Hard Copy Proofs

Film is falling from fashion, but digital proofing is still in vogue. As the advantages and liabilities of monitor-based color proofing are debated, tangible hard-copy proofs continue to dominate the approval process. The cost of making and shipping physical proofs is substantial when compared to the virtual alternative, but most printers are still taking the hard line when it comes to getting that all-important customer sign-off.

The market for halftone-dot proofing has matured. Just a handful of options are still available. Kodak's Approval, a device generally considered to be the first contract-quality digital dot proof, is still going strong after more than 15 years on the market. Now offered by the Kodak Graphic Communications Group (the new union of KPG, Creo, Encad, NexPress and Versamark), the Approval NX is a high-resolution laser dye sublimation device that can utilize a variety of actual press stocks via off-line lamination. Featuring the award-winning Rapid Recipe Color software, the Approval NX can image metallic colors and opaque white in addition to Pantone's Hexachrome system and nearly any spot color imaginable.

Kodak GCG also sells the Matchprint Digital Halftone Proofing System (featured on the cover), comprised of an off-line (post-exposure) laminator, color donor sheets, and a release receptor for transferring the imaged proof to one of Kodak's base sheets or your own preferred substrate. Eight custom colors are available in addition to CMYK; optional deglossing sheets reduce the sheen of these proofs for matte and semi-matte applications. Popularized by users of Creo's Trendsetter Spectrum CTP device, the digital halftone proofing system can actually be exposed on several models of thermal CTP devices, including Kodak's Lotem platesetter.

Since 1999, Latran (formerly Polaroid Graphic Imaging) has offered the Prediction series of thermal ablation halftone proofing devices, first popularized as the PolaProof. Designed to integrate with any workflow system, the Prediction outputs screened 1-bit TIFFs using a thermal laser and pigmented ink donor sheets for stable, predictable results. Offering automated processing for up to 22×30´´ proofs, the Prediction 4600 can be programmed to pull the desired combination of ink sheets and substrates from 10 media trays.

“We've seen a backlash recently as customers realize that inkjet can't do it all. People are coming back to halftone proofing,” says Richard Deroo, director of marketing at Latran, “because we offer substrate independence, the same halftone dots as the printing plate and accurate reproduction of spot colors such as opaque white, metallic gold and silver—things that inkjet just can't provide.” The ability to laminate to common flexographic substrates such as clear plastic, adhesive labels, foils, polybags and board stocks helps explain Latran's recent agreement with Esko to distribute Prediction proofers with Esko's FlexRIP digital front end.

Fujifilm introduced the FinalProof at drupa 2000. This high-resolution external drum device capable of imaging halftone dot proofs as large as 32.28×21.57´´ was recently updated as the FinalProof GxT. It couples Fujifilm's Thin Layer Thermal Transfer technology (available in SWOP, European and Japanese process colors as well as white, metallic silver, orange, green, red and blue) with an off-line laminator. The FinalProof GxT was recently awarded MetalFX certification; by combining the FinalProof's pigmented process colors with a MetalFX silver donor sheet, thousands of metallic colors can be accurately proofed.

In one short decade, inkjet printers have been transformed from low-quality office accessories into digital proofing workhorses. Smaller droplet sizes, finer resolutions, better inks and improved color management have all lead to dramatically improved image quality. These improvements, along with the low cost of consumables, have made inkjet proofs popular with all but the fussiest print buyers.

Agfa has several models of inkjet proofing devices, including the :Sherpa 24m (24´´) and 44m (44´´ width) 7-color piezo-electric engines. For shops with large-format presses, Agfa's :Grand Sherpa inkjet printers are available in 50´´ and 64´´ models, while the :Grand SherpaMatic can produce two-sided imposition or contract proofs in up to 50´´ widths.

Canon provides a glimpse at the next wave of proofing in its new Pixma iP5000 inkjet printer, boasting ultra-fine 1-picoliter droplets and native 2400-dpi resolution—though this innovative technology has yet to enter the proofing arena. Canon's current options include the new imagePrograf W8400D—no slouch itself, with a 4-picoliter droplet and native 1200-dpi resolution.

Dupont's new addition to its inkjet family, joining the Cromalin AQ, b-series and Largo product lines, the new Cromalin Blue is positioned as a high-end solution for demanding commercial applications. Promising to offer both quality and control, the new printer offers self-calibration through Dupont's iCertification software.

The closed loop color calibration built into HP's latest printers will help ad agencies and creatives gets closer to contract quality right out of the box. The HP Designjet 130 can handle rolls or sheets and includes an optional Gretag EyeOne calibrator.

Kodak's acquisition of Creo brought the Veris proofer, a high-resolution continuous flow inkjet printer. Unlike the ubiquitous drop-on-demand systems underlying every other inkjet proofing system, the Veris is a descendant of the legendary Iris inkjet printers from Scitex. In this DOD portfolio, Kodak has replaced the Integris and Matchprint ProofPro products with the new Matchprint Inkjet 400 and 800 printers—all are now driven by the same Kodak Proofing Software.

As hardware improves, increased emphasis is being placed on ink and paper consumables and on the raster image processors (RIPs) that prepare the data and manage the color reproduction—now tuned to optimize their visual characteristics.

