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  • 1.  Color Management Program

    Posted 03-13-2017 02:06 PM
    Hi everyone,

    Just doing a little research to see what would be a good practice to put in place for color managing our shop. Seeing how this is a new adventure for us at Slate Group I would like to get a little feedback from everyone on here.

    Here is the task I have been presented with:
    I want a fully developed color management program.  We should be taking measurements on scheduled intervals and ensuring that our color is consistently where it needs to be.  We should work with operators to help them better understand color, what we are trying to achieve, and allow them to communicate when they see issues so we can get them corrected.  Color should match from proof to press, press to press, and run to run.  Color should be consistent from edge to edge on the sheet and from the start to the end of a run.  What is necessary to ensure this happens each and every time?

    Right now I take readings from our digital presses once a week with a full color calibration before I print the P2P.
    I check our Epson proofer once a month to insure we are within specs of G7 tolerances.
    Our offset presses are calibrated once a year for our G7 rectification.

    Is there more I can be doing without micromanaging every job that comes through our shop? Let me know your thoughts and suggestions.

    Thanks,

    Jason

    ------------------------------
    Jason Wright
    Prepress Manager / G7 Color Professional
    Slate Group
    Lubbock TX
    (800) 794-5594
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  • 2.  RE: Color Management Program

    Posted 03-14-2017 10:29 AM
    I think you are off to a good start! Communications is key with your employees. They need to understand the changes to running by numbers and not density ON YOUR OFFSET PRESSES. If you are still running to density only and not numbers then make sure you provide the right density to effectively reproduce and balance color to met standards of your certification by G7 . Different papers like dull ,satin gloss and uncoated should all have set numbers the pressmen can run to or Density if that is what your running to for each kind of paper.

    The color proofer here is a Epson 9900 

    I not sure what everyone is doing as far as digital goes? My problem with digital is that every paper has different numbers calibrated in the system.  We have Ricoh 9100 here. Now we do have there tec's program and check numbers we run ,but every paper changes. So you have to follow the paper profiling for the equipment.

    I hope this help you.

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    Bob Stokes
    General Manager
    Abbott Communications Group
    Maitland FL
    407.831.2999 x124
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  • 3.  RE: Color Management Program

    Posted 03-14-2017 11:31 AM
    I think you are off to a good start! Communications is key with your employees. They need to understand the changes to running by numbers and not density ON YOUR OFFSET PRESSES. If you are still running to density only and not numbers then make sure you provide the right density to effectively reproduce and balance color to met standards of your certification by G7 . Different papers like dull ,satin gloss and uncoated should all have set numbers the pressmen can run to or Density if that is what your running to for each kind of paper.

    The color proofer here is a Epson 9900 

    I not sure what everyone is doing as far as digital goes? My problem with digital is that every paper has different numbers calibrated in the system.  We have Ricoh 9100 here. Now we do have there tec's program and check numbers we run ,but every paper changes. So you have to follow the paper profiling for the equipment.

    I hope this help you.

    ------------------------------
    Bob Stokes
    General Manager
    Abbott Communications Group
    Maitland FL
    407.831.2999 x124
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Color Management Program

    Posted 03-14-2017 03:44 PM
    Hi Jason, 

    I assume you have a color wedge somewhere on the press sheets and proof for QC?

    iOne process control, for example, can help you ensure a particular press sheet or proof stays within your tolerances. A tool like this evaluate the entire color wedge and give you an overall dE value, which you can compare and track to ensure consistent color. You don't have to check every sheet or even every job, that is all up to you. 

    It sounds like you are off to a good start like Bob pointed out. We have customers that check these color wedges daily (or if inkjet less often due to color consistency of the technology) and chart the overall dE of the entire wedge, so if a problem develops they know exactly when it occurred and what work may be affected. 

    Like Bob points out though inkjet is a little different as each paper has its own profile. This is not a huge deal, you just need to ensure you're  comparing dE values to the correct stored profile. One very nice thing with inkjet is the stability you get with this technology. 

    Happy to assist further off line if needed.
     

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    Allen Filson
    Sr. Manager, Professional Services
    Production Printing Solutions
    Canon Solutions America
    Boca Raton, FL
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