Graphics Microsystems

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Graphics Microsystems ColorQuick Closing the
Loop on Colour Management David
Brydges European Technical Marketing Manager
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Overview

• Introduction to Closed-Loop Colour Control
• Colour Management Expectations
• Press Calibration Control Toolbox
• - Spectral Measurement Reporting
• - Pre-press Connectivity/Feedback
• - Color Gamut Control
• - Comprehensive reporting

graphics microsystems, inc.
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ColorQuick Hardware
graphics microsystems, inc.
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What is Closed-Loop Colour Control?

• Target ink densities entered into the system
• Spectrophotometers scan all web surfaces
• Corrections sent to press console
• Individual keys automatically moved to keep
  density targets maintained
• Process maintains densities within tolerance
  while in closed-loop control

graphics microsystems, inc.
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How it works
1.40
1.25
1.40 key 12 cyan
Key 12 cyan opens x clicks
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ColorQuick Closing the Loop
graphics microsystems, inc.
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Overview

• Introduction to Closed-Loop Colour Control
• Colour Management Expectations
• Press Calibration Control Toolbox
• - Spectral Measurement Reporting
• - Pre-press Connectivity/Feedback
• - Color Gamut Control
• - Comprehensive reporting

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Colour Management Pre-press

• Minimum number of well defined print conditions
  and corresponding ICC colour profiles that
  produce pleasing images and can be achieved on
  press
• Accurate, consistent and repeatable output from
  presses and proofing devices
• Concise report of press runs quantifying the
  consistency and accuracy both absolute and
  relative to a target print condition

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Colour Management Press

• Closed-loop Colour Control
• Proofs, when supplied, that can be matched on
  press with little or no manual adjustments
• Clear timely indications when print conditions
  have changed, how they have changed and possible
  corrective actions

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Challenge Opportunity
Consider the Press as an automated, predictable
and calibrated output device in a colour managed,
digital workflow.
graphics microsystems, inc.
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Overview

• Introduction to Closed-Loop Colour Control
• Colour Management Expectations
• Press Calibration Control Toolbox
• - Spectral Measurement Reporting
• - Pre-press Connectivity/Feedback
• - Color Gamut Control
• - Comprehensive reporting

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Spectral Measurement

• Provides the fundamental physical description of
  the colouring characteristics of an object
  (spectral curve).
• Spectral reflectance curves can be used to
  evaluate the optical properties of incoming
  materials (ink paper)
• The spectral reflectance curve is the basis for
  the calculation of both densitometric and
  colorimetric values.

graphics microsystems, inc.
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ISO 12647-22004
. However, in a general situation, DENSITY
values do NOT define a COLOUR to the required
degree. Therefore, for the purpose of this
part of ISO 12647, reflection density values are
only recommended for the determination of tone
values. Following ISO 13656, the production
press operator first achieves the correct COLOUR
of the solids on the press, then reads the
densities with the instrument from the OK print.
graphics microsystems, inc.
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Spectral Reporting

• Evaluate Ink and Paper performance
• Verify conformance to desired print condition for
  each press run
• - ISO 12647-21996
• - Shop standard
• Provides important link between press and
  pre-press via colorimetric data
• Significantly reduces time and effort associated
  with print characterizations (ICC colour
  profiling)
• Verify that process colour builds or special inks
  are correct
• Density alone is NOT enough!

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Process Colour Conformance Diagram
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Process Colour Conformance Diagram

• Displays in a single screen colour-difference
  information for the chromatic process inks.
• Allows users to determine the general nature of
  colour-differences (i.e. changes in dot gain,
  trapping, ink film thickness, etc.).
• Allows operators to compare current printing
  conditions to reference printing condition (ICC
  colour profile)

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Overview

• Introduction to Closed-Loop Colour Control
• Colour Management Expectations
• Press Calibration Control Toolbox
• - Spectral Measurement Reporting
• - Pre-press Connectivity/Feedback
• - Color Gamut Control
• - Comprehensive reporting

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Tone Value Analysis
graphics microsystems, inc.
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Tone Value Analysis

• Provides automated collection of tone value
  increase data for complete tone scale.
• Analysis and export to Creo Harmony (.hmy) for
  use in creating CtP tone correction curves.
• Printer can change screen settings or assign a
  different press for a job without adjusting page
  description files.
• Provides increased process knowledge allowing
  printers to adjust tone curves (CtP) to match a
  specific printing condition (ISO 12647, Shop)

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Tone Value Analysis
graphics microsystems, inc.
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ICC Colour Profiling Measurements

