Digital Ad Lab UK (DAL UK)

October 18th, 2005

Sponsor Updates

Tim Cox of ROI gave a sponsor update on behalf of Markzware, which can be seen by clicking here (powerpoint - 2.2mb). Also, in answer to an outstanding question Q2ID will convert QuarkXPress versions 4, 5 and 6 to Adobe InDesign CS 1 or 2 version.

Chris Osborne from KPG gave us an overview of the Creo to Kodak change, fur further information please visit graphics.kodak.com

Monitor proofing

Creating content for publication is under going a shift away from providing and examining hard copy proofs to relying more on screens - digital light boxes you could say. However, as with proofs, if colour matters to you, you must ensure that you control your colour environment. This is very much a combination of using a good quality screen, regular calibration and viewing conditions that to not distort your subject matter.

For this session we bought together a panel of speakers representing all these aspects of our business to debate this topic, with particular reference to soft proofing namely X-Rite, Colorbus, Quickcut, Associated News, KPG and NEC. The panel was not comprehensive and that there were many more companies involved in the provision of soft proofing solutions such as Dalim, Agfa, Fuji and Screen, which are in the main more for content rather than colour.

The following information is offered in support of the discussion:

Dave Troughton from NEC commented on the requirement for monitors to cover the largest proportion of the accepted colour space as possible, with a view to reinforcing Andrew's comment in the press release posted with these notes about the monitor traditionally being the weak link in the chain. The NEC LED backlight system is the first in the world to address this situation. Click here for more info (word - 441kb).

David Stewart from X-Rite stated, "Colour management software, like Pulse ColorElite and Monaco Optix from X- Rite, is used to create profiles for all your devices. These profiles are then applied to your image to produce a soft proof for editing. Alternatively, the profile can be used at the printing stage to guarantee you the colour accuracy you expect.

If it takes 2-3 prints each time you output an image to get close to what you see on screen, just imagine, if you had to output 100 images, how much resource you would have wasted, in terms of paper and ink, let alone the time it takes to output 3-400 prints! Can YOU afford not to use colour management?"

Chris Osborne from KPG covered the following points:

We make a differential between 'soft' monitor proofing for content/ display and what we term 'virtual proofing' for colour accurate proofing to render CMYK images and predict press colour rendition on RGB monitors.

Matchprint Virtual Proof is the brand name for the technology utilised irrespective of the workflow platform and configuration for delivery, i.e. InSite/EyeMedia or RealTimeProof.

In simple terms proof viewing and annotation is handled by a web browser client application while a production or remote server manages the image database, CMYK to RGB translation and image streaming. Workflow applications are used for file upload/download according to user roles and permissions.

Matchprint Virtual Proof technology can be considered proprietary in that the components utilise industry standard hardware to a tight base level specification for performance design, firmware and calibration. These include an X-Rite colorimeter, an approved range of colour displays, Kodak calibration software and a reflection viewer to known D50 illumination.

Kodak GCG encourages and supports the development of an open industry standard for monitor display. There are no current applicable or appropriate ISO standards for the control of viewing on LCD monitors.

Whilst CMYK to C'M'Y'K' colour conversion through ICC colour management is now widely practiced and predictable to certain limits CMYK to RGB presents unique challenges. This is inherently because of the widely different colour spaces and problems associated with gamut mapping with colorimetric or perceptual rendering intents.


We believe that the desired accuracy and confidence in virtual proofing on monitors (CRT or LCD) can only be achieved with significant additional CIELab correction to the colour conversion, which we handle by our unique technology algorithms.

The methodology for monitor calibration is key to achieving the aims of accurate virtual proofing. Operator independent calibration and a smart temperature response function enable Matchprint Virtual Proof to deliver a very accurate (~1DeltaE) process control with approved monitors.  

Matchprint Virtual Proof solutions for the delivery of colour accurate monitor proofing are commercially available. They are certified or compliant with all major industry standards.

Ben Fitzwilliams from Colorbus supplied the following info:

Colorbus has developed a number of Cyclone digital solutions to address different proofing markets,

- Cyclone Digital Proofer for Newsprint , adopted by over 80% of the UK National Newspapers.

- Cyclone Digital Proofer for Magazines , with connectivity to the new Epson, Canon and HP printers.

