During Print ’05 in Chicago ColorMetrix shared a booth with AbsoluteProof, who also invited Pierre Ferland from The Whole Proof. The Whole Proof has developed an innovative new technology which allows virtually any printing paper to be specially coated and then utilized on an inkjet printer for proofing purposes. In last week’s Golden Nugget I discussed the importance of gloss being the same for two printed samples to appear the same. What I found interesting when I requested “bullet points” from Pierre to prepare this week’s e-mail is that he addressed gloss better than I could have while explaining the importance of his product. So, the rest of this week’s e-mail is provided by >Pierre Ferland of The Whole Proof (pierre@twproof.com)
For the cup manufacturer’s story: They were proofing on Epson matte heavyweight paper, but the characteristics of that paper were not consistent with what they were using on the press. The branded inkjet paper was much brighter and smoother than the food grade SBS that they were printing on. When they tried to emulate the SBS’s brightness using the plotter’s ink, it made the paper glossy (typical with pigment-based inks). Even if that hadn’t been the case, very smooth paper reflects light more directly than “fuzzy” paper, which diffuses light. The print buyer and pressman were getting proofs that were much more vibrant than what could actually be accomplished on the “beverage cup” SBS using a flexographic press. Proofing on the same paper they use on the press not only gives their pressman a more realistic target, but it also allows them to set the right expectations with the print buyer, and supply fully functional, full color prototypes made from the actual press stock the whole proof, and nothing but the proof! - Pierre Ferland (TWP International)
Coming next…Jim Raffel’s thoughts on GRACoL 7
– FREE pass to Monday Night Expo and Paper Show at Print Oasis: ColorMetrix will be exhibiting at Print Oasis (April 2-5Las Vegas) a www.printbuyersonline.com show. The ticket at the link below will get you into the Monday night Expo for FREE.
http://www.colormetrix.com/docs/Paper_Show_Ticket.pdf
*** Golden Nugget #28: The difference between satin-gloss & high-gloss ***
…Everyone has an idea of what the terms “glossy” and “matte” mean. In case of terms like “satin-gloss”, “high-gloss” or “satin-matte”, however, which are often used in the printing industry, different observers may reach different conclusions… (Source: http://www.qipglossmeters.com/glossmeters )
For many years ColorMetrix has quietly developed keyboard wedge software for a line of gloss meters manufactured by Quality Imaging Products. As a result I have had the opportunity to test and work with the Gloss Meters and have also developed a pretty good understanding of why one would want to measure gloss in the printing industry (even though very few of us do).
In the last few weeks I have been assisting clients in understanding why their inkjet proofs do not match press sheets even though they have gone through the entire color management process. The problem in more than one case has been the inkjet paper selection. For sake of argument, we are printing on a semi matte sheet and proofing on a semi-matte inkjet proofing paper. Even if both the inkjet proofing device and the press have been profiled, these two papers are not the same and probably do not have exactly the same gloss. While a paper simulation is nice, it does not adjust for the difference in paper coating which is best quantified by gloss measurement.
Gloss has a great deal to do with how our eye and measuring instruments see images printed on paper. If for some reason you do not believe this, compare an identical advertisement printed in a newspaper versus weekly news magazine.
If anyone would like this quantified, please feel free to send me samples of your proofing paper and the papers you are using this sample to represent. I would be happy to measure the gloss of both and get the results to you.
Coming next…Inkjet proofing on the exact paper you print on.
Part 5: I should start by saying I have covered the topic of using graphic arts densitometry to evaluate inkjet proofs once before. Back in July ’05 GN#5 addressed this same issue so you may wish to refer back to it. I considered changing this topic, because the title is a bit inflammatory. Understand that my frame of reference is users of our software who rely upon density and TVI as process control measurements for inkjet proof production.
Far too many times I have seen the density and TVI values stay within tolerance, and yet the Delta E shifts can be huge. Those of you who follow the blogging I do at JimRaffel.com (yes, I write more than once a week sometimes), saw a graph of the spectral response of the Red, Green, Blue, and Visual filters used in graphic arts densitometry. Those filter responses are specifically designed to address the spectral response of process cyan, magenta, yellow and black. While I was not able to find them for this week, I have seen graphs which compare the spectral response of offset printing inks with typical inkjet inks. By next week I will either find the curves or reproduce them myself once I am back in the office. A picture will be worth a thousand words when I post those graphs at JimRaffel.com.
Coming next… How important is Gloss?
First, I was driving on the 5 south and say this cool building.
Next, I believe some great ideas for future Golden Nuggets have come out of this trip.
- I have been lead to believe that people think density can be used to bring an ink jet proofing into grey balance. I am just going to say…no way. I will back that up later.
- High quality wide-format has arrived. (did I mention high quality wide-format needs process control? 
OK, I have fulfilled my committment to Adam to be more like a blogger for today. I am going back to my double while I wait for a plane to my second city in this 3 city business trip (My wife Cheryl calls them vacations…I have never figured out who is on vacation her or me?)
Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERYL! (I know what kind of husband is out of town on his wife’s birthday? Not a good one that’s for sure.)
Flying into LA:
The ‘405′ (if it needs more explanation you have never been to LA)
Erik: Michael Litscher (Colormetrix CTO) provided this and said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I hope this helps in your understanding of the Visual filter.
OK, every now and then even I give into peer pressure. Wait, can an RIT graduate student be considered the peer of a 20 year industry veteran who graduated from RIT when Adam was hardly out of diapers? In this case yes, Adam is a very bright young man, and anyone looking for a top notch employee should be taking a serious look at Adam who is just finishing up his graduate work at RIT. (Hint: his blog is listed in my links to the left)
So, as Adam and I exchanged IM messages yesterday and I let him know I would be on the road for eight days on business he suggested I be more like a “real” blogger and attempt the make daily entries. I think the suggested was prompted by the fact that I am quite honored to be speaking at a CGATS meeting next Tuesday on the campus of ASU. While I have had the honor of speaking to at ASU in the past, I have never had the honor of addressing a group so focused on making color measurement work. One of the main topics of the CGATS meetings next week is how to more accurately convert visual matches to numeric matches. As I understand my assignment, I am to share with this group how ColorMetrix can be used to facilitate a true “color by the numbers” scenario.
That, however, is next week. Today, Thursday and Friday I will be wearing my salesman hat in sunny southern California (where I understand it will be cool and rainy). These trips almost always yield great topics for future Golden Nuggets. In order to keep Adam happy I will try to post each day, and even include a picture from my Treo600 (I know what is a technology geek like me doing with such old technology? Waiting for the 700P if you must know).
Oh, just thought of something that you may all find interesting. I am now operating on a brand new ThinkPad Z60 (the one they are doing all the cool commercials on TV for). It’s great except for the colors displayed by the LCD. I installed ProfileMaker 5 yesterday and tried some quick things to improve the color display, but so far it still is not so great. I am planning to try several more things, and if I get it to work I will post step-by-step instructions here for anyone who wants to travel with one of these fine machines, but also cares about his/her pictures looking nice.
