Proofing Progress

Installing CTP means rethinking your proofing methods.

When the State of Washington Department of Printing decided to add a Creo Lotem 800 II Quantum platesetter last fall, the in-plant had to start thinking about proofing in a whole new way.

Without film, its DuPont Waterproof system wouldn't be much use. So the in-plant added Creo's Iris4Print ink-jet proofer, with an eye toward upgrading to the new Creo Veris 1,500x1,500-dpi proofer this spring, according to Dan Maygra, interim prepress manager.

The same thing happened at Arkansas State University Printing Services when it added a Heidelberg ProSetter 74 in September. The in-plant went with a Hewlett-Packard 5500 ink-jet proofer. And because it has been fingerprinted to each of the in-plant's presses, it provides much better color accuracy than the previous Kodak Polychrome Matchprint proofer.

"We match the colors right on the money," proclaims Director David Maloch.

Proofing is never far from the mind of any in-plant manager considering computer-to-plate technology. The two are inextricably linked.

Though some CTP vendors make the proofing choice easy by offering a package deal that includes an ink-jet proofer, other vendors are busy trying to eliminate hard copy proofs entirely and put everything on screen. Big advances in "virtual proofing" have been made by companies like Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG). Still, many printers and their customers remain skeptical.

This is not so hard to understand; the same thing happened in the early 1970s when film-based (analog) proofing emerged and tried to replace the press proof. Printers didn't trust 3M's Matchprints or DuPont's Cromalins. But by 1980, analog proofs had largely displaced the press proof.

Then came digital proofs, like Kodak's Approval and 3M's Rainbow, and once again their color accuracy was suspect. But time proved their merit. ICC color-managed proofing, supported by ink-jet printers, received the same treatment, and eventually prevailed.

Now remote printing is getting scrutinized. In the past couple of years, though, color-accurate monitor-based proofing software was introduced. Systems based on this software operate in a color-managed environment with ICC profiles and ICC-based spectral monitor calibration. In addition, SWOP Inc.—the organization that developed and maintains uniform specifications and tolerances to ensure consistency and quality of material in publications—began certifying monitor-based proofing systems. KPG and Integrated Color Solutions have had their proofing systems certified (KPG's Matchprint Virtual Proofing and ICS's Remote Director).

Already, major publishers like TV Guide are trusting monitor-based remote proofing for production. Some say paper-based analog proofs will all but disappear over the next few years.

But it's not gone yet, as those in-plants that output color proofs from Xerox DocuColors and Canon CLCs can attest. And Drupa will bring us even more options this month. Here's a look at what's in store.

Proofing Innovations

Agfa is adding a large-format version to its double-sided imposition proofer line. The Grand SherpaMatic has a 50˝ width and employs an eight-color printing system. It offers two resolution modes: 360x360 dpi for fast imposition proofing and 720x720 dpi for high-quality output. The proofer is slated to be available in the fourth quarter of 2004.

The company also offers WebApproval + CM for soft proofing as part of its ApogeeX system.

Creo is introducing the Integris Desktop proofing solution, which integrates the 17˝ wide Epson Stylus Pro 4000 ink-jet printer with Creo workflow and consumables. The system offers a maximum resolution of 1,440x2,880 dpi and uses Integris-qualified Epson UltraChrome ink for color fidelity and stability.

For its Integris 800 proofing solutions, Creo is launching a double-sided media guide as a user-installable add-on to the Epson Stylus Pro 9600 and 10600 printers. The guide is designed to be used with Integris 2-sided Matte 100 media to provide back-to-front registration by minimizing curl, cockle and swelling.

To support soft proofing and Internet proofing, Creo offers Synapse InSite, an Internet portal into the Prinergy and (new at Drupa) Brisque prepress environments. It provides secure, controlled Web access to print jobs, enabling the user and the user's clients to upload and download jobs and job data, proof online, approve or reject pages and manage information over the Internet using a standard browser.

DALiM DiALOGUE is a stand-alone remote proofing and collaborative viewing application that works with high-resolution production files in formats like PDF, PDF/X, PostScript and TIFF. Version 3.0 provides faster rendering and delivery of images, enhances the use of profiles and adds status reporting capabilities.

Running on the Macintosh OS X operating system, this application uses data-streaming technology to enable viewing of high-res files in real time using a Web browser, with no client software required. Other features include virtual notes, densitometry readings and ability to "chat" while viewing files.

After acquiring Best Color to gain a foothold in digital proofing, EFI is now marketing its EFI Premium Option and the EFI Premium Suite Option software add-on tools for EFI Colorproof, EFI Screenproof and EFI PhotoXposure Proofing Solutions with Best technology. The new options enable the calibration and linearization of printers and the creation of paper and reference profiles to achieve quality color output from laser and/or ink-jet printers.

