March 2005:


Achieving Accurate Color: A Tour Through the Pantone Process Color Guide

For many designers, agencies and large purchasers of printing, proofing is often the most time-consuming step of the print production process. To avoid the back-and-forth associated with the transfer of proofs and multiple rounds of color adjustments, many opt to purchase their own high-quality inkjet proofing devices and perform all color correction in-house. While these devices are just starting to gain a foothold, this communication is to help make you aware that this technology will be more commonplace in the near future.

If adding in-house proofing is on your wish list, be aware that digital proofing devices are far from a “plug and play” technology. In order for the proofs you produce to be effective, they must reproduce identical color to that of your print vendor. To accomplish this, your proofing device must be profiled to match the color characteristics of your print vendor's equipment.

The ICC Profiling Process
In order for your proofing device to output color that matches our equipment, it must be calibrated to the ICC standard. Once this is achieved, you can plug in Springfield Printing's ICC press profile, which we will be happy to supply. These "output profiles" are unique to each printing company and allow your proofing device to match our proofs and press sheets.

To ensure consistent accurate color matching between your proofing device and Springfield’s presses, your device must be calibrated frequently depending on your variables. This process is called profiling. This is accomplished with calibrating software by taking color measurements of a test sheet output from your proofing device with a spectrophotometer. The software then compares your proofing profile with our press profiles and makes adjustments. The resulting proof should match the target press sheet. Springfield Printing can supply you with a “target” press sheet for you to match, ensuring that the proofing device is profiled correctly.

A Final Word about Profiling Profiling is not a one-time process, and will not by itself ensure seamless color matching between you and your print vendor. Regular calibration of your monitors and output devices is part of the equation as well. Keep in mind that color profiling must be performed regularly in order to correct the minor mechanical changes inherent in printing presses and proofing devices. At Springfield Printing, we profile our equipment on a regular basis, which will require subsequent color profiling of your proofing device to maintain accuracy. In addition, the calibration and RIP software required for your proofing device can be expensive and complex to learn. You may want to have a color technician perform your calibrations.