November Cover Story: Proof positive
Nov 1, 2005 12:00 AM
Prepress
Since the advent of computer-to-plate technology and digital
production printing, inkjet proofing has rapidly gained popularity
among commercial printers. While some still feel more comfortable
with digital halftone output for their contract proofs,
inkjet’s ever-improving quality and its dramatically lower
costs (about one-tenth the cost of an analog or digital halftone
proof) have won over many printers and their customers.
The key to achieving the best quality inkjet proof is to combine
the right equipment, software and consumables to match your
pressroom equipment. The following products represent the latest
developments in inkjet for contract quality proofing.
Agfa expands :Grand Sherpa capabilities
Agfa (Ridgefield Park, NJ) showed the :Grand Sherpa Universal AM
for the first time in North America at PRINT 05. It uses
Agfa’s new line of mild solvent inks and is twice as fast as
the standard :Grand Sherpa Universal. Available in 65-and 90-inch
widths, :Grand Sherpa Universal AM systems produce six to 40 square
meters per hour, depending on the resolution.
Agfa divides the Sherpa line’s proofing capabilities as follows:
- Grand Sherpa: highest resolution, highest speed wide-format proofing.
- SherpaMatic 43: high-resolution, productive, automated duplex proofing and contract proofing.
- Sherpa 43i: high-resolution, fast contract proofing.
- Sherpa 2i: high-resolution, manual, dual-side imposition proofing.
- Sherpa 24: high-resolution contract proofing or remote proofing at client locations.
See www.agfa.com.
Canon debuts dye-based proofer
Canon U.S.A., Inc. (Lake Success, NY) introduced the new
imagePROGRAF W8400D dye-ink-based, wide-format printer at Canon
EXPO 2005, held mid-September in New York. This new model
complements the pigment-ink-based imagePROGRAF W8400Pg released in
May 2005.
Printing up to 44 inches in width, the imagePROGRAF W8400D
incorporates four-picoliter inkjet droplet size, one-inch print
head density and new software. Canon’s proprietary print head
technology enables production speed up to 307 sq. ft. per hour at
1,200 x 1,200 dpi. Maximum resolution is 1,200 x 2,400 dpi.
See www.usa.canon.com.
ORIS gains SWOP certification on three new Canon
printers
CGS Publishing Technologies Intl. (Hainburg, Germany) has announced
SWOP certification for the ORIS Digital Proofing System on the
latest generation of Canon printers, including the 13 x 19-inch
imagePROGRAF W2200S, the 24-inch w6400, and the 44-inch w8400.
Certification was achieved with two different ink sets:
Canon’s six-color pigmented inks and CGS’
recently-introduced Long-Life Extended (LLE) inks. Both
certifications used ORIS PearlPROOF Publication semimatte
paper.
See www.cgs.de.
Epson’s next generation
Epson (Tokyo) launched in May 2005 the Stylus Pro 4800, 7800 and
9800 with new Epson UltraChrome K3 ink technology. The 4800 prints
images as wide as 17 inches, while the 7800 and 9800 print up to 24
inches and 44 inches in width, respectively. Epson’s new
high-performance, one-inch-wide print head has 180 nozzles per
channel and can achieve resolution levels up to 1,440 x 2,880 dpi
with variable-size ink droplets as small as 3.5 picoliters. The
4800 can print a 16 x 20-inch, 720 x 1,440-dpi print in six
minutes, 41 seconds. The 7800 produces the same quality at 24 x 30
inches in 14 minutes, 18 seconds; the 9800 at 44 x 60 inches in 42
minutes, 30 seconds.
A built-in auto head alignment function reduces setup time and
automatically activates head cleaning cycles when necessary.
Dual-side printing is supported.
UltraChrome K3 uses higher density pigments to increase image
quality. In addition to cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light
magenta, three levels of black are applied simultaneously.
See www.epson.com.
Kodak introduces Matchprint Inkjet Proofer
Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group (GCG) (Rochester, NY)
announced at PRINT 05 a new Matchprint inkjet proofing solution to
replace the Creo Integris and KPG Matchprint Proofpro products.
Currently, the new Epson Stylus Pro printers are supported, as well
as a full line of Matchprint inkjet media and inks. The Matchprint
2610 printer will be added in December 2005, according to the
company.
The new Matchprint Inkjet Proofer is the first drop-on-demand
proofing solution to be based on Kodak-developed software,
including screening, calibration and a new “Certified Process
for Color Confirmation.” It connects directly to Kodak
Prinergy and Brisque workflows.
See http://graphics.kodak.com.
X-Rite profiles for Epson line
X-Rite (Grandville, MI) recently announced an agreement with Epson
(Long Beach, CA) to create premium RGB ICC profiles for the entire
Stylus Pro line. X-Rite generates the profiles using its
MonacoPROFILER 4.8 software. HP targets total customer
experience
HP’s (Palo Alto, CA) Designjet 90 (18-inch) and 130 (24-inch)
thermal inkjet, six-color printers apply dye-based Vivera inks for
fade-resistant, photo quality proofs. The devices accept a wide
range of substrates and offer optional roll feed and cutting. The
Designjet 130 prints a 13 x 19-inch page in four minutes, normal
mode; 6 minutes at maximum 1,200 x 2,400-dpi resolution.
At PRINT 05, HP announced the rollout of new tools and resources to improve the printing experience for users of HP Designjet wide-format printers.
New HP Designjet media: The new HP Professional
Semi-gloss Contract Proofing Paper for the HP Designjet 90 and
Designjet 130/30 series is a microporous, instant-dry media
designed to exceed the color range requirements necessary to
emulate offset and gravure printouts for ISO and SWOP
standards.
