The first C of color management in printing companies

Color Management There are three so-called C, Calibration, Characterization and Conversion. The description refers to how to record the color rendering capabilities of input devices and printing devices, and how to turn these records into ICC profiles. The process of format (ICCProfile), commonly used tools include: PrintOpen, ProfileMaker, ColorVision, Viewopen, ProfileWizard and so on. Conversion refers to how to perform color space conversion on a certain device according to the data in the ICC profile to achieve the purpose of color space simulation. If the device is a screen of a Mac computer, the color sync within the system is used to perform the conversion work. If the device is a printer, the print server with the color engine installed is the one that performs the conversion work. The most commonly used ones include: BestColor, BlackMagic, Startproof, Pressready and so on.

Calibration is not valued

Color management is closely related to digital writing. The former is a theory and process, and the latter is a specific application. The most popular products in the color management market today are the description and conversion of these two C's, and most of them are related to digital writing. Prices range from $100 to $100,000. Since digital copying is the most important link in the CtP production process, most printers are focused on how to purchase the ICC Profile production software and how to purchase a color print engine. Many seminars and workshops are also modeled on ICC Profile production and color conversion as the selling point. As for the first C (calibration) of color management, the seminar was not gently passed or rarely mentioned. System integration suppliers also believe that printing companies have been working with the current printing methods for many years. Naturally, there are no problems. Therefore, they assume that the press has been calibrated when making ICC profile documents for digital writing. As to whether this assumption is true and if this assumption is incorrect, there will be consequences. They say that they are powerless. If the customer insists on helping them to calibrate the printing, they will only do the ICC Profile and they will advise the customer to ask for advice.

Is calibration important?

What level of calibration is there and what is the difference between printing companies? Very few printing companies think hard. Moreover, there is no simple answer to answer. In fact, some printing companies use color management and digital writing. They mainly hope to save costs. After reducing the number of films and drafting, there is a greater room for price reduction. For these printing companies, calibration is not important, as long as the customer is willing to accept the goods, it is best not even to prepare digital copies.

However, if printing companies adopt the reasons of color management and digital copying, they hope to have a more stable proof and can cooperate with CtP technology to improve the quality of production. How to carry out calibration must be taken seriously.