Fuji Xerox New Zealand has launched its colour managed workflow solution in a bid to make proofing and colour management a more exact science and less of a guessing game
Fuji Xerox New Zealand says its new colour managed workflow solution (CMWS), enables colour matching across multiple print output devices, and the production of print to international standards such as SWOP, GRACoL and FOGRA.Henryk Kraszewski, production colour marketing manager, Fuji Xerox Australia, says, “It provides colour management between offset presses, digital presses, inkjet proofing devices and other colour output devices. The advanced colour management capabilities of the CGS Oris press matcher software is at the heart of the solution and delivers highly accurate and repeatable results.”
He advises that there are two solutions on offer: standard and professional. He says, “The standard solution is intended for print providers with a single output device, such as a Xerox 700 DCP, and the need to produce proofs or print to international standards. The professional solution extends the benefit of printing to international standards, allowing print providers to also manage colour across a number of colour output devices – either all on the same site or across multiple sites.”
Described by Fuji Xerox as a combined software and hardware solution, each one includes Oris press matcher software, Oris certified proof software, an X–Rite i1 spectrophotometer, X–Rite i1iO automated scanning table, Dymo label printer, Dell PC, installation, training, and a one–year service contract for the software and hardware.
Kraszewski says that the standard package includes a user licence for one digital print output device (up to a Xerox DocuColor 260), while the professional package includes a user licence for an unlimited number of digital and offset print output devices as well as additional training and a copy of Adobe Acrobat standard.
Start with colour matching
Kraszewski says that the Oris press matcher software drives the solution, utilising the colour management technology of Oris colour tuner, the CGS contract proofing system.
Users firstly create a device–specific colour profile using a three–step, interactive colour transformation process:
1. A colour measurement chart is printed on the device that is to be colour managed
2. The chart is then measured using the spectrophotometer, and,
3. The Oris press matcher software compares the output of the device with the desired colour space, such as FOGRA, and creates a colour profile.
Kraszewski says, “This measurement and calculation cycle typically requires three iterations to optimise results. The output device, be it a digital, offset or large format printer, then can accurately print the file within the desired colour space, such as FOGRA.”
According to Kraszewski, this iterative process produces a device–specific profile that is added to a hot folder, and colour management is applied to all files sent through the hot folder to the rip of the output device. Oris press matcher creates a colour–matched file, having analysed the output native colour, and optimises the file to print within the target colour space. Hot folders can be configured to handle the colour requirements of a specific rip or colour output device.
He adds, “Oris press matcher can colour manage files from multiple presses and multiple production engines, either at a single site or across multiple sites.”
Proofing
Following colour matching, users can utilise the Oris certified proof for quality control of hard copy proofs. Kraszewski says, “Rather than using visual checks, which are subjective and error prone, Oris certified proof provides factual verification on adherence to international print standards.”
Using the supplied spectrophotometer, users read the test strip (such as FOGRA) and the Oris certified proof compares the measurements against stored values. Kraszewski adds, “It instantly gives a pass/fail indication on the screen. Users can then print a label of the key parameters, using the Dymo label printer supplied, and attach it to the proof. All measurements are stored on the colour server, with detailed reports, including a trend analysis over time, available.”
He concludes, “Fuji Xerox CMWS, with Oris press matcher and Oris certified proof, takes the guesswork out of colour management and proofing. This solution will boost print productivity and enable printers to achieve great results.”
