A proof booklet becomes difficult to review when a customer must scroll through many nearly identical pages to find one lid design. A navigation page can make the review calmer, especially when the job contains fronts, backs and several variants. The purpose is to reach the correct proof reliably, not to decorate a long document.
01
Plan destinations before adding links
List the pages the reviewer actually needs to find. Group them by decision: front-label family, rear-panel copy or lid placement. Use the same product references on the navigation sheet and on each proof. A contents entry called option three becomes ambiguous when somebody later inserts another alternative.
For an illustrative coffee collection, build entries for two bag sizes and a sample pack. Add a short explanation of what approval is being requested on each group. If one page is only an exploration, label it clearly so a reviewer does not approve it as an additional product variant.
02
Create clear, specific navigation text
Use descriptive wording that identifies the destination without requiring the reader to memorize a color or thumbnail. Keep link text separate from a decorative image if the image makes the target unclear. A small return-to-contents control on each proof can reduce the need to scroll back through the entire booklet.
Canva documents linking to pages within a design and retaining links in compatible PDF output. It also notes that image formats and flattened PDFs do not preserve this functionality. Choose a review export appropriate to navigation, then verify that the downloaded file actually behaves as intended.
| Review item | What to record |
|---|---|
| Contents entry | Format and variant |
| Destination | Proof heading matches entry |
| Return path | Reviewer can reach contents again |
03
Run a destination check on the exported booklet
Open the delivered PDF rather than testing only inside the editor. Follow every contents link, check the page heading and use the return path. Repeat the test after reordering or deleting pages. A reference that was correct when the booklet contained six proofs may no longer support a later revision reliably.
Ask someone unfamiliar with the project to find the small bag’s rear panel using the contents page alone. Observe whether the naming gives them a clear route. This is a simple usability check; it does not require claiming that the booklet meets a formal accessibility standard or works identically in every viewer.
04
Separate navigation approval from print approval
State on the cover that this is a review booklet, identify its revision and explain where comments should be recorded. Keep the clean production exports in a separate handoff. Contents links and return buttons should not accidentally appear on the printed labels because the review file was sent as the final art.
Archive the accepted review booklet with the corresponding artwork references. If the customer requests another change, issue a new clearly identified revision rather than silently replacing the PDF at an old link. Editable template collections can make the visual set consistent; the booklet helps people make the right decision about each part.
BEFORE YOUR NEXT STEP
Your practical checklist
- Name every review destination.
- Use descriptive contents links.
- Test the exported PDF.
- Separate review and print files.
Questions & answers
Will the links work in a PNG proof?+
No. Image files do not preserve clickable navigation. Use a compatible PDF for that review workflow.
Can I use the booklet as the production file?+
Only if the printer accepts that exact arrangement. Usually the navigation belongs to a separate review document.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the technical points in this guide. Check current specifications before production.