Online resources: A new HP Large Format Printing Knowledge
Center provides HP Designjet customers with direct online access to
printing and color workflow information. A step-by-step process
replicates the user’s environment by asking for information
on the following categories: HP Designjet printer model, operating
system, printing software (driver or RIP) and applications such as
Adobe Photoshop. After coupling the input with workflow
specifications, the Knowledge Center generates an illustrated,
four-page PDF guide with instructions for achieving top-quality
prints.
See www.hp.com/go/graphicarts.
EFI takes Colorproof XF to new heights
EFI (Foster City, CA) Colorproof XF version 2.6 offers manual
nesting, support for a wider variety of printers and file formats,
and new Dot Creator and Fiery options, as well as JDF job ticket
compatibility. The result of combining EFI’s development with
the proofing expertise behind Best technology, Colorproof XF is a
client/server-based proofing solution for inkjet and laser
printers. EFI Colorproof XF enhancements include manual nesting,
cropping, spot color definition for process colors, and support for
new printers. These include the Epson Stylus Pro 7400/7800 and
9400/9800; the HP Designjet 30, 130 and 90; and the Canon
imagePROGRAF W6200, W6400 and W8400.
See www.efi.com.
Free handbook
EFI has published a free handbook titled, “ABCs of
Proofing,” available via mail or download from www.efi.com.
The 22-page, full-color handbook examines hardcopy proofs as well
as the hardware, software and work processes required to make them
effective. Soft proofing and monitor proofing also are
addressed.
The new book joins EFI’s series of free books, including the
“ABCs of Workflow” title pictured.
CGS debuts papers, software
CGS Publishing Technologies Intl. (Hainburg, Germany) introduced
new inkjet proofing papers at PRINT 05. PearlPROOF Super,
Commercial and Publication contain no optical brighteners,
reportedly resulting in a proof that remains color accurate even
when viewed in nonstandard lighting conditions. Current FOGRA, SWOP
and GRACoL specifications were accounted for. The papers are
available for 13 x 19-inch and up to 44-inch-wide inkjet
printers.
Color-managed workflow: Also at PRINT 05, CGS introduced
ORIS Color Server. For print buyers and creatives, the workflow
includes remote hard-copy proofing and collaborative, display-based
annotation and revisions using ORIS Soft Proof. Printers use ORIS
Color Tuner, ORIS WebWorks and ORIS Certified Proof, as well as
automation tools such as ORIS Press Matcher. See www.cgs.de.
GretagMacbeth, CGS partner for packaging printers: CGS and
GretagMacbeth AG (Regensdorf, Switzerland) announced during the
show that CGS’ ORIS Color Tuner directly handles N-color ICC
profiles generated by GretagMacbeth’s recently-released
ProfileMaker 5 Packaging software. See www.gretagmacbeth.com.
MPM debuts semigloss proofing paper
At PRINT 05, Mitsubishi Imaging (MPM), Inc. (Rye, NY), introduced
GF6 semigloss proofing paper. A version of MPM’s Diamond Jet
GC5 proofing paper, GF6 was designed for use with Epson’s
UltraChrome inks.
GF6 has a surface similar to offset printing papers and an
instant-dry coating designed to deliver highly color-accurate
proofs that can be handled immediately. With 92 percent brightness
and 7.5-mil thickness, it’s available in 13 x 19-inch sheets
and 17-, 24-, 36- and 44-inch-wide rolls. See www.mitsubishiimaging.com.
GMG expands ColorProof functionality
GMG (Tuebingen, Germany) introduced at PRINT 05 version 4.1 of GMG
ColorProof, a color management software system providing inkjet
calibration for producing digital contract color proofs matched to
the printing process. Key features include:
- Support for the Mutoh RJ8000 VLF printer, including support for Pantone Hexachrome proofing.
- Support for the new eight-color Epson Stylus Pro 4800, 7800 and 9800 inkjet printers.
- An expanded range of media profiles for the new Epson series, for standards including SWOP, GRACoL, PSR-ECI, 3DAP and ISO.
- The GMG PhotoProof function, which allows users to output RGB files directly to an Epson printer using the device’s full color gamut.
Epson/GMG ColorProof solution receives SWOP certification: GMG has been granted SWOP certification for ColorProof driving Epson’s StylusPro 4800, 7800 and 9800 inkjet printers using GMG ProofPaper semimatte 250gsm.
Enovation’s new Fujifilm/Epson solutions
Enovation Graphic Systems, Inc. (Valhalla, NY) featured at PRINT 05
the cobranded Fujifilm/Epson line of Stylus Pro 4800, 7800 and 9800
inkjet devices using Fujifilm’s inkjet proofing media.
Enovation is the line’s exclusive U.S. distributor, offering
a variety of equipment and consumable bundles.
New proofing papers
Fujifilm introduced two new inkjet proofing media at PRINT 05,
which are available from Enovation. Fujifilm Glossy and Satin
Inkjet Papers have been tested to match commercial and publication
standards when printed on Fujifilm/Epson Stylus Pro inkjet
printers. The microporous, resin-coated paper is available in
widths from 17 to 44 inches to accommodate two-, four- and eight-up
applications, and is single-side ink receptive with a glossy or
satin finish.
See www.enovationgraphics.com.
Inkjet isn’t just for proofing
At PRINT 05, in addition to a special wide-format pavilion
featuring many top vendors, Kodak showed its continuous inkjet
printing technology on a Muller Martini variable-size web press,
and Screen demonstrated a roll-fed variable-printing inkjet
printer.
Moreover, in recent months, more vendors have followed the example
of Agfa’s 2004 Dotrix acquisition, with Screen (Inca), Fuji
(Sericol) and HP (Scitex Vision) expanding their inkjet
investments. More inkjet innovations are on the way.
Denise Kapel is managing editor of AMERICAN PRINTER. Contact her at dkapel@primediabusiness.com.
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