Software - Colour Management

GMG, a leading developer and supplier of high-end colour management software solutions, officially launched the www.proofr.com Internet platform this week. The worldwide network of remote proofing locations makes it possible to provide online proofing services in compliance with the GMG quality standards, and can be used from now on. Paul Willems, CEO of GMG GmbH & Co. KG, says: "We are delighted to have already been able to recruit numerous professional partners for our proofing network. Proofr.com already covers key locations in Europe, Asia, and the USA, meaning that we can literally offer many customers the possibility of sending colour-accurate proofs around the globe in a very short space of time. We're permanently seeking and recruiting new partners to improve the network's coverage even further."

Due to the increasing globalisation of the working world, even digital hardcopy proofs today regularly have to be transported over long distances, e.g. by courier, if rapid customer approval is needed. That is an expensive procedure in terms of both money and time. GMG is catering to this situation by introducing its innovative Internet platform called Proofr.com. The new development from GMG was recently even nominated for the "German Printing Industry Innovation Awards 2010", making it into the Top 10 in the "Prepress" category. "This clearly shows that we have come up with exactly what people need," says Paul Willems.

The working principle is very simple: via an online portal at www.proofr.com, interested users can order a color-accurate contract proof in GMG quality, and select a Proofr partner in their area for the job. This partner then produces the proof in the recipient's vicinity, sending it out within a matter of hours. The PayPal online payment system is used for payment.

In the opinion of Kristian Wells, Prepress Manager at Think Repro in the UK and Proofr network partner, it is, on the one hand, "no problem at all for a GMG user to become a Proofr partner, because preconfigured workflows can simply be downloaded from the Web site, enabling every partner to guarantee consistent proof quality. On the customer side, it's very easy to use the online portal, upload data, and select a partner. Since every partner uses the same GMG ColorProof proofing software and GMG ProofPaper semimatte 250, the customer can depend on every partner producing top-quality proofs."

Maxime Dumesnil from DLW, a prepress company in Paris, describes the business advantages from the point of view of a network partner: "Many of our customers have their printing done outside France. The Proofr community puts us in a position to select a trustworthy partner for our customers at the individual printing locations, and to deliver a colour-accurate proof to the print provider on the same day. That results in direct economic and ecological benefits for our customers. Since transport is eliminated, the costs are lower and the carbon footprint improves." Angela Zoglowek from Oestreicher+Wagner in Munich adds: "Being a long-standing GMG customer, it was instantly clear that Oestreicher+Wagner would join the global platform. Proofr is a very good opportunity for offering our services in cooperation with international partners. We're pleased to see the network being launched, and look forward to lots of international jobs."

Proofr.com networks service providers using GMG proofing software with customers around the globe. It creates a network of remote proofing locations that use identical technology and comparable equipment to produce identical proofs all over the world. Proofr.com combines GMG's technology for producing consistent, reproducible contract proofs with today's capabilities for networking, data communication and payment via the Internet.

The technological principle of Proofr is based on:

• GMG's calibration technology, which harmonises the printing characteristics of different printers worldwide,
• GMG's ProofStandards, which enable perfect simulation of all important printing conditions on different printers,
• High-quality, globally available proofing media with very narrow production tolerances; an identical white point and identical ink acceptance make it possible to print identical proofs anywhere in the world in combination with GMG ColorProof proofing software.

"Since we already use GMG ColorProof ourselves at various company locations, we know for sure that proofs are output identically and reproducibly everywhere. That's why we're also convinced that the Proofr partners around the world will deliver proofs of the same, high quality," says Jim Kos from Edge Pre media in the Netherlands. "After all, GMG itself tested and certified the proof quality of the partners beforehand."

GMG users can apply to become proofing providers at www.proofr.com. Customers who would like to use the network in regions where there are not yet any Proofr partners, can send their inquiries to info@proofr.com, since GMG can quickly expand the network in popular regions.

 

 

 

3M Commercial Graphics Division Europe just updated its profile database and has now more than 1000 ICC media profiles available.

Whether you are using printer from Agfa, EFI VUTEk, Epson, HP, Mimaki, Mutoh, Oce, Roland, or Seiko, 3M has media profiles available for you.

 

X-Rite, Incorporated, the world leader in colour management, measurement and communication technologies, today announced that it will be showcasing its latest colour management solutions at the upcoming PIA Color Management Conference (taking place December 4-7, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, Arizona).

