by JimRaffel on March 29, 2006
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
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by JimRaffel on September 22, 2005
Golden Nugget #11 Viewing Booths
While at the show I decided it was time to begin acquiring tools and technology for our new inkjet proofing test site. We have reached a point where we need to be able to simulate customer proofing situations on our office. As time goes on the complete set-up will include; an Epson 4800, AbsoluteProof RIP, Gretagmacbeth ProfileMaker, GTI light booth, and various color viewing tools from Beta Industries.
While acquiring our new light booth from GTI, I learned why the newer (and might I add a great deal more expensive) generation of light booths have a light source which can be dimmed. When I had almost completed my purchase, a friend stopped to say hello, and said “oh great you are getting a new light booth, you did get the dimmable version right?” OK, to say the least this friend is not subtle in letting me know if I did not get the dimmable version I was basically and idiot.
Not wanting to remain an idiot on this subject I asked the classic dumb question (I know there is no such thing as a dumb question, except one which goes un-asked), why do I need a dimmable light booth? I am sure more than 50% of my readers know the answer to this question, but as person who has been focuses on the hard copy proofing market for the last several years I did not. The answer is that if you are doing any form of monitor proofing and want to compare the monitor results to hard copy, you must be able to dim the light booth to match the white point of your CALIBRATED monitor.
Then, Bob from GTI showed me an example of this using an ICS soft proof, and a press sheet. He started with the booth at full intensity. The two did not appear to visually match. He then dimmed the booth to match the white point of the monitor, and basically it was now a perfect match.
Matching the white point is pretty easy too, even on the lower end model we have with just a knob to do the dimming. Simply bring up a white background on your monitor, and then put a blank piece of the paper you are proofing or printing in the light booth. Put the two next too each other and dim until the whites match.
In short, spend the extra money if you ever even think you might want to compare virtual proofs to hard copy proofs or press sheets in a light booth.
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