Source: https://restorebunny.com/guides/screen-proof-versus-photo-test-print/ # A Screen Proof vs a Test Print: What Each Can Check Use digital previews for layout and physical proofs for questions a screen cannot settle. Printing & presentation2 min readUpdated 16 October 2026 ## Try it on your own photo Repair a copy of your photo, then compare faces and details with the original. [Restore my photo]()1 credit per successful photo · Account required[See credit packs]() Quick answer ## The short version A screen proof is useful for spotting a wrong crop, typo or missing page. It cannot reproduce every property of paper, ink, surface finish, viewing light and printer behavior. Use each proof to answer the questions it can actually resolve instead of calling an on-screen approval a physical print test. ## Define the job before editing A screen proof is useful for spotting a wrong crop, typo or missing page. It cannot reproduce every property of paper, ink, surface finish, viewing light and printer behavior. Use each proof to answer the questions it can actually resolve instead of calling an on-screen approval a physical print test. ## Define the proof’s purpose Review a digital proof for dimensions, page order, captions and subject placement. For color, fine detail or paper decisions, order a small representative physical proof using the intended production process. Include a face, a dark region, a pale region and any difficult small text in the sample. ## Make the decision from evidence Record the file version used for the proof and the specific observations. If you edit the source afterward, decide whether the change invalidates that approval. A proof of one paper and process is not evidence that every different lab or finish will match. ## A worked planning example Example: The digital proof confirms an 8 × 10 crop keeps both shoulders. A small physical print then shows that the shadows hide jacket detail under the intended room lighting. Those are separate findings that lead to different edits. ## A practical checklist 1. Use the screen for layout and text checks. 2. Choose a representative physical sample. 3. Record the exact approved file version. 4. Recheck material changes after approval. ## Keep a traceable result Keep the source file, the working copy and the delivery copy as separate items. Record the input and the changes you actually made so another person can understand the result later. These workflow examples are planning examples, not documented customer outcomes or proof of a successful restoration. ## FAQs Does a 300 PPI file guarantee a good print? No. It is a density calculation. Focus, editing, paper, printer behavior and viewing conditions also affect the result. Should I replace my original with the edited copy? Keep the source unchanged and save a separate working or sharing copy. An export, edit or AI interpretation can omit information that remains useful in the source. ## Sources Preservation and technical guidance reviewed for this article. - MDN Web Docs: [Pixel manipulation with Canvas]() ## Related - [Open the related free tool]() - [Keep Faces Away from a Photo Book’s Gutter]() - [Join Photos into a Strip Without Calling It a Panorama]() - [Browse photo guides]() - [Free image tools]() ## Ready to restore your photos? Upload an image, choose your settings, and preview results with a before/after slider. [Restore my photo]()[View Pricing]() RestoreBunny Source-backed photo workflows Guides follow our [editorial policy]() for sourcing, product claims, AI limitations, updates, and corrections.