Before producing these 36 x 48 posters, we proofed the posters at a much smaller size to check color and typography.
Why is the chair in the corner of my office sometimes piled with, among other objects, printed proofs? When I work on projects that will be printed, such as posters, books, or signage, I always print a full-size proof. Relying on a monitor for color and size is perfectly fine when designing websites or art that will ultimately live online, but if a sign is going to hang above a storefront, then printing a proof is an essential part of the design process. My experience is that paragraph typography on-screen usually looks smaller than on a paper proof. The delicate, ten point, serif typeface that looked, well, delicate on-screen often appears "horsey" once printed. On the other hand, signage will disappoint once printed at full-size and positioned in its ultimate location. What looked like perfectly substantial typography on our very large cinema display will appear anemic when printed and taped to a storefront. Try running across the street. It may take some time — and money — to print a large sign and test its legibility, but it's well worth it. Producing signage can be very expensive, depending on the materials and process used. Rather than paying for a second sign out of our design budget because the first sign we designed was ineffective, I suggest proofing and charging for the time you spend doing so. If necessary, tile and tape together a crude, black and white proof. And, in the case of signage, don't forget to have your client sign off. Happy proofing!