A share link is the address of the proof of one version. Whoever opens it sees the proof, can comment, and can approve or reject, without an account. Every version has two links from the moment it is uploaded, one per viewer.
Simple or Advanced#
| Viewer | What the reviewer sees | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | The PDF, drawn in the reviewer's browser. A file that uses overprint is drawn from its separations. | Hand, zoom, pages, ruler, barcode and comments; the Plates panel when drawn from the separations. |
| Advanced | The print separations, rendered at up to 600 dpi (less for pages longer than about 20 in / 500 mm, or very large files) and combined with overprint, with deep zoom. | Everything in Simple, plus the densitometer and the Plates panel. |
- Simple viewer ("Quick sign-off in the browser") suits most customers: it opens fast and asks nothing of them but a look.
- Advanced viewer ("Separations, deep zoom, densitometer") shows each ink on its own and measures ink coverage. Use it for brand colours, spot inks, varnish and white, or for reviewers who check prepress.
Both viewers have the same comment, decision and history tools, and a reviewer's decision counts the same on either. The proof page says which one it is under the artwork name: PDF proof or Separations proof. The tools are described on Reviewing a proof.
Overprint is always proofed from the separations#
Browsers can't show overprint. Varnish, white, foil or dieline inks set to overprint would hide the artwork under them in a PDF drawn by the browser. So when a file uses overprint, its Simple link is drawn from the separations too, and overprint shows as it will print. The share dialog reminds you of this.
When the separations can't be made for such a file, the Simple link falls back to the PDF drawn by the browser, and a strip warns the reviewer that overprinting inks may hide the artwork there. Advanced links never fall back: they show that the print preview couldn't be prepared. Retry it from the Preview failed badge on the dashboard.
Copy or open a link#
- On the Approvals page, choose Share on the artwork's row. The dialog is for the latest version.
- Each link has Copy and an open button that opens it in a new tab.
- Paste the link where your customer will find it, or email it from the same dialog (see Reviewers: invitations and identity).
A link looks like https://app.example.com/artwork-approvals/r/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000/. The long code
is random and can't be guessed. Open proof on the row opens the same links.
A version that has a 3D proof shows a third link, 3D proof ("Folded mock-up with finishes"). It opens straight in 3D. See 3D proofs in approvals.
One link, many reviewers#
A link isn't personal: you can send the same link to several people, and each of them comments and decides under their own name and email. The link's status then follows all of their decisions (see Decisions, locking and reset). Emailing the link from Share adds a personal part for each address, so nobody else can decide as them (see Reviewers: invitations and identity).
The Simple and Advanced links of a version are separate links, each with its own reviewers and status, but an approval on either one locks the version on both (see Decisions, locking and reset). Comments are per link: reviewers see the comments of the link they opened, and your team sees them all.
Warning: A link works like a key
Anyone who has a link can open the proof, comment, and approve or reject under an email address that wasn't invited, and every link shows the other versions of its artwork too. Send links only to the people who review, and email them from Share: an invited address can then only be used from the personal link in its invitation (see Reviewers: invitations and identity). Links don't expire, and there is no way to switch a link off today.
Links for older versions#
Links of older versions keep working after a new upload, but can't be approved any more (see Artwork versions). A version that has no links yet, such as one from before links were made on upload, gets them the first time you open Share on it.