test prints and views them under realistic lighting, so what you see in proof is what you get on the show floor.

Pro tip: Always call out PMS colors. It’s your best insurance against surprises.

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3️⃣ Do your graphics land where they’re supposed to?

Logos shouldn’t straddle seams, wrap around corners, or disappear into a cutout.

This is where “safe area” and “viewable area” make or break your layout. A great partner reviews alignment against finishing details and makes sure your design works with the structure — not against it.

Pro tip: Ask for print templates. They’ll save you more than once.

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2️⃣ Are the obvious proof details right?

This is where little mistakes love to hide. Before approving, make sure your proof clearly lists:

Frame size vs. print size (with bleed added)

Fabric selection

Finishing details (SEG, zipper, pole pocket, etc.)

Seam placement or cutout/door placement

CAD elevation or panel name (if provided)

Copy and spelling

Then zoom in and take a good look — bleed, crop marks, image clarity — the works.

A great fabric partner is already checking all this before your proof even lands in your inbox.

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1️⃣ How will finishing and installation change the final look?

Finishing is where great prints succeed or fail. Seams, zippers, SEG, and hems can all shift the way graphics land and tension sits.

A great partner reviews every graphic in context with how it’s finished and installed — because good finishing doesn’t just make a project look right; it makes it fit right.

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🐾 The Chaos Works Way

If these questions sound like a lot, that’s because they are — and that’s exactly why they matter.

The right partner takes that weight off your shoulders. At Chaos Works, our QC system covers every stage of production — from fabric selection to print, finishing, and final delivery. Every new challenge gets built into that system so nothing slips through the cracks.

That’s how approvals become smoother, installs cleaner, and projects stress-free.

When your print approvals feel this easy, it’s not luck.

It’s partnership done right. ☕🧵