Conference attendees will get a preview of the highly-anticipated and soon-to-be released i1Publish software at a special after hours sneak-peak event hosted by X-Rite’s Global OEM Technical Manager and Color Integration Specialist, Ray Cheydleur, on Sunday, December 5th at 7:45PM, in the Computer Lab (no advance registration required).  i1Publish is X-Rite’s next-generation colour profiling and management package that replaces its legacy i1Match, MonocoPROFILER and ProfileMaker solutions. The i1Publish suite of colour management tools includes X-Rite’s all-new i1Profiler software, PANTONE Color Manager software, ColorChecker Proof and ColorChecker Passport camera calibration software. Participants will learn how i1Publish can put unprecedented colour control into the hands of graphic arts professionals that need to organise and manage their complete RGB, CMYK and CMYK+N (CMYK plus any 4) prepress and digital pressroom workflows.

X-Rite will also offer a 20-minute special breakout session on Sunday Dec 5th at 3PM during which the company will showcase the recently announced PrintCheck and PressOptimizer line of automated print quality control and standardisation solutions. PrintCheck and PressOptimizer allow printers to calibrate their presses, verify if a press is still running within specification, and then create easy-to-read reports on the six critical areas that affect color on-press. This provides great value to pressroom operators who can now validate quality consistency and ISO standards compliance using the process control methodology of their choice, whether they print to G7, PSO or Japan Color, or to their own set of custom tolerances.

X-Rite, Incorporated, the world leader in colour management, measurement and communication technologies, today announced its new portfolio of i1 Professional Color Management Solutions.  Designed to accommodate all levels of proficiency and expertise, these high performance solutions are specifically targeted to meet the unique needs of photo, pre-press, and publishing professionals, providing exceptional value at very attractive price points.

The portfolio is comprised of i1Basic Pro, i1Photo Pro, i1 Publish and i1Publish Pro.  All four feature groundbreaking new technology and applications: i1Profiler, X-Rite's entirely new next generation colour profiling software; new PANTONE Color Manager colour swatch bridging software; and ColorChecker Proof, a new colour checker chart for direct viewing analysis against a printed target.

"With the availability of our easy-to-use, next generation colour profiling solutions, X-Rite puts unprecedented colour control and robust features into the hands of a broad array of imaging professionals – people who require precise colour in a variety of projects," commented Dr. Sonia Megert, X-Rite's Vice President of Inbound Marketing. "The integration of the industry-standard i1Pro spectrophotometer and today's most powerful colour profiling software ensures tremendous value for our customers. Our new i1 Professional Color Management Solutions are more-than-ever within reach, with features that are designed to accommodate all skill levels, and provide the power and control needed to create the highest quality colour profiles in one, convenient solution."

About X-Rite i1 Professional Color Management Solutions

i1Basic Pro is a fundamental solution for high-end monitor profiling, monitor and printing quality verification, and spot colour measurement. Designed for an imaging professional's unique needs, i1Basic Pro is ideal for an effective workflow in a colour-managed ecosystem. i1Basic Pro includes i1Profiler software, PANTONE Color Manager software and an i1Pro spectrophotometer.

i1Photo Pro is specifically designed for discerning photo professionals to manage their RGB workflow from camera to display and projector to print. Thanks to the iterative profiling capability of the i1Profiler software, professional photo users will enjoy the highest quality colour results that especially target highlight and shadow details and delivers greater colour accuracy for more neutral grays and natural skin tones.

i1Publish (a standalone software package) and i1Publish Pro are the ultimate, fully-featured ICC profiling solutions for graphic arts professionals that need to organise and manage their complete RGB, CMYK and CMYK+N (CMYK plus any 4) prepress workflows, complete with new assurance validation and verification functions using digital standards. This includes a display QA function to check soft proofing for ISO (G7, SWOP, PSO, Japan Color) and a printer QA function to check print quality using ISO media wedges (IDEAlliance ISO Control Wedge or Fogra Media Wedge).

i1Photo Pro and i1Publish Pro include i1Profiler software, an i1Pro spectrophotometer, PANTONE Color Manager software, ColorChecker Proof target, mini ColorChecker Classic target, and ColorChecker Passport camera calibration software. i1Publish includes all of the above except for the spectrophotometer.

About i1Profiler Software

With the new i1Profiler software, X-Rite has developed a next generation toolset that combines the best features of its i1Match, ProfileMaker and MonacoPROFILER solutions. i1Profiler software offers an unprecedented level of flexibility to address the needs of digital imaging workflows. It features a number of unique colour management capabilities, adding to users' power and control in creating professional quality profiles. Users can chose between a 'basic', wizard-driven interface; or an 'advanced', user-driven interface to create high quality, precise, custom color profiles for monitors, projectors, printers, and presses.

At the core of i1Profiler is X-Rite's i1Prism engine, whose unique profiling technology lets users build printer profiles for up to 8-colour workflows (RGB, CMYK and CMYK plus any 4). This reliable, iterative technology is extremely robust, allowing for further profile optimisation based on any combination of images, spot colours or captured colours. Users can select from any of the included PANTONE colour libraries, including the new PANTONE PLUS SERIES and PANTONE Fashion + Home. This results in the best possible image quality and colour accuracy.

