How to Check Your Custom NCR Form Proof Before Printing

Your digital proof is the chance to check that a custom NCR form will capture the right information before printing begins. You do not need to be a designer to review it well. Check it as the person who will actually fill in the form, hand over a copy and use the record later.

This guide is about checking the content and layout of the proof, not preparing a print-ready PDF. If you are supplying your own file, see our How to Supply Artwork for Printing page for file preparation.

1. Read every detail, not just the heading

Check the business name, logo, contact details, form title, labels and any small instructions. Read dates, telephone numbers and email addresses character by character. Make sure a job sheet says what your team needs to record, while an invoice or delivery note has the fields appropriate to your own process. If different sites use different details, confirm you are reviewing the right version for each one.

2. Imagine completing a real form

Run through one typical job on the proof. Is there enough room to write an address, item description, reference, quantity, notes or signature where you need it? Are tick boxes and labels easy to understand? A proof viewed on a screen can look spacious until you imagine handwriting in each box. Ask someone who uses the form on site or at a desk to make this check too.

3. Check the copies and who receives them

Confirm the number of parts requested and how your team will route the copies. For example, a customer may take one copy while the office keeps another, but there is no universal rule. If your proof or order specifies sheet colours or copy labels, check that they match your intended handover. Our NCR paper colours guide explains why colour alone should not be treated as a fixed routing instruction.

4. Check numbering separately

If you requested sequential numbering, confirm the requested starting number, whether it continues an earlier run and which forms or sites need distinct ranges. Compare this information with your order instructions rather than assuming that reusing old artwork automatically continues the sequence. Ask MD Print Shop to confirm any numbering detail that is not clear in the proof or order confirmation. For a repeat run, use our numbered NCR reorder checklist before approval.

5. Confirm the format and finishing requested

Check the selected size, part count and whether you ordered glued pads, bound books or loose sets. These affect how the form is used even when the printed layout looks similar. If you need a particular stub position, perforation or other finishing option, compare the proof and order details with what you requested, and ask if anything is unclear. Our pads, books and sets comparison can help if you are still deciding on a format.

6. Compare revisions with the previous version

For a reorder or a form used across several teams, look at the current form alongside the new proof. Check that intentional changes appear and useful fields have not vanished. Record which version you approved internally so colleagues do not keep ordering an older file. Our multi-site NCR guide covers how to coordinate that across branches and crews.

7. Send one clear set of corrections

If you spot an issue, reply with the exact wording or field to change and where it appears. If several people are reviewing, combine their feedback before sending it. Then check the revised proof, including anything that might have shifted when a change was made. Approve only when the proof and your order instructions reflect what you actually want printed.

MD Print Shop emails a digital proof for approval before printing custom NCR forms. If you are unsure about a field, copy order or numbering request, ask us about your custom form before approving it. A careful five-minute review is more useful than a quick glance at the logo.