Products

More spot color with less cost and greater freedom

The new Kodak Spotless Printing Solution Version 2.0 provides a wider spectrum of spot colors with greater flexibility for marketers and a more efficient production process for printers. Spotless software enables graphic communications providers to simulate spot colors with process inks, delivering the marketing and production value of spot colors without the spot color ink costs. The Spotless printing solution also does away with native file editing and eliminates the need for reformulation or proprietary inks. The next generation Spotless printing solution adds the ability to generate 5- and 7-color screen tint recipes in addition to the previous 4- and 6-color recipe capability, thereby expanding the gamut and increasing the number of spot colors that can be accurately and consistently simulated.

Fort Dearborn Company of Elk Grove Village, Ill. is using Kodak Spotless software to deliver unique 7-color printing that provides bold, vibrant labels and reduces the need for spot color inks.

“The SPOTLESS printing solution is a fantastic tool that has automated our front-end workflow. We take the final PDF files from the designer, which contain spot colors, and run them through the Spotless software and our color library,” said Amir Uddin, director of quality and technical services, Fort Dearborn. “The conversions are automatic, so we can print the files without spot color inks. For shorter runs, especially, the savings are enormous.”

The Spotless printing solution features enhanced accuracy for superior recipe generation. Users can specify ink constraints for Spotless software color recipes, e.g., limiting to three or four inks per screen tint build. For marketers, the Spotless printing solution means they can more cost effectively produce packaging with multiple spot colors or customize promotional offers within the same press run. Print providers can be a more flexible partner with their customers at the same time that they take advantage of a new revenue opportunity, all made possible by software that integrates seamlessly with Kodak Prinergy workflow system.

“Spot colors are everywhere, especially in packaging, and while most people don’t realize it, they’re powerful in delivering a consistent brand message. They have visual impact and shelf appeal, and, ultimately, they drive sales. Spot colors have also been expensive to reproduce, so creative freedom and marketing flexibility have been reduced,” said Arjen van der Meulen, product manager, color and press services, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. “Not anymore. The Spotless printing solution replaces the downsides of spot colors with manufacturing efficiency. No more costly inks, long makereadies, time-consuming ink changes and wash ups, or multiple passes to add spot colors.”—Kodak, www.kodak, RS # 198

Micro-adjust slitting system

The new micro-adjust slitting system allows operators to make finite adjustments of knifeholder positions while the press is running. Operators use the remote-mounted controls to adjust ribbon width, as might be needed to slit on the registration line. The operator selects one or several slitters to be repositioned and then selects the amount of the incremental move. Upper and lower knives are moved simultaneously, maintaining the critical geometry between blades to ensure a quality cut. —Tidland, www.tidland.com, RS # 199

Inkjet system with Opaltone proofing

AbsoluteProof EXTRACHROME is an inkjet proofing system capable of simulating Opaltone and other N-Color processes using Multicolor ICC profiles. The packaging industry is rapidly moving into multicolor printing processes such as Opaltone (CMYK+RGB), Hexachrome (CMYK+OG), and other ink combinations, which generate huge savings. Affordable inkjet proofing has not been available for these customers because their workflow commonly requires the use of special colors that are outside the gamut of standard ink jet printers. AbsoluteProof now offers support for up to 10 color combinations using N-Color ICC profiles.—Gimlé Ltd., www.absolute-proof.com, RS # 200

Environmentally friendly shrink film

The EarthFirst TDO shrink film was designed for today’s uniquely shaped containers that require high shrink percentages. It’s manufactured in 50 and 60 micron thicknesses and uses NatureWorks PLA resin from NatureWorks LLC.—Plastic Suppliers Inc., www.earthfirstpla.com, RS # 201

New squeegee technology

SeriBlade SB is a high-performance squeegee designed to significantly extend blade life, prevent dot gain, reduce scrap, and generate savings on ink and other consumables. It’s constructed of a polyurethane blade material that was designed for printing four-color processes, transparent colors, windows, textures, and other demanding industrial printing applications.—Fujifilm Sericol, fujifilmsericol.com, RS # 202

Fujifilm Sericol’s SeriBlade is designed to extend blade life.

Plate process control

PlateScope is a dot measurement and plate process control device for use with leading plate and screening technologies, including AM, FM, and Hybrid, and it also measures accurately extreme shadows and highlights. PlateScope also includes an integrated PC Plate software system so printers can profile their platesetters, plates, presses, and paper types to automatically generate the proper gain curves and speed quality checks.—X-Rite Inc., www.xrite.com, RS # 203

Second generation RFID

Schober USA has unveiled its second-generation RFID machine which now includes the ability to read HF and UHF tags, a new tag dispenser with web tensioning, and greater information gathering capabilities, along with strategically placed start/stop buttons. An optional static discharge protection package rounds out the new features.—Schober USA, www.schoberusa.com, RS # 204

Schober’s RFID machine

New doctor blades

Chamber wrap doctor blades save flexo press makeready time and clean-up hassles. These blades come with plastic film attached do the doctor blade. When installed in a doctor blade holder, the plastic wraps around the holder and is self-fastening to the chamber body. Ink that normally builds up on the blade chamber instead builds up on the film wrap. When the doctor blade is removed from the chamber, the mess is removed with it.—The Provident Group, www.providentgrp.com, RS #205

Mounting tape for flexo

tesa 52123 is backed by a newly-designed polyethylene foam constructed with a “closed cell” configuration and was created specifically for use in digital fine-screen printing. Benefits include: mitigates dot gain (essential to fine-screen printing); enables printing of the finest dots; compensates for press vibrations; reduces bouncing stripes; and allows screen printing with 48 lines per centimeter or more.—tesa tape, www.tesatape.com, RS # 206

Plastic folding cartons

NatureSource Visual Packaging is a plastic folding carton made from a corn-based polymer. Designed for clarity and durability, NatureSource plastic cartons are suitable for any high-quality, value-added visual packaging application, including cosmetics, personal care, liquor, and many other consumer products. These cartons can be printed using offset, flexo, or silk screen, or any combination of these. The cartons can also be embossed and hot or cold foil stamped for enhanced brand appeal.—AGI/Klearfold, www.agiklearfold.com, RS # 207