Software - Colour Management

 

GMG has announced a new release of its award-winning multichannel profiling software GMG OpenColor. The highlight of GMG OpenColor 2.0.4 is the ability to create separation profiles which can be exported to other applications. Following shortly afterwards, GMG OpenColor 2.0.5 will offer dot proof profiles for GMG proofing solutions.

The sheer variety of printing technologies, spot colours, substrates and number of inks provide challenges for proofing. Especially the overprinting behavior, the interplay of inks printed on top of each other on the press, poses a major problem. To make proofing simpler (and better), GMG OpenColor calculates high-precision profiles and automatically transfers them to GMG ColorProof for printing. GMG OpenColor has received the PIA InterTech™ Technology Award, FTA Technical Innovation Award and a Technical Innovation commendation from the European Rotogravure Association for its groundbreaking overprint prediction capabilities.

Until now, the only way OpenColor profiles could be used was by creating proofs in GMG ColorProof. However, GMG has responded to the request of GMG OpenColor customers by offering separation profiles from OpenColor 2.0.4 that can be used in a number of places: within GMG ColorServer, Adobe Photoshop, and within packaging production software solutions. For example, users of GMG ColorServer will be able to use more sophisticated profiles to convert RGB or CMYK images to CMYK with OpenColor separation profiles.

Taking OpenColor profiles to the desktop

GMG has concurrently introduced an ingenious plug-in that allows GMG separation profiles to be imported directly into Adobe Photoshop: GMG ColorPlugin. With it, users can utilise GMG’s MX4 colour separation technology, including re-separation and ink optimisation profiles, on the desktop rather than in a server based environment.

GMG ColorPlugin comes in different editions: GMG ColorPlugin Standard works with all industry standard RGB-CMYK and CMYK-CMYK colour spaces. GMG ColorPlugin Pro adds the ability to implement custom colour profiles created in OpenColor 2.0.4 and existing ColorServer/ProfileEditor profiles, letting them match to a target colour space across a wide variety of printing processes and substrates. Due for release in May will be GMG ColorPlugin Packaging, which will offer the additional features of channel removal, minimum dot adjust and preview, and taking extra advantage of GMG OpenColor's spot colour profile functionality.

Easy integration into packaging production systems

Packaging is noted for print projects that include a large number of process and spot colours. The integration of a packaging production system with GMG OpenColor 2.0.4 will provide the most accurate colour separation profiles available. For example, GMG and HYBRID Software PACKZ recently announced that GMG OpenColor colour separation profile technology will be available within HYBRID Software's PACKZ label and packaging editor and workflow. This will allow PACKZ to use the colour conversion within its PDF editor to assure the most accurate transformations. This is particularly useful if the number of ink units are changed, or if the printer wants the most consistent representation of their brand colours.

Dot proof proofing profiles

Due for release in May will be GMG OpenColor 2.0.5, which allows the creation of dot proof (screen) proofing profiles for use in GMG DotProof and GMG FlexoProof. This is helpful for determining the overprint properties with the benefit of halftone proofing.

"GMG OpenColor is being used throughout the world by companies that are extremely impressed with the quality of their profiles—and the ease to create them—for proofs. They were so accurate that customers quickly started asking us to develop ways to use the profiles in other places," comments Paul Barnes, Product Management, GMG. "We believe that the use of OpenColor profiles in a packaging production system is a natural progression, given the benefits of its patented prediction model. Users will now find this very beneficial within Photoshop, editing images during the artwork and prepress processes."

GMG will be presenting these and other innovations at drupa in its own booth, at Hall 8A B10. In addition, GMG is also involved in the drupa innovation park (Hall 7 B15).
For more information please look at http://www.gmgcolor.com/products/opencolor/ and http://www.gmgcolor.com/products/colorplugin/

Alwan Color Expertise has announced version 6 of its Color Suite.

MTEX joins forces with AVA CAD CAM at Heimtextil 2016 to show their respective MTEX Blue Pigment printers and AVA’s Digital Print Design & Colour Solutions Software working together.

GMG has announced that its proofing systems have received the Fogra Certifications for FOGRA51/52 and proof papers containing OBAs.

The following proofing systems have been certified:

• FOGRA39, FOGRA 51 and FOGRA52: GMG ColorProof with Epson Stylus Pro 7900 on GMG ProofPaper semimatte 250 OBA
• FOGRA52: GMG ColorProof with Epson Stylus Pro 7900 on GMG ProofPaper matte 140

Reflecting the popularity of production papers with high optical brighteners in Offset printing, some ISO standards have been revised during the last couple of years. Following the new criteria in color viewing and color measurement, the results have been addressed in the revision of the Offset printing standard criteria (ISO12647-2) in 2013. With FOGRA51 and FOGRA52, the first characterisation data based on ISO12647-2:2013 are now released for woodfree-coated and woodfree-uncoated substrates.

