Ipex 2010 proved to be a major showcase for the proofing segment, with a raft of product enhancements on display. The hard proofing market is operating against a backdrop of emerging competition from soft proofing, which has upped its game in recent years, with intelligent software demanding less bandwidth. Colour accuracy, however, remains at the heart of all proofing decisions.
Soft proofing allows clients to view high-resolution digital images in a near-instantaneous, colour-managed manner online. Once a job is ready, clients can log on and view pages from a remote server.
As the image data is streamed ‘intelligently', even modest internet connections can handle the amount of information transferred. However, it's worth pointing out that remote proofing works better with a high-speed line as the software relies heavily on the speed of connection.
New technology
The majority of soft proofing's colour consistency issues have been addressed, but larger, highly brand-conscious corporate businesses are still likely to ask for a hard-copy proof.
For relatively non-colour critical applications, soft proofing is popular because it can shorten approval deadlines. For colour-critical applications, such as high-end production, then soft proofing can be used to check at interim stages. When several people are involved in the process, it can be a useful technology for getting things done quicker, before the final hard-copy proof is produced.
Agreeing a standard of quality and then sticking to it is also essential to proofing. It's important to work out what you want to achieve before looking to set up any software. Consider the purpose of the job: do you require an exact match, or will an impositional or work-in-progress proof be good enough? Also, are there several stages of approval that your clients require?
Communication is key
Most manufacturers and suppliers work closely with paper and consumables developers so as to know exactly what products are suitable with their proofing equipment.
Once a standard is agreed, you have to maintain it and attention should be paid to the press and RIP, as well as the inks and substrates used. Bear in mind that if you change from quality paper to a cheaper stock, you are breaking that consistency cycle.
With digital proofers, consider the type of ink used, as some manufacturers add clauses affecting the warranty if the buyer doesn't use a ‘branded' variety.
Canon also offers its Canon imagePRESS C1+ with an image area of 323 x 476.6mm priced from £32190.
WHAT'S NEW IN PROOFERS?
* At Ipex, Roland DG was demonstrating the VersaUV LEC-330, a UV-cured printer and cutter that can be used for packaging firms to create accurate proofs, when combined with third-party proofing RIPs from the likes of GMG and CGS
* Epson exhibited its WT7900 inkjet printer for the first time at Ipex. The machine, which can be used as a proofer, comes with white ink for label proofing applications. It was shown with CGS, EFI, GMG and StarProof RIPS
* Buxton Press signed for Europe’s largest installation of Fujifilm’s XMF cross-media workflow at Ipex. The Derbyshire-based magazine printer will install the entire suite of XMF Remote
* GMG launched Proofr, a new online proofing service in May. GMG is pitching Proofr as an online global proofing service that allows users of its ColorProof software to have hard proofs printed and delivered anywhere in the world. Users choose which printer they want to produce the job before sending GMG the images in either a JPG, TIFF or PDF file formats.
