Failing to compensate for Creep creates a "stair-step" effect on the face edge of the folded signature before it reaches the trimmer. When the three-knife trimmer cuts the book to its final size, it removes more material from the inner pages than the outer ones. If no adjustment was made during pre-press, the outer margins of the inner pages will appear significantly smaller, often leading to "cut-off" text or images that were intended to be safe within the margins.

Visually, this inconsistency makes the publication look amateurish and can interfere with the functionality of the design, such as making index tabs or page numbers difficult to see. It also affects the alignment of images that cross over two pages (spreads), as the displacement can cause a "break" in the image continuity at the spine. By implementing a proactive shingling strategy, printers ensure that the visual layout remains stable and centered, regardless of the thickness of the document or the number of pages in the signature.