Here's the Proof!

New digital proofing technologies streamline a critical process in the prepress workflow.

by Marie Alonso, Prepress Editor

ALL THE BUZZ in proofing is soft proofing, color calibration, and digital proofing for the packaging environment. And it has been for several years, but with increasing fervor, collaborations, and software enhancements. Companies aspiring to take leading positions in their respective specialties are joining the progressive package-printing leaders in deploying the latest, most sophisticated digital proofing technologies available.

Electronics for Imaging (EFI) has truly redefined itself, acquiring Best Color in order to gain a strong hold on the digital proofing market. Today, it is strongly marketing its EFI Premium Option and EFI Premium Suite Option software add-on tools for its EFI Colorproof, EFI Screenproof, and EFI PhotoXposure Proofing Solutions. These new options enable the calibration and linearization of printers, as well as the creation of paper and reference profiles to achieve the highest quality color output from laser and/or inkjet print devices. Both options feature an updated version of EFI Color Manager, which now offers support for two additional spectrophotometers, the EFI ES-1000 and GretagMacbeth iCColor.

Creo, a company with a focus on end-to-end packaging prepress, is offering its latest proofing solution, Synapse InSite, which provides Internet-based communication between package printers and their customers. With an Internet portal into the Brisque and Prinergy prepress environments, it is positioned to deliver convenient job submission streamlining, job-status tracking, on-line collaboration, and remote proofing or approval. It provides secure, controlled Web access for print jobs, and enables users and their clients to upload and download jobs and job data; proof online with geographically-dispersed users collaborating simultaneously; and access to secure job-status reporting using a standard Internet browser, to name a few. Job status can also be viewed online.

The Grand Sherpa

A Sherpa is a member of a Tibetan people living in the Himalayas who provides support for foreign trekkers and mountain climbers, and Agfa's :Grand Sherpa digital proofer definitely lives up to its name. Accomplishing converters' digital proofing needs from layout of the printing form to proofing the quality of the data file, the :Grand Sherpa combines Agfa's Quality Management Software (QMS), ColorTune Pro color management software (CMS), and AgfaJet Media to produce contract proofs, mock-ups, digital overlays and die line cutting proofs.

In addition, as halftone dot reproduction is important for simulating the look and feel of the final print and predicting moiré patterns, the :Grand Sherpa also includes Agfa's :Apogee Proofer RIP with ABS Screening. This solution uses special techniques to achieve a combination of high-quality screening and color for images, spot colors, solid process colors, and text. By simulating the actual dot pattern, users can predict subject and color moiré. Color integrity is then maintained, delivering contract quality.

The Approval NX is Kodak Polychrome Graphics' newest addition to its Approval line of thermal halftone proofers. With a claim that it simulates all processes, from offset lithography to flexo to gravure, with high-quality halftone resolution and on virtually any stock and substrate, the Approval NX with Rapid Recipe Color technology renders quality proofs that match the press. This eliminates the need for press checks, and allows for control of density and dot gain for image integrity and repeatable performance. It also increases throughput and turnaround times.

Another company helping converters accomplish all of their proofing needs is RealTimeImage, soon-to-be acquired by KPG. RealTimeImage's Pixels-On-Demand image streaming technology allows large graphic files to easily be opened over any Internet connection, notes Yehuda Messinger, executive vice president of RealTimeImage's Graphic Arts Division. It also allows multiple users to have real-time access to original, full-resolution product files, as well as facilitates collaboration at every stage of a job's development. The benefit is a shorter end-to-end approval process for online proofing.

At drupa 2004, Esko-Graphics will introduce Scope, an advanced workflow environment that extends and integrates Esko-Graphics' many software products for commercial print and packaging service providers. Scope covers a wide range of functions, from job and product specification, graphic and structural design, and expert pre-production operations to platemaking for printing, toolmaking, and converting. It adds capabilities for project coordination, digital asset management and distributed proofing and approval, enabling individuals across the entire supply chain to communicate and collaborate globally, effectively, and in real time. The Scope framework also leads to system configurations that easily adapt to the specifics of individual businesses.

"Scope is the next logical step from our many years of industry leadership," said René Delbar, senior vice president of marketing. "… Thanks to widely accepted industry standards for data interchange and instant global networking, it finally all comes together to create an end-to-end workflow environment for the printing and packaging supply chains."

These new digital proofers are creating a buzz, offering a range of capabilities and new innovations. It's all new territory, as digital and soft proofing continue to hit new levels of performance. Yet, one thing is for certain—investment will be a mandate to keep proofing vital and in high performance.

Resources

Agfa www.agfa.com

Creo www.creo.com

Dalim Software www.dalim.com

Electronics for Imaging www.efi.com

Esko-Graphics www.esko-graphics.com

GMG USA www.gmgcolor.com

Kodak Polychrome Graphics www.kpgraphics.com

Markzware www.markzware.com

RealTimeImage www.realtimeimage.com