Proofing By the Numbers

The differences between the press results and the profiled proof results are measured in Delta E increments—which is the straight-line distance in LAB color space between two colors. (Humans with average sight can perceive variations of one Delta E.) After making some adjustments to the color selection and sequencing of the Latran Prediction's image transfer sheets, Rivard achieved a remarkably close approximation between the proof and the press—even for films and foil substrates. "We were successful far beyond what I thought we'd get to," he says. "We could hold the press sheet and proof side-by-side and not be able to tell which was which."