Caldera is demonstrating its commitment to accurate colour reproduction with the launch of ColorViewer, a new softproofing solution for digital ink-jet based print businesses.
Comprised of a viewing station with monitor, specially engineered software, an i1Pro spectrophotometer and a dedicated computer, ColorViewer lets users identify and correct inaccurate colours before they are passed to the printer, providing an opportunity to avoid misprints before they happen. This technology, created as a partnership with colour hardware expert Caddon, creates a solution exclusive to Caldera customers through selected partners in its extensive international sales network.
With Caldera’s Fogra-certified ColorViewer as part of their workflow, operators send their digital original to the Caldera RIP, which then creates a TIFF file that simulates the printed output ready for softproofing. The operator takes this file into the ColorViewer station, which takes into account all relevant viewing factors – these being the monitor’s light, the standardised lighting within the box, ambient light and the viewing angle of the observer. The ColorViewer box simulates the international standard lighting modes of D50, D65 and 3200K with our without UV, with the potential to create custom light settings, and is compatible with multispectral data sets for complex imaging situations not measurable using traditional spectrophotometry.
ColorViewer therefore allows for a true comparison to be made with the original file or sample, eliminating guesswork and facilitating total colour accuracy. If the colours predicted by the RIP correspond to the original file, the RIPped file is therefore approved and can pass to production. If not, it will be rejected, giving the operator the chance to identify the root of the problem, whether it lies in the ICC profile, the calibration of the printer, or the original artwork. ColorViewer can also be used to verify a printed proof, or hard proof, against the same criteria as part of a quality control process.
For fast-growing applications such as textiles, laminated flooring and wallcoverings, accurate colour rendition is of huge importance before a printer commits to a long run. Caldera customers report that their needs are to avoid costly reprints across runs that could take hours or days, where an error can result in a large quantity of wasted ink, substrate and production time, as well as the requirement to satisfy the strict brand management procedures of major clients. ColorViewer lets this growing sector of diverse digital print specialists guarantee colour fidelity by introducing standardisation within their production workflow.
“Digital inkjet is growing in popularity within textile and industrial production, which means we need to make sure it hits the high quality standards of those businesses repeatedly,” explains Joseph Mergui, CEO at Caldera. “Caldera has worked with Fogra, Pantone, Idealliance, Alwan and other major colour organisations for many years and has invested this expertise in ColorViewer, a solution which brings together all of our understanding for the benefit of our users.”
Caldera highlights its partnership with German colour specialist Caddon in the delivery of ColorViewer. Caddon’s multispectral measurement technology is central to the unique proposition of ColorViewer. Although softproofing traditionally takes place on any given, calibrated computer monitor, there are many factors that will confuse a spectrophotometer, such as painted walls, windows that are not protected with anti-UV coating and repeatability of the viewing angle. Caldera’s ColorViewer solution already factors in all of these environmental variances, meaning that users are assured of a Fogra-certified softproofing environment contained neatly within a single workstation.
“Fogra’s certification of Caldera ColorViewer means that owners can be certain they are producing their display, industrial or textile prints to the highest quality level, and can do so reliably many times over,” continues Mergui. “There are other advantages, such as reducing time spent on quality control and the ability to conduct softproofing remotely. Most of all, we know that our customers are looking to reduce waste and improve uptime in the print room – and ColorViewer lets them do just that.”
Caldera
www.caldera.com
