The initial stage of continuous adjustment and proofing

(Prime-time for Contone Proofing) The ever-increasing inkjet technology provides us with color fidelity, media versatility and super-proofing capabilities. All proofs will not be the same nor should they be the same. The requirements for proofs vary from printer to printer and from process to process. Digital printing based on inkjet technology constitutes the best and most comprehensive solution for most prepress processes when the newly developed digital semi-continuous proofing system is getting closer to the optimal color match. The enthusiasm of suppliers for the development of on-demand proofing and continuous inkjet proofing equipment has proven that the main point of continuous proofing is in the packaging market. In the proofing process, the main concern of packaging printers is still spot color reproduction. The harmonization and unification of digital technology and trademark spot colors is still evolving, but now there is a factor that makes people see the progress that they can see. As Merk Vanover, manager of Digital Proofing Marketing at Creo Scitex America, said, “The success of any spot color proofing device depends on RIP technology,” he said. The Cresonic Scitex IrisPRINT series of continuous proof inkjet proofers are Pantone approved. The workflow, with its wide color range of applied inks, has successfully demonstrated most Pantone color spaces with high accuracy. Another pressing concern for packaging printers is the level of output image accuracy. The digital semi-continuous proofing system can obtain maximum image fidelity and precise replication of most semi-continuous adjustments. The investment cost for this accuracy does not exceed the original estimate. Whereas continuous proofing equipment accounted for approximately 35% of the purchase price of packaging printers (the remaining 65% was purchased from semi-continuous proofing equipment), Vanover emphasized that packaging printers should understand their own special requirements and different types of proofs. How technology gets proofs is very important. "When the on-demand proofing and continuous proofing methods have been widely accepted, satisfying the user's expectations will also need to consider whether the DOD capability is OK or not." At CMM 2001, Gregg Tashker, DuPont's global packaging color proofing manager, highlighted the need for continuous development of a wide range of new proofing methods. DuPont always insists on research and continuous improvement of solutions for analog proofing, continuous proofing and digital semi-continuous proofing. Marek Skrzynski, president of the pre-press supplier CSW Picture Development, said: “I think the key now is not to reinvent the wheel, but to apply and improve the existing technology.” DuPont's various new technology projects were exhibited on a large scale at the CMM show. After being presented for the first time at Drupa, the Cromalin® Digital iG2 and iG4 Continuous Inkjet Proofers used GE ink (enhanced) and new media settings to expand the range of available spot color proofs. Other features include the latest CromaNet a proofing server with color management in most CTP and desktop file formats, and compatibility with Cromalin digital conversion media, enabling digital proofs to be converted to virtually any substrate with blank swatch samples and Standard proofs. Printers can obtain Matchprint Inkjet Proofing Systems from Canon, Epson, Hewlett Packard, and large format proofer suppliers. The packaging and printing industry has begun to use Matchprint color matching RIP software, which provides the ability to automatically convert common colors to CMYK colors. The entire color range can be covered by the Pantone color database, which has numerous customer-used colors and up to 12 color schemes that can be used for proofing. The on-demand proofing market has found a new option this year, Creo Scitex Iris iPROOF, which uses a 6-color inking system, an iPROOF Apple Digital Software front end, a 13 x 19-inch semi-glossy and matte medium, a sheet-fed, and Iris iPROOF dye. Ink ink proofer. Considering how best to meet the requirements of numerous packaging printers, CSW tried more flexibility in specifications when seeking a new proofing solution for its Ludlow MA device. As part of the DieGraphics Group, CSW provides packaging design, proofing and information technology services for many flexographic printing manufacturers and offset printing manufacturers, as well as supply of flexographic printing plates, cutting dies and color separation film consumables. The company also has direct business dealings with consumer product sales companies such as Gillette and Bose, thus gaining some key performance indicators for proofer function requirements at both ends of the supply chain. After measuring various optional equipment, CSW selected Agfa's AgfaJet Sherpa Digital Inkjet Proofing System as the second-generation sales device in North America. Agfa has announced the results of the test in this area, which has been running for nearly a year since last month. The Sherpa family of proofers has 24, 43, 54 and 62 inch proofers of different specifications. For the packaging's emphasis on color requirements, Sherpa uses six different densities of ink, namely yellow, green and black, plus light magenta and light cyan. These two added colors make the highlights softer, making the ink easier to match. The system uses advanced ColorTone color management software, and also uses a piezoelectric device that can effectively use ink in on-demand proofing. CSW's proofing capability extends from black-and-white proofs to color proofs required by color management contracts. As General Manager Kevin Chop pointed out, the company should become a "control source" by developing a proofer with the characteristics of a press. Mr. Chop soon discovered the value of Sherpa: “The Sherpa proofing machine we offer for flexographic printers in New York or for exhibitors in California is able to perfectly match the production of existing presses.” CSW also applied proofs produced by Sherpa proofers to the field of photographic products. When talking about the productivity of the Sherpa proofer, Marek Skrzynski, president of CSW's image development department, believes it is about four times faster than other CSW existing prepress equipment. Skrzynski thinks that another important characteristic of Sherpa is dimensional stability. “The size of the color proofs should be very precise.” He emphasized that “a small amount of mistakes will lead to various problems in subsequent processing.” This is especially important for CSW because proofs are often used as final production. standard. Piepa inkjet technology used by Sherpa has been fully demonstrated to produce good results. Mr. Skrzynski pointed out that "fine ink droplets achieve uniform print quality. Piezo inkjet heads reduce smudging and improve edge definition. With this technology, there will no longer be dirt and color distortion. We Efforts are being made to achieve better color saturation.” As people increasingly value the absolute fidelity of color, why are they investing in non-laser and semi-continuous inkjet proofing equipment? This is because although Sherpa's screening technology can produce semi-continuous dot dots up to 100 lpi, Skrzynski believes that there are still problems with semi-continuous tone proofing. “These problems are caused by human beings,” he acknowledged. “In addition to creating an increase in dot gains, the use of color management systems will also cause some human errors, making the proofs significantly different from the original color separation proofs. Mistakes generally come from defects in certain printing materials, such as ink hue, ink density, substrates, and other factors. Performing semi-continuous blending on these proofs will produce some artificial dots, which may even make very experienced printers. On the other hand, Skrzynski also admitted that screens below 85 lpi will have a dot effect that affects the color effect of the proofs, and it is necessary to explain this to the client. Contract proofs should be accurate simulations of the final printing process, not just images reflected on the final film or plate. "The final result should be judged by people's eyes, because that's exactly how the user finally measures the product. Mr. Chop also believes that digital semi-continuous proofing is not completely consistent with CSW's color management process." Semi-continuous The transfer points limit the proof copying capacity.” CSW has found the right color range with Sherpa's ColorTune Pro color management software, which uses 6 colors to obtain ICC-compatible color curves. Sherpa can match up to 85% PANTONE Color, because the color management software uses the Pantone-approved Lab color database to determine colors in the CMYK color space, including light magenta and light cyan, according to Mr. Chop, Sherpa's combination of precision and applicability "We have made great progress in our pre-press workshops in terms of sample processing capabilities."