Agfa has developed a set of calibration and quality assurance tools for its Sherpa range of digital proofers.


The software will enable all Sherpas to be calibrated to exactly the same colour standard, within tolerance.


This should help expand the use of Sherpas for remote proofing and contract proof applications.


Quality Management Software (QMS) will be shipped with all new six-colour Sherpas.


It is stored in the RIP, and provides calibration of the printer to enable colour management to work on top of that for colour matching.


"You cannot have good colour proofing without colour management," said product marketing manager Ingrid Paulussen. "And you cant do colour management without calibration."


Although the Sherpa has calibration built-in, currently it only calibrates individual machines. The new software calibrates all machines to the same baseline.


Agfa has developed a colour bar specially to read six-colour inks. Measurements are taken using an X-Rite DTP 41 spectrophotometer, which is included in the package.


Every colour bar carries a unique ID number that can be used to show proofs were made in tolerance, which Agfa claims is within one delta E. A simple on-screen visual guide is used to indicate whether the proofer is on target.


All statistical data relating to calibration is stored on the RIP for quality assurance and servicing feedback.


Story by Barney Cox