Bodoni targets grey balance with 4CX

12 September 2011

Wide-format

Bodoni has developed a "fast, efficient and easy" method of achieving grey balance for release in the latest version of its PressSign colour control software.

PressSign 4.6 features the new 4CX technology, which combines the ISO and Gracol methods for hitting grey balance, both of which have their pros and cons, according to Bodoni.

The ISO method, which involves setting the correct Lab values for the primaries and adjusting the TVI curve to match the standard is quick and can be performed on the fly in a production environment without special training.

However, Bodoni said that while both the solids and TVI could be within ISO tolerances, the grey balance could still be poor, mitigating against a good visual match.

Meanwhile, the Gracol method targets grey balance as a means of achieving ISO 12647, which Bodoni claims takes more than a day and involves taking the press out of production and employing a trained consultant.

Bodoni's 4CX technology combines the two methodologies by using ICC profiles to set the target for both solids and grey balance, with PressSign then showing the operator how to adjust the primaries and 4CX generating a grey tonal adjustment.

Bodoni managing director Ian Reid said: "We use profiles to get the solid colours correct then apply the tonal curve adjustment to get the grey correct."

Reid added that for sectors including signage, where matching an ISO standard is often not the primary target, printers could use 4CX on its own rather than as an additional layer on top of the ICC profiles.

"Signage uses lots of different materials and so they don't have time to keep making ICC profile adjustments," said Reid. "They're also usually trying to get the best image they can rather than match some ISO standard; if you can use the full gamut of a machine then that's better than limiting it [to hit the standard]."

This can then be applied to the RIP or PDF workflow to ensure the prints match the proof, by matching grey balance, as well as primaries, overprints and lightness.

Bodoni's 4CX technology is a free module within PressSign 4.6, which is available in three versions: Print Buyer (£295), Standard (£1,495) and Pro (£2,695). Users of version 4.5 are entitled to a free upgrade.