Using just one software tool, users can optimise their profiles, build profiles with ambient light measurements, compensate for optical brighteners in their papers, and utilise simple yet advanced controls for black separation. i1Profiler lets users save and reuse assets or preferred settings with drag-and-drop functionality - meaning profile generation workflows can be created or shared with others quickly, easily, and efficiently. This exchange functionality also allows users to communicate palette information and other colour data across the office or around the world using X-Rite's Color Exchange Format (CxF) for the most comprehensive digital colour data exchange.

About PANTONE Color Manager

PANTONE Color Manager will dynamically keep all digital PANTONE libraries up to date, accurate and ready to use in Adobe and Quark creative applications.  The tight integration of i1Profiler with PANTONE Color Manager swatch bridging software gives users seamless access to all PANTONE colours for precise spot colour matching, and unparalleled accuracy of spot colour reproduction. It also makes multiple colour space selections simple for easy colour translation to multiple applications and is ideal for photographers that need to shoot corporate ID images.

PANTONE Color Manager includes a unique new feature, which simplifies the creation and distribution of corporate brand style guides.  Designers can include palette information, digital colour data, and output profiles to ensure that their brand colour is faithfully reproduced in any print production process around the corner or across the globe.

About ColorChecker Proof

To help users perform a visual colour evaluation of their results using physical standards, i1Photo Pro and i1Publish Pro solutions include the new ColorChecker Proof, a 24-patch ColorChecker Classic target precut for direct viewing against a printed target. When used in proper lighting conditions, this offers a much more precise visual verification of output quality, so that the user can quickly determine if any adjustment is needed.

About ColorChecker Passport Software and Classic Target

With the ColorChecker Passport Camera Calibration Application and Lightroom Plug-In, users can quickly and easily build DNG profiles for Adobe Imaging solutions including Lightroom, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Camera Raw (ACR) and Adobe Bridge. This advanced profiling technology, which has become widely adopted in RAW workflows since its launch in September 2009, provides excellent results with just the small 24-patch ColorChecker Classic target included in both i1Photo Pro and i1Publish Pro. It produces DNG profiles that work exceptionally well, even in unusual or artificial light sources. Plus, software auto-detection will locate the target automatically.  Whether shooting with just one camera or multiple cameras, photographers can easily establish an accurate colour foundation and maintain control of their colours.

Pricing, upgrades and availability

The new i1 Professional Color Management Solutions will be available in October 2010 from X-Rite's online store (North America and Europe), and also from the company's worldwide network of resellers. i1Publish will also be offered with two upgrade options based on original solution purchased.

GMG, a leading developer and supplier of high-end colour management software solutions, is showing version 5.2 of GMG ColorProof for the first time at Graph Expo in Chicago from October 3-6. Version 5.2 incorporates major innovations such as the integration of the new Adobe® PDF Print Engine 2.5 and support of the new Epson Stylus Pro 4900, 7890 and 9890 printers. The packaging market will benefit from a number of improvements to the SpotColor Editor.

GMG ColorProof 5.2 is compatible with the completely new GMG ProofControl Inline module, supporting the recently launched Epson 4900, 7890, 9890 proof printers as well as the 7900 and 9900 printers with an integrated measuring device. It provides time-saving, automated verification of contone proofs. Furthermore, the interaction of ProofControl Inline and the GMG AutoCalibrationWizard helps to keep these printers automatically calibrated.

Version 5.2 will be available for purchase at the end of the year.

Integration of the Adobe® PDF Print Engine 2.5
The Adobe® PDF Print Engine 2.5 supports the latest PDF technologies and specifications providing, among others, exceptional reliability when proofing graphically complex effects created by any application. The most accurate compatibility with Adobe® Creative Suite 5 is guaranteed.

Improved SpotColor Editor
GMG ColorProof 5.2 incorporates new, advanced tools for expert handling of spot colours,  increasing efficiency by saving time and minimising errors. It is now possible to create a spot colour database with normalised paper tints. Based on GMG MX-profiles, an accurate paper tint can be applied during the process of proofing. A new feature is the ability to export a report showing spot colours, listing the spot colour name, CMYK values, the target and current values, and even out of gamut colours according to current value estimates and delta E.

Support for the Epson Stylus Pro 4900, 7890 and 9890 printers
With the help of the GMG AutoCalibrationWizard and an internal measuring device, Epson Stylus Pro 4900 (17''), 7890 (24'') and 9890 (44'') printers can be calibrated automatically without requiring any user intervention. The 4900 printer features a super-wide colour gamut for the simulation of saturated spot colours and is very suitable for colour-accurate remote proofing applications. The unique combination of the GMG printer driver, AutoCalibrationWizard and the GMG ProofStandard technology deliver remote proofing with the highest possible reliability and efficiency.