The latest addition to the Colorbus proofing portfolio is  

- Cyclone Visual Proofer , the fastest growing, most efficient proofing method to view and “sign off” accurate colour managed print files as soft proofs. This is achieved using hi-speed internet streaming of print ready files to calibrated monitors as part of the certified proofing process

Colorbus unique hard and soft copy proofing solutions, allow designers, photographers, agencies and graphic arts companies to interactively both view and print contract proofs locally or remotely to specific desktop or large format inkjet devices.

The Cyclone Visual Proofer covers the four critical aspects for soft proofing as discussed at the Digital AD LAB meeting

Colour accuracy,

The Cyclone ICC based colour management features gives users, ink density control of the files to be ripped, together with the correct colour space for the desired print processes, including newsprint, gravure, web or sheet fed offset or custom colour spaces including Cromalin, MatchPrint and pass4press.

Integral File Formats

The Cyclone Digital proofer allows PDF, PDFx 1-3 and G4 tiff files to be printed or placed in a hot folder so that total file integrity with trapping, overprint and the screened lpi dot raster are retained and displayed.

Fast Internet Streaming

Files are streamed with exceptional speeds over either a local (LAN) or global audience (Internet) for use with standard internet browser software on Macs or PCs to any monitor for immediate feedback, annotation or approval.

Validation of Proof

Colour managed files matched to different colour printing processes can be viewed on the same Cyclone calibrated Monitor and signed off as a contract proof without the need of a traditional proof being couriered.

Using the Cyclone “Proofsure” monitor validation utility, proofs can be “signed-off” online with the secure knowledge that they have been measured as LAB values on screen and either passed or failed the DeltaE tolerances set. If a Pass is achieved, then the monitor proof has achieved the agreed colour accuracy of a contract proof.

Bryan Sunderland also alerted us to ISO work that is currently taking place, please click here for further information (word - 41kb).

 

PPA Update – Marcus Kirby

Marcus went into detail about the PPA has been doing a lot of work on consolidating standards across its initiatives and that there will be announcements at the November conference.

Any Other Business

Printing Across Borders – this is an international printing condition currently being discussed. DAL will keep attendees updated but further information is available from www.backandforth.org.

DAL BRIDGs books – we still have a small number of these available, if anyone would like one please email hannah@leafagency.com and you can collect at the January meeting.

Attendees – please spread the word about the DAL to your colleagues, customers, associates etc as we are looking to broaden the reach of the group – especially to users as opposed to vendors!

DAL at Ipex – we are looking to hold a DAL meeting at Ipex, probably on 5 th April 2006 so please put this date in your diaries!

Attendees (apologies to anyone not listed)

Attendee	Organisation	Attendee	Organisation
Andrew Wilson	Unity	Paul Sherfield	Missing Horse
Andy Eakins	Comuta	Richard Purton	Production Response
Andy Knaggs	PMM	Samatha Whitmore	EFI
Annette Kilroy	Mack Brooks	Simon Evered	B1
Anthony Kay	ACCA	Sue Kingsley	Exponential-e
Antony Barrington	Admagic	Alex Murphy	Associated News
Bryan Sunderland		Dave Troughton	NEC
Charlie England	Williams Lea	Chris Hair	Adfast
Chris Osborne	KPG	Derek Milne	OneVision
Craig Santus	Savvis	Ben Fitzwilliams	Colorbus
Darren Parker	Admagic	Ruth Clarke	Splash
Elizabeth Schumacker	Savvis	Antony Newson	Alphagraphics
Gareth Perry	Eaglemoss	Liz Gilmore	EFI
Harvey Jones	Exponential-e	Graham Page	Colorbus
Jim Duggan	Headley Brothers	David Stuart	Xrite
Jo Head	KPG	Lee Williams	London Graphics
John Charnock	St Ives	Matthew Wingham	London Graphics
Julia Cole	HP	Bill Greenwood	Gilchrist
Laurie Pate	KPG	Geoff Hall	PMM
Marcus Kirby	Vertis PRS	Tim Cox	ROI
Mark Fletcher	Telegraph	Tim Daly	Interoute
Mike Parmenter	Quickcut	Tony Hodgson	Lorien Unique
Nick Finegold	Icon Repro	Tony Taylor	Eelectronic Solutions