Both of the EFI Premium Options feature a new version of EFI Color Manager, which now offers support of an additional two spectrophotometers: the EFI ES-1000 and GretagMacbeth iCColor, as well as five other spectrophotometers.

EFI Colorproof and Remoteproof with Best technology have been upgraded to support the HP Color LaserJet 9500 series and Epson Stylus Pro 4000 desktop printers. EFI's proofing software and color management solutions feature an integrated Adobe PostScript engine (Adobe CPSI), support for PDF/X and updated color management options with a redesigned, intuitive interface and ICC support. EFI Remoteproof is a quality assurance tool that enables users to transfer files with the settings and profiles needed to output proofs at remote locations and numerically verify the accuracy of those proofs.

The Epson printer is also supported by EFI Screenproof, which produces digital halftone proofs from the one-bit file used to produce a plate.

Enovation Graphic Systems, a Fujifilm company, signed an agreement with Integrated Color Solutions (ICS) to resell ICS's Remote Director "soft" proofing system and Press Check option in the graphic arts market. Remote Director is a SWOP-certified, monitor-based contract proofing system. The new Press Check scanner option extends the system to the pressroom, enabling print buyers to review and approve color-critical press runs online.

Fuji Photo Film is unveiling its strategy for "a new generation of color management and image intelligence technologies." What's behind this development effort is the increasing use of high-quality digital cameras and resulting RGB images, the company says. Its goal is to create a solution that works across the spectrum of photographic and graphic arts imaging by supporting digital cameras, digital printers, conventional presses, print-on-demand systems and minilabs.

Fuji says it is addressing the lack of a clear colorimetrical definition for digital RGB data on color hard copy and the need for rules in RGB-based color communication between design agencies and service providers. Its new range of products reportedly will be an amalgamation of existing solutions combined with new technologies to create a true multi-purpose, RGB-based digital master.

Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) is extending its proofing product line while development work also continues on the remote proofing technology it acquired from RealTimeImage (RTI). The suite of RealTimeProof products for Web-based, high-resolution collaborative proofing and approval management have become part of KPG's portfolio of proofing solutions.

KPG is extending its Matchprint Virtual Proofing System with Matchprint Virtual Press Side, a second generation of the SWOP-certified, monitor-based proofing system. It comes packaged as a mobile installation for use in the pressroom. Color-accurate proofing is said to be achieved by using calibrated monitors under controlled viewing conditions and implementing ICC-based color management.

The system incorporates RealTimeProof Web-based viewing and collaboration tools for working with high-resolution files. The version 5.0 upgrade of the stand-alone application adds "multiple-view" and "compare" functions. Users can now view as many as four high-resolution images concurrently on screen. The comparison feature enables two versions of the same image to be viewed side by side, with a third panel showing either just the areas that are different or the entire image with the areas of difference highlighted.

Onyx Graphics is now shipping Onyx Proof software, which enables users to generate color-accurate press proofs from supported ink-jet printers. The software implements industry-standard ICC profiling tools and is available in three packages: Onyx Proof Pro, Standard and Lite. The first two include installation and on-site training, with the GretagMacbeth Eye-One color management device and ProfileMaker 4 software also bundled in the pro package.

ProofMaster Dalmatian from PerfectProof enables proofing of one-bit files, as well as standard DTP formats. Versions are available to support two-, four- and eight-up workflows on Mac OSX and Windows platforms.

Version 2.0 of ProofMaster Folio, Mezzo and Grande software packages adds the ability to certify that proofs are color accurate according to the ISO 12647-2 standard. A small color control strip is added to the bottom of the proof, which is then measured with a spectrophotometer and the data compared to the press target. The summary report can be printed as a label to be affixed to a proof. The upgrade also features new tools for editing color profiles.

Riteapprove is one of several new modules designed to integrate with Screen (USA)'s Trueflow system in the Trueflownet production environment. It enables browser-based proofing with annotation, approval and e-mail notification features. Proof approval status is automatically tracked and a running log is kept of comments and annotations.

While not strictly positioned as a proofing device, the CL30 HSE (Heavy Stock Enabled) laser printer from XANTÉ provides the opportunity to proof on heavier stocks. The device can handle stocks up to a 130 lb. or 16 pt. cover and 200 lb. index with a straight paper path. It features a 12.9x47.24˝ maximum print size, 30-page-per-minute print speed and 1,200x1,200-dpi resolution.

XANTÉ ColourMatch can be used in combination with the printer to build custom profiles to match a specific printing press or other output device. The software also enables users to compensate for different color paper stocks.

—Mark Smith, Bob Neubauer and Marie Alonso contributed to this story

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