Printing Profile Discussion

In the tide of digitalization in the global industry, the digitalization process in the printing industry is a necessary battle to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises. In this campaign, CTP is a must fortress, and digital proofing is like a blueprint for fighting a fortress. To draw this correct winning blueprint, color management profiles are essential information.

It is very regrettable that many printing companies that participated in the war were incorrectly using the profile information, resulting in wrong digital proofing, which resulted in mistakes in the CTP process. In recent years, the author has participated in digital proofing and has also been black and blue, so I would like to borrow a copy of the Graphic Arts Fair to discuss some of the issues that led to my mistakes. I would like to ask my colleagues for advancement and help them to attract more attention.

Digital proofing is an inexpensive color expression model to simulate the actual color expression of printing equipment, allowing us to save time and material costs. Theoretically, this is the color space conversion between the output devices. As long as we use the digital proofing equipment, the color space is larger than the printing ink, the proofing precision is greater than the printing requirements, and the color sample ambiguity meets the time requirements. We can use software control to simulate the color effects of various output devices such as plain printing, gravure printing, embossing, screen printing, and flexo printing. With the current maturity of equipment, consumables and software, this road should not be an embarrassing road to embarrassment, and it may even be an avenue for enterprises to add value. What is the reason for this? Let us take the road and collide everywhere?

The four parameters affecting the color space conversion: the basic linearity of the proofing equipment must be set at the beginning. It embodies the color expression characteristics of the nozzle and the ink; the paper properties used in the proofing are not difficult to obtain, and the IT8 color table can be used. Reads produced; reference CTF or CTP output exposure curve also has control experience; these three aspects should be more reliable. The problem lies in the fourth parameter of the printing equipment we want, and the credibility is always unsure. The author has collected dozens of company's printing profiles, also printed two IT8 color table production and printing profiles in the two companies, and now takes out six printing profile dot gain rate and gray balance characteristic curve table, with the industry friends analysis and research :

Most of the companies listed above are excellent printing companies, and there are many companies that have won the Hong Kong Printing Award and the Guangdong Printing Quality Award. However, they have also had disputes between CTP printing and customers. Therefore, it is worthwhile for us to discuss the issue and look for the culprit.

The author tried to compare the three "quiet" canned print and proof color profiles provided by Profile Editor's color management software:

It is not difficult for us to find the printing characteristics of these “historical documents”. The dot expansion curve is relatively smooth, and the rate of enlargement of intermediate dots is higher. Its gray balance curve, cyan is higher than magenta, magenta is slightly higher than yellow ink, in line with the physical characteristics of the ink: yellow ink is higher than the purity of magenta, the purity of the ocean than the cyan ink. The author tried to use these three gray balance "canned" curves as the color space conversion parameters between Lab and CMYK, and several times back and forth, the color values ​​are basically still "steadfast". However, the above 6 homemade Profiles need only 2 conversions. The color space values, especially in the dark color, have long been “renamed for surname”. If we can use this unbalanced gray linearity as a printing process parameter, how can we avoid color deviation disputes?

Mr. Tang Jianqing of Hong Kong Graphic Arts asked me to write a little digital proofing profile. I can only reply: “I mentioned that when I mentioned that I would like to print a profile, you first need to give me a profile of the correctness of the profile.” Mr. Tang’s view is that Profile cannot Gray balance test, must adjust the printing environment to make again. I asked Mr. Wu Guoqiang, President of Bestcolor Technologies, to discuss this issue. Wu's opinion was: "Print Profile is a description of the characteristics of the printing environment. It does not concern the quality of the environment. How much of the environment is done, and of course the development will be gradually unified." At the same time, the author used the curves of the Dongguan printing factory with curves that were more “non-standard” than the “standard” software company to curve proofs, and it was closer to the print color of the Dongguan factory. However, how can this particularity be combined with the versatility of the industry and the versatility of the printing shop?

So, what are the factors that make the print characteristic curve so hard to control? Try to analyze how many variables affect the printing environment. There are different models, different inks, different papers, and different plates in the printing shop. How many combinations can they change? How many kinds of profiles do you have? In addition, the print profile generated by ink balance, printing color sequence, printing pressure, and printing speed is even more varied. If there is a 20% increase in the 50% M version, and a 10% increase in the "profile" generated in the C version, how can you prevent him from expanding 15% in the M version, and the 15% normal printing environment in the C model? Color cast occurs? If you make 100 profiles for 100 environments, how can you make it operational?

How to take the Road of Printing Profile? Take a look at our traditional proofing, and use the standard Japanese 157g double powder, standard DIC ink, and standard CMYK ink concentration to complete the standard proofing. Your ink, paper, pressure, and color sequence are different. You have managed to follow my proofs. Whether digital proofing can avoid complications and is simple, we also set up a Hong Kong standard specification, including the printing profile of common paper and ink, as the printing color standard followed by the industry. This will make it easier for the printing process to be smoother and more conducive to overseas orders. The general printing profile has gone, pursues the special printing Profile again, or simply rectifies the special printing environment, unifies to the standard printing environment. Or this is the author's no solution Ah Q liberation, any correction please email the author E-mail address: "Print Profile Road how to go? Look at our traditional proofing, with the standard Japanese 157g double powder, the standard DIC ink, Standard CMYK ink concentration, complete the standard proofing.You print the ink, paper, pressure, color sequence, you try to follow my proofing. Digital proofing can avoid the simple, also establish a Hong Kong standard specifications, Including commonly used paper and ink printing profiles, as the industry's following color standards for printing, this will make it easier for the printing process to be smoother and more conducive to overseas orders.The general printing profile has to go after a special printing profile, or Simply rectify and rectify the special printing environment, unified to the standard printing environment, or this is the author's indispensable A Q liberation, any correction please email the author E-mail address:.

The Industry Department has allocated funds for the printing industry to establish Hong Kong printing standard specifications. The first phase will be used to establish the appearance and quality standards of printed matters. This is very positive. However, the author's opinion is not as good as taking drastic measures at the bottom, but he must first invest in the production process to improve quality. Do a good job of digital proofing that hinders the development of CTP, and do a good job of printing Profile standards that affect digital proofing. Grasping the main contradiction in this major printing process, other problems are easily solved.