To illustrate the fluorescent effects of optical brighteners in common production papers during proofing, GMG recommends the use of OBA-containing proofing substrates.

“We are happy to be able to offer GMG customers these new tools that allow the printing industry a significantly improved colour communication for the most important printing conditions,” says Juergen Seitz, Senior Technical Advisor at GMG.

Invited to share stand space with Roland DG Europe at LabelExpo, CMA Imaging is to demonstrate its full range of software and packaging solutions all of which are designed to simplify the route to correct colour management and proofing using digital devices. The company’s products operate through a web-based interface to bring real-time viewing locally and remotely, complete with the ability to edit print jobs on the fly and add print-and-cut parameters where required.

As well as its software solutions for packaging and labelling print specialists, CMA Imaging’s substrates for this sector simplify proofing and sampling, and are specifically coated and profiled for Roland DG’s VersaCAMM Vsi series of wide-format devices that feature both print-and-cut capabilities and metallic and high density white ink options. Combined with its patented four-dimensional colour management software,

CMA Imaging’s colour management capabilities are ideal for true production flexibility for half-tone and continuous tone proofing. Full support is included for Pantone colour libraries, including spots and specials, with the option for connectivity to Esko’s Color Engine spot colour database.

Unlike legacy packaging proofing systems, CMA Imaging has developed its family of products to generate significant cost savings via the reduced use of consumables at the proofing stage. The results are also fully APPE (Adobe PDF Print Engine) compliant where Adobe RIPs are employed.

“As well as general digital, wide-format and offset litho production environments, we are moving increasingly into specialist sectors where accuracy throughout all pre-press and proofing processes is becoming increasingly important,” states Mark Sanderson, Managing Director of CMA Imaging. “Today’s packaging and labelling markets demand ever shorter lead times, less waste, and the ability to go from concept through design to end product seamlessly and precisely. Our portfolio of software solutions and related media is endorsed by the company’s long-standing experience in colour specialisation.”

The partnership with Roland DG Europe signifies the growing importance of CMA Imaging’s colour management and pre-press skills across all print sectors. The company not only offers a portfolio of intelligent software solutions, but also includes FSC and PEFC certified papers, plus the promotion of responsibility for the reduction in chemical and consumable waste by lowering costs and improving throughput for its customers. CMA Imaging partners with manufacturers and suppliers that are able to maintain its key criteria for adding value while enhancing environmental principles throughout all sectors of the printing industry.

GMG has announced that the latest versions of its GMG ColorProof, GMG ProofControl and GMG ColorServer software all support the new FOGRA51/FOGRA52 datasets with related GMG profiles

ISO 12647-2 describes the standard criteria for Offset printing. One part of the revised version from 2013 reflects the popularity of production papers with high OBA (optical brightening agents). In consequence of this change and the correlated earlier changes in colour viewing and colour measurement, ECI, bvdm and Fogra have worked out new characterisation datasets and ICC profiles to consider all those ISO-changes and improve the tools for the printing industry. The first datasets released today are for woodfree-coated (FOGRA51) and woodfree-uncoated (FOGRA52) substrates.

The development of these new characterisation data sets took place with the technical guidance from GMG and Heidelberg. GMG’s specialist knowledge and tools for spectral colour handling were supporting the analysis of test prints and the final creation of the characterisation datasets.

The new versions of GMG ColorProof and GMG ProofControl support PSO Coated v3 (based on FOGRA51) and PSO Uncoated v3 (based on FOGRA52) with profiles, offering users the ability to create proofs that match the actual conditions in the pressroom. GMG ColorProof 5.7 (incl. GMG ProofControl Inline 3.0) and GMG ProofControl 2.2 support PSO Coated v3 with profiles on GMG ProofPaper semimatte 250 OBA and GMG ProofPaper semimatte 250; PSO Uncoated v3 is supported on GMG ProofPaper matte 140 and GMG ProofPaper semimatte 250 OBA.

GMG recommends to use their OBA-containing proofing substrates to proof these new conditions as this is the best way to picture the fluorescent effect of relevant production papers.

“For many years GMG has been an active stakeholder in the development of new standards in the prepress and printing industries. As a member of ECI, Fogra’s advisory board, ICC, TC130 and many other national bodies around the world, GMG is proud to be part of the research group and to have actively participated in the creation of FOGRA51/52,” says Juergen Seitz, Senior Technical Advisor at GMG.

GMG ColorProof 5.7 and GMG ProofControl 2.2 are available now through the company’s extensive global network of resellers. GMG ColorServer 4.10, which also supports FOGRA51/52, will be available shortly.