• Software feature for use with the ColorQuick
  on-web spectrophotometer which provides automated
  collection of measurement data for use in
  creating ICC colour profiles.
• The software supports profiling targets from
  Monaco (378 530 patches), GretagMacbeth (TC3.5)
  and the industry standard IT8.7/3.
• Measurement data can be compared both numerically
  and graphically to standard or reference printing
  conditions.
• Research tool for evaluating the magnitude of
  colour variations at different locations within
  the colour gamut and the magnitude of differences
  between paper types/classifications

graphics microsystems, inc.
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ICC Colour Profiling Measurements
ISO 12642 ORIGINATOR "FOGRA, www.fogra.org" DESCRI
PTOR "FOGRA11S.txt" CREATED "August
2002" INSTRUMENTATION MEASUREMENT_SOURCE
"GAS-FILLED TUNGSTEN" PRINT_CONDITIONS "Offset
printing, according to ISO 12647-2 NUMBER_OF_FIELD
S 11 BEGIN_DATA_FORMAT SAMPLE_ID CMYK_C
CMYK_M CMYK_Y CMYK_K XYZ_X XYZ_Y XYZ_Z
LAB_L LAB_A LAB_B END_DATA_FORMAT NUMBER_OF_SETS
928 BEGIN_DATA 1 100 0 0 0
14.65 22.22 49.89 54.26 -36.01 -48.01 2
0 100 0 0 30.77 16.03 15.57
47.01 70.09 -6.09 3 0 0 100
0 63.75 68.13 7.31 86.07 -4.37
86.84 4 100 100 0 0 4.27
2.80 13.46 19.22 25.12 -48.55 5 100
0 100 0 7.02 15.99 4.88 46.97
-62.62 30.63
graphics microsystems, inc.
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ICC Colour Profiling Measurements
ISO 12642 ORIGINATOR "FOGRA, www.fogra.org" DESCRI
PTOR "FOGRA11S.txt" CREATED "August
2002" INSTRUMENTATION MEASUREMENT_SOURCE
"GAS-FILLED TUNGSTEN" PRINT_CONDITIONS "Offset
printing, according to ISO 12647-2 NUMBER_OF_FIELD
S 11 BEGIN_DATA_FORMAT SAMPLE_ID CMYK_C
CMYK_M CMYK_Y CMYK_K XYZ_X XYZ_Y XYZ_Z
LAB_L LAB_A LAB_B END_DATA_FORMAT NUMBER_OF_SETS
928 BEGIN_DATA 1 100 0 0 0
14.65 22.22 49.89 54.26 -36.01 -48.01 2
0 100 0 0 30.77 16.03 15.57
47.01 70.09 -6.09 3 0 0 100
0 63.75 68.13 7.31 86.07 -4.37
86.84 4 100 100 0 0 4.27
2.80 13.46 19.22 25.12 -48.55 5 100
0 100 0 7.02 15.99 4.88 46.97
-62.62 30.63
graphics microsystems, inc.
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Overview

• Introduction to Closed-Loop Colour Control
• Colour Management
• Press Calibration Control Toolbox
• - Spectral Measurement Reporting
• - Pre-press Connectivity/Feedback
• - Colour Gamut Control
• - Comprehensive reporting

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Color Gamut Control

• Controls the colour balance by calculating inking
  adjustments from spectral measurements on 3/c
  neutral gray patches.
• The target colorimetric (CIELAB) values are
  ideally taken from a reference printing condition
  or characterization data set
• Automatically minimizes colour deviations
  resulting from papers lying outside of defined
  paper classes (ISO 12647-2)
• Compensates for colour variations resulting from
  long term variations in temperature, ink
  viscosity, etc. producing more consistent colour

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Overview

• Introduction to Closed-Loop Colour Control
• Colour Management
• Press Calibration Control Toolbox
• - Spectral Measurement Reporting
• - Pre-press Connectivity/Feedback
• - Colour Gamut Control
• - Comprehensive reporting

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Press Analysis

• 2002 GATF Intertech award
• ODBC (open data base) compliant
• - Can be integrated into MIS System
• Compare ink sets, papers, blanket types, etc.,
  using data from actual production from several
  presses or a single press over time
• Watch for long-term trends that signal
  maintenance requirements
• Cost savings from improved printing process
  control.

graphics microsystems, inc.
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Press Analysis
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Press Analysis
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Thank You For Your Attention
www.gmicolor.com
graphics microsystems, inc.