*** Introduction ***
Here is a brief update of what has been happening at ColorMetrix and where we can be found over the next couple of months.
- ColorMetrix will once again be a sponsor of the PIA/GATF Color Management Conference December 4-6 in Phoenix, AZ.
- Our web store will be updated in the next week or so.
- ProofPass.com now supports the icColor from gretagmacbeth.
*** Golden Nugget #13 Press Curves for CTP ***
Last week I spent a day on-site with a new customer. It was a pleasure to be in a place where I was wanted. This customer was looking for all the assistance we could provide. I suspect the day spent there will contribute to several coming golden nugget e-mails.
My main purpose was to install a ProofPass.com license, and confirm the quality and consistency of their proofs. This was accomplished in fairly short order, so we went on to evaluate other steps in the process that ColorMetrix products are capable of evaluating. Because this installation utilized a Gretagmacbeth EyeOne, we used the i1Share software to evaluate ambient light in the plant. We also used the EyeOne and the i1Match software to calibrate all the monitors in the plant used to evaluate color.
Familiar sounding stuff if you have been reading golden nuggets over the past several months. Next, the customer started asking about evaluate press gain to better set CTP curves. Having my notebook computer along, I was able to plug their new EyeOne into our ColorMetrix PressRoom software package. We found some press sheets that contained color bars we could measure, and presto we had press curves we could compare to proof curves. It is important to note that this customer is using a digital halftone proofing system with densities and dot gains that can be compared to press.
We looked at the gain curves both graphically and numerically, and the customer knew right away he had found a huge time saving tool. Now, I know a whole lot has been written of late both here and in other places about using grey balance to set the curves. I am not saying the aforementioned method works and grey balance does not, just that in the case of this customer simple curve evaluation was a perfect fit.
The real message here as with almost every golden nugget is that measurement is the key. If you do not measure it, I can guaranty that you will not be able to control it.