CGS Publishing Technologies International just announced version 5.2 of its Oris Color Tuner software. Combining printer calibration and monitor proofing with a color-managed PostScript RIP, Oris offers selective color correction so users can fine-tune their reproduction. Power users at printshops and service bureaus will enjoy Color Tuner's support for device-N color spaces and alternative process color sets, plus the ability to share settings and workflows with users of Oris Personal Edition.

The X-Proof RIP from ColorBurst Systems can be found bundled with inkjet devices from Epson, Dupont and VUTEk. Available for both Mac OS X and Windows platforms, this color-managed PostScript 3 RIP uses the Global Graphics interpreter to drive printers up to 72´´ wide. X-Proof can address those prepress workflow bottlenecks with fast IP printing, up to 50 print queues and automatic “best fit” for random images.

EFI's Colorproof XF has now been thoroughly updated since the 2002 acquisition of Best. Now featuring a modular approach, users can choose from configurable options including printer size (M, XL and XXL), 1-bit TIFF input, PDF and TIFF export, color management tools and halftone dot simulation. Colorproof XL also integrates with EFI's Fiery digital printer RIPs, allowing users to create “multi-purpose printer pools” that can drive both toner and inkjet devices.

GMG's ColorProof and a new ColorServer application both showcase a unique approach to color management. In addition to standard ICC color management profiles, these systems also support GMG's own color profile format. Jim Summers, president of GMG Americas, says such non-standard thinking fits perfectly with the attitudes of his firm's customers.

“We recognize the importance of standards, but printing companies will always want to offer 'flavors' of those standards to distinguish themselves from the rest of the marketplace,” says Summers. “To achieve a common point between the standards and then be able to maintain that unique interpretation is key.” GMG helps assure the stability of that “unique interpretation” through a new ProofControl software for color verification of completed proofs. Each proof carries a color control strip that can be examined with a handheld spectrophotometer. If the data falls within user-definable tolerances, a “Pass” sticker is generated that can be attached to the proof.

While new ink sets and improved printer hardware have shaken up the proofing scene, there's been surprisingly little innovation when it comes to substrates. Nearly every printer manufacturer sells branded papers, but the actual number of mills that create and coat the media is much smaller. The trend in recent years has also concentrated the available selection of coating, color and thicknesses.

Even after years of inkjet proofing popularity, print shops still can't select from “commercial base” or “publication base.” Instead, major inkjet media suppliers point to an expansive variety of bright white glossy papers for consumer photo printing and recommend the use of ICC color management to emulate the look of your intended substrate.

But what's the impact of simulating the paper's white point? You'll need a high- quality spectrophotometer, a sophisticated color management profiling application, frequent printer calibration and, of course, your total ink usage is increased.

Into this gap steps a handful of specialty paper brokers that coordinate paper mills and coating facilities to generate batch orders on demand. For newspapers, publication printers and anyone else that tends to print most jobs on the same handful of substrates, buying proofing media that resembles your press substrate by nature is a tremendous relief. Color management is greatly simplified and background color “drift” is eliminated.

While they can't provide the convenience of online purchasing of small quantities, boutique media suppliers like SOS Inkjet Media (San Clemente, CA) can fill large orders for custom inkjet substrates. Founder Kevin O'Leary knows that his customers have their own special interests. “Our background is prepress, so we've found our niche,” he says. “Some people want to be able to proof on a substrate that matches brown kraft shopping bags, and we say 'why not?' We're proactive with our customers.”

O'Leary notes that most mass-market paper for roll-fed inkjet printing has gone from 5- or 7-mil thickness up to 8- or even 10-mil—nice if you're making vacation photos, but too thick for simulating a press sheet. Coatings that exhibit less sheen and aren't spiked with UV brighteners are what O'Leary's customers desire; he revealed that “80% of our customers order satin finish rolls, because that appears very similar to their press sheet.”

To prove that the state of proofing has never been better, just check with the industry's experts. Abhay Sharma, PhD., and chair of the Heidelberg School of Graphic Communications Management at Ryerson University, leads the annual Proofing RoundUP study conducted by the International Prepress Association. Sharma declared last year that most of the competing systems were capable of accuracy greater than the naked human eye alone could discern. For this spring's shoot-out, the forecast looks even brighter. (The IPA Technical Conference will be held June 6-8 in Chicago, www.ipa.org.)

“We're pleased that the IPA Color Proofing RoundUP continues to capture the attention of our industry,” notes Sharma. “The list of vendors who have submitted proofs for evaluation continues to grow, and this year's selection promises to provide the most accurate results yet.”

In addition to last year's rigorous testing of visual and colorimetric accuracy, the 2006 edition of IPA's Proofing RoundUP study will test each vendor's mettle with a new short-notice proof matching exercise and an opportunity for end-user input.

This year's evaluations will feature the new IT8.7/4 color management target (now available from www.npes.org), which incorporates both the legacy IT8.7/3 and the more recent ECI2002 protected by proprietary encryption.

While some proofing may be more amenable to the warm glow of a monitor, the standard for digital hard-copy proofing continues to rise as industry vendors introduce new and innovative solutions. In the future, it seems a certain that even higher output speeds and lower prices are still in store. It seems that when the issue at hand is proofing, taking a hard line never looked better.