In this digital world paper still has a place. If you are unsure of when to print it out, then this guide will help you.
In the digital age we have all gotten used to looking at our screens. Day in and day out we create, proofread, submit and retrieve things with our computer monitors. This is, for the most part, a great thing. After all with all of your documents virtual you have less of mess to clean up at the end of the day. Often, we forget that every new advance that has an upside also has a downside. That’s why today we will look at the benefits of paper copies. After that we will talk about when you may want to keep a paper copy of your work.
The Advantages of Paper Copies
You can still get a few things from paper you can’t from a screen. Here are some of them.
* A look at the whole of the document or project on one screen at its full size.
* The ability to see your project the same way that the client will. Sure, that spacing didn’t seem to tight in 125 percent view, but on the actual flyer it may feel crowded. The same goes for that highly stylized font you choose.
* Ease of proofreading. We all know that you can’t trust the spell check in your Office suite, and humans are just better at proofreading something that we can mark up. Not to mention that with a print copy you are less likely to skip a line.
* Safe backups of your samples. Sure it is unlikely that both your computer and your external hard drive will fail at the same time, but it could happen. Having print copies of some of your best work can be a secure backup just in case. If worst comes to worst you can always scan them to send to a potential client.
When to Keep A Paper Copy
We both know that you are not, and probably should not, print a paper copy of every project you complete. The space needed could, in theory, become astronomical. Not too mention the environmental impact of using all that paper. So when should you use a print copy? Here are some handy guidelines.
1. When you are unsure of how the final product will look.
2. When you have a document with a lot of text that you need to edit or proofread.
3. When it is some of your best work, and you want to use it as a sample.
I hope that you have a new perspective on the judicious use of print copies.