EskoArtwork, Sun Chemical, and GMG Partner for Color

GENT, Belgium—EskoArtwork announced that its partnership with Sun Chemical is extended to further integrate access to the Sun Chemical SmartColour™ database in a workflow where EskoArtwork pre-production tools and GMG proofing solutions are combined. This collaboration among three industry leaders offers a deeper, more integrated end-to-end color workflow in the label and packaging industries.

SmartColour, a database of real ink-on-substrate color results, including leading brand owner color specifications, saves time and money by eliminating the need to fingerprint spot colors on production presses in order to obtain accurate color results on proof. The EskoArtwork Color Engine connects to the SmartColour database and manages SmartColour ink information, using the full spectral ink profile data to calculate spot color overprints. Under the new partnership, GMG will integrate the EskoArtwork technology to connect its ColorProof proofing solution to the SmartColour Engine.

At any stage of the packaging pre-production process, from design to print, SmartColour ink profiles can be used to communicate color information more efficiently, preview spot inks on screen, and produce color-accurate inkjet proofs. Brand color accuracy is achieved without the expense of spot color press trials, and without erroneous color expectations.

This cooperation is sparked by growing customer demand for increased integration between different workflow components. As EskoArtwork and GMG have a large common installed customer base, customers will now have access to a central spot color repository. The result is system-wide color consistency and a smoother and realistic spot color rendition in a mixed workflow. The new collaborative solution also supports the increasing demand for remote proofing to meet brand owner requirements for shorter design cycles.

The new color offering is a true multivendor solution. It gives users realistic expectations of the printed result throughout the supply chain and avoids delays and increased costs due to color miscommunication. SmartColour spot ink definitions assigned in a packaging job, including brand owner color definitions, will be automatically recognized by the GMG proofing solution. Production jobs stored electronically contain a reference to SmartColour data so that recurring jobs are processed quickly and consistently.

SmartColour technology integrated with the recently launched EskoArtwork Suite 10 was shown at Labelexpo Americas in the EskoArtwork booth. The EskoArtwork and GMG integration for the SmartColour database is projected to be available by the end of 2010.