Compared to previous-generation printers, Epson Stylus Pro 4900, 7890 and 9890 printers will certainly impress the proofing market with faster print speeds and, therefore, increased productivity.

GMG ProofControl Inline for fully automated proofing
GMG ProofControl Inline is an additonal module for GMG ColorProof 5.2, allowing fully automated proofing and fast, error-free verification of contone proofs on Epson Stylus Pro printers with an integrated measuring device.

GMG ProofControl Inline automates selection of the correct target values and manual printing of proof labels within the Epson printer, making this "seal of quality" forgery-proof. Verification results can be seen within ColorProof, while measurement results of several GMG ColorProof 5.2 installations can be stored in one central database. If proof verification fails, the printer is automatically re-calibrated.

GMG ProofControl Inline is initially available for Epson Stylus Pro 4900, 7900, 9900, 7890 or 9890 printers with an integrated measuring device. Because user intervention is limited, the proof system can be successfully installed at sites where people are less skilled or who have little knowledge of digital proofing - for example, at advertising agencies, publishing offices or marketing departments.

GMG ProofControl, the company's well-known quality control software for digital proofs, is still the proof system of choice, consisting of GMG ColorProof 5.2 and proof printers that do not have an integrated measuring device. In facilities with different types of proof printers, GMG ProofControl Inline can be used along with version 1.5 - or more recent versions - of GMG ProofControl.

According to Paul Willems, CEO of GMG GmbH & Co. KG, the implementation of the latest features in GMG ColorProof 5.2, "fits the users' growing needs for more automated proofing workflows, very easy use of any software, and continually higher demands on productivity - as time and cost savings are more and more becoming crucial factors of company success. We are therefore convinced that our new version 5.2 represents a milestone in this direction while delivering GMG's renowned, highest possible contract proofing quality and production reliabilty according to our stringent quality standards."

GMG, a leading developer and supplier of high-end colour management software solutions, and Mimaki, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutting machines for the sign/graphics, textile/apparel and industrial markets today announced that the GMG ColorProof proofing solution will be available shortly for the Mimaki UJF-706 inkjet printer. This new joint solution from GMG and Mimaki, enabling high-quality contone and halftone proofing applications, is being demonstrated for the first time from October 5-8 on the booth of Mimaki 5i-21 at Tokyo Pack 2010.

The strategic partnership of both companies provides highly innovative solutions for high value packaging applications. The latest combination of the Mimaki UV UJF-706 inkjet printers, supported by the GMG ColorProof contone and GMG FlexoProof/DotProof halftone proofing solutions, allow for best quality packaging proofing on original substrates, creation of colour-accurate mockups and label prototypes as well as personalised short run production. White and varnish are also supported. The costs per proof or mockup produced digitally in this way are much lower than produced with analogue proofing systems.

Due to the unrivaled GMG colour management technology, GMG ColorProof, FlexoProof and DotProof are able to achieve perfect colour match, optimum spot and process colour reproduction as well as the highest repeatability and consistency. GMG FlexoProof is highly suitable for the digital production of mockups where the visualisation of final print characteristics such as substrate structures or register fluctuation is required. GMG FlexoProof and DotProof process not only industry standard data formats, but also the original 1-bit data of the imagesetter RIP. These data are colour-profiled, retaining the original screen information, and output on inkjet printers in contract-proof quality.

The Mimaki UJF-706, designed for industrial digital printing applications, prints directly on flexible and rigid substrates up to 15cm thickness such as metal, tin, acrylics, glass, styrene, PET, polycarbonate, shrink film and PLA, as well as coated and uncoated papers. With the roll-to-roll option on UJF-706, it is possible to print on thin packaging film (minimum 0.025 mm) with the highest precision currently in the market.

"The close integration between the Mimaki UJF-706 printer and GMG colour management technology represents a great leap forward with regard to our partnership and joint customers," says Paul Willems, CEO of GMG GmbH & Co. KG. "The new solution will enable users to implement highly demanding packaging applications for high-end proof and mockup production based on any original substrate. The further strengthening of our technological collaboration helps both companies to meet the steadily growing challenges in packaging printing such as very short product life cycles and therefore great pressure in time during design and approval processes."

Mikio Noguchi, Executive Vice President of Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. adds: "Compared to very expensive and time consuming press proofs or analogue proofing, we are very pleased to offer the offset, gravure and flexo packaging industry a new time and cost saving complete solution for digital proofing and short run production. Due to the advanced GMG colour management we are able to guarantee maximum colour accuracy, repeatability and reliability in daily production."