It has been quite a while since I dedicated an entire Golden Nugget to responses I received to a previous Golden Nugget. Two of the responses to ‚#34: On needing color bars to print well“, however, are far too good to not be shared with the rest of my readers.
Comment #1:
While I agree with the end result of your GN, there is 1 VERY, if not MOST important reason for instituting the use of color bars to control and maintain the printing process that was left out.
Even with typical production run lengths becoming shorter and shorter, the fact remains that many jobs carry over from 1 shift to the next. No 2 sets of eyes view color the same way; and I’ve witnessed countless occasions in my career where the “next” pressman makes arbitrary and unnecessary changes to ink viscosity and impression settings only because the color “didn’t look right ” to him. The use of color bars creates an OBJECTIVE set of numerical reference criteria that is agreed upon and maintained by all operators; not having them is an open invitation to SUBJECTIVE and oft times incorrect decision making that adds unwanted variability and cost to the process.
Comment #2:
While I like your map analogy, I think that color bars are more critical than that. I would compare it to an experienced driver making that same route without a gas gauge, speedometer, or mirrors, and with a splintered windshield. Yeah, you could do it, but who would want to?!?
Name withheld
PS-I am a prepress manager 🙂