Because of the upcoming ColorMetrix User’s Group Conference, we needed to change the e-mail around a bit this week. In order to not send multiple e-mails to many of you on this list, I will first address urgent issues regarding the User’s Group Conference August 21-23 at the Mirage Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. If for some reason you are unable to join us, feel free to skip this section.
User’s Group Conference Issues
Issue #1: FREE ColorMetrix golf shirt offer final extension ends June 30th. If you register on-line (http://colormetrix.com/cmug05/) by midnight June 30th, you will receive a free ColorMetrix golf shirt when you arrive at the conference. I have been assured by our supplier that this is the last extension if the shirts are to be ready on time. So if you are coming there is no longer any reason to procrastinate. Why not register now before you read the rest of this e-mail!
Issue #2: Hotel Rooms. If you are registered or will be registering please remember to call the Mirage at 800-374-9000 and make your hotel reservation. We have a limited number or rooms blocked and our special rate expires July 15th. (This applies to our sponsors also)
Issue #3: ColorMetrix Success Stories. If you are a user and will be coming to the conference, please let us know if you would like to share your ColorMetrix or GcX success stories with other users during one of our panel discussions.
Now back to the normally scheduled golden nugget e-mail
At the close of the Week 2 golden nugget I mentioned that our intention was to write about the influence of ambient UV light on measurements. For two reasons I am putting that subject on hold for a week or maybe more. First, I did not have time to run some simple tests in our office to perform to confirm results I have seen in my travels. Second, and by far of more importance, I received two replies to the week 2 golden nugget that I feel need to be shared with our readers.
Let me start by sharing the quote that motivated me to start writing this e-mail each week. “Salespeople [insert your profession here] are the smartest people in the world. As I go from audience to audience they all have one theme among them: everyone knows everything. Problem is they are not doing it……As you read through this book [e-mail] don’t tell yourself, “I know that.” Rather ask yourself, “How good am I at that?”” – Jeffery Gitomer “The Little Red Book of Selling”
So, last week a reply cam from a reader/customer that not only knows this stuff really well, but also is among the best in our industry at doing this color measurement stuff. He suggested I might be doing a disservice to our customers and readers by providing this less than perfect technical information. I took his point to heart and need to provide additional information about measuring on white tiles purchased at a home improvement store. First, the customer doing this has a closed loop situation (i.e. – they are doing their own pre-press for their flexographic presses). This makes for a bit of a unique situation because they do not share information with outside sources. In contrast, our reader who raised this concern has a great point when you are printing national magazines and ad proofs are coming in from many places. You need to know they have been measured under consistent, known, and repeatable conditions.
This led me to refresh my knowledge of the standard measurement conditions already suggested by organizations like ISO and CGATS. Well, Google is a wonderful tool…..try typing the following into a Google search box “ISO standards for spectral measurements in graphic arts” On the first page alone you will find two downloadable PDFs (one by David Q. McDowell and another from color.org) that go into the kind of depth we do not have the space for in a weekly e-mail. Please get them, read them, and send me some comments on what kind of surfaces you measure on.
Jim Raffel’s Week 3 Golden Nugget
Our second reader/customer’s feedback/reply provided such a great idea we decided we had to share it now before it got lost in the stack of stuff in our office (I know you all have very neat organized desks and don’t lose important things, but I do). If you are running a press fingerprint, which could include an ECI or other color management target, how do you simulate printing on the reverse side of the sheet without influencing the readings with pictures on the reverse side? Here’s a partial quote from one of our customer/reader’s:
“Another consideration for measurement … oh yes, it comes off a press!
For that reason show through is an important factor, for that reason “snap off” is important in creating the acceptable image. No ink (blank second side) is not an option, the inked side will follow the blanket around and cause slur in the unit. So to produce press samples that represent real world printing, without influencing the readings with pictures on the reverse side, …[deleted secret sauce reference]… grey enough to simulate show through (if paper is not opaque) and enough ink in the press to prevent “snap off” from causing dot distortion (color distortion too).” – Anonymous
Since this individual asked to remain anonymous I have deleted his exact secret sauce but left enough information in for you to figure out what needs to go on the reverse side of the sheet.
Well, that’s it for week 2. Please feel free to e-mail back ( raffelj@colormetrix.com ) and let me know what you think. If you have ideas for golden nuggets, that would be great too.