Mini Spots and Prinect Image Control Boost Reliability and Efficiency when Monitoring Quality in Color Workflows
10/13/2005
Quality adjustment on the fly delivers consistent print results,
enhances cost-effectiveness, and strengthens customer loyalty
The Prinect Image Control spectrophotometric color measuring system from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), now available in the new version 4.0, automatically evaluates Mini Spots during production. Mini Spots are small control elements that can be printed on free areas on the print sheet and are used for process control. They provide information on the color space and dot gain on the print sheet.
Prinect Image Control 4.0 measures the entire print sheet, complete with Mini Spots, using spectrophotometric technology. The tonal and color values obtained are sent to the Quality Monitor analysis software for evaluation. This software enables instant statistical analyses for all imaginable measurements. Any discrepancy is corrected immediately in the prepress stage. This enables the printing process to be monitored rapidly and reliably on the fly and ensures consistently high production quality.
"The launch of Mini Spots means Prinect Image Control users can enjoy greater reliability and efficiency in their color workflow. Mini Spots provide far more quality information on the printed sheet than conventional color bars - and do so in real time. For the printshop, this increases productivity and strengthens customer loyalty, as quality can be reproduced with complete reliability," says Jörg Bauer, Vice President of Prinect Product Management at Heidelberg, explaining the benefits of Mini Spots.
Mini Spots ensure efficient and reliable color management
Mini Spots allow printshops to respond faster to changes in the color workflow. They can be used for both printing and proofing, and it is here that the strengths of Mini Spots really come to the fore. While it was previously always necessary to print complete test forms - a costly and time-consuming process - now it is often sufficient to simply print Mini Spots in process. The values obtained from the Mini Spots are used to adapt existing printing characteristics and ICC profiles to changes in print conditions. For optimal results, Mini Spots should be combined with Prinect Profile Toolbox profiling software and Prinect Calibration Toolbox calibration software. The Quality Monitor analysis software in the toolboxes evaluates the data and shows whether the process is correct or whether corrections are necessary. If corrections are needed, they can be applied immediately to the printing characteristic during plate manufacture (Prinect Calibration Toolbox) or to the ICC profile (Prinect Profile Toolbox). After the correction, the next proof and plate set are matched to the new printing conditions. This process control feature produces far more uniformity in the quality of print products - and does so in a shorter time.
Another feature of Mini Spots is the fact that they can be positioned on the print sheet independently of the color bar whenever the printing process needs to be controlled with absolute precision, e.g. when printing multiple-ups for labels and packaging.
At the end of September 2005, Heidelberg received the German printing industry award for innovation for its work on Mini Spots.
Image:
The diagram shows the workflow optimized by using Mini Spots.
Learn more about Prinect Color Solutions at the Open Houses:
München: 10/20/2005 - 10/22/2005
Hamburg: 10/27/2005 - 10/29/2005
Düsseldorf: 10/11/2005 - 10/12/2005
Hannover: 10/17/2005 - 10/19/2005
Further information and registration under +49 (0)180 433 8 326 or www.heidelberg.com/openhouse.
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
The Prinect Image Control spectrophotometric color measuring system from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), now available in the new version 4.0, automatically evaluates Mini Spots during production. Mini Spots are small control elements that can be printed on free areas on the print sheet and are used for process control. They provide information on the color space and dot gain on the print sheet.
Prinect Image Control 4.0 measures the entire print sheet, complete with Mini Spots, using spectrophotometric technology. The tonal and color values obtained are sent to the Quality Monitor analysis software for evaluation. This software enables instant statistical analyses for all imaginable measurements. Any discrepancy is corrected immediately in the prepress stage. This enables the printing process to be monitored rapidly and reliably on the fly and ensures consistently high production quality.
"The launch of Mini Spots means Prinect Image Control users can enjoy greater reliability and efficiency in their color workflow. Mini Spots provide far more quality information on the printed sheet than conventional color bars - and do so in real time. For the printshop, this increases productivity and strengthens customer loyalty, as quality can be reproduced with complete reliability," says Jörg Bauer, Vice President of Prinect Product Management at Heidelberg, explaining the benefits of Mini Spots.
Mini Spots ensure efficient and reliable color management
Mini Spots allow printshops to respond faster to changes in the color workflow. They can be used for both printing and proofing, and it is here that the strengths of Mini Spots really come to the fore. While it was previously always necessary to print complete test forms - a costly and time-consuming process - now it is often sufficient to simply print Mini Spots in process. The values obtained from the Mini Spots are used to adapt existing printing characteristics and ICC profiles to changes in print conditions. For optimal results, Mini Spots should be combined with Prinect Profile Toolbox profiling software and Prinect Calibration Toolbox calibration software. The Quality Monitor analysis software in the toolboxes evaluates the data and shows whether the process is correct or whether corrections are necessary. If corrections are needed, they can be applied immediately to the printing characteristic during plate manufacture (Prinect Calibration Toolbox) or to the ICC profile (Prinect Profile Toolbox). After the correction, the next proof and plate set are matched to the new printing conditions. This process control feature produces far more uniformity in the quality of print products - and does so in a shorter time.
Another feature of Mini Spots is the fact that they can be positioned on the print sheet independently of the color bar whenever the printing process needs to be controlled with absolute precision, e.g. when printing multiple-ups for labels and packaging.
At the end of September 2005, Heidelberg received the German printing industry award for innovation for its work on Mini Spots.
Image:
The diagram shows the workflow optimized by using Mini Spots.
Learn more about Prinect Color Solutions at the Open Houses:
München: 10/20/2005 - 10/22/2005
Hamburg: 10/27/2005 - 10/29/2005
Düsseldorf: 10/11/2005 - 10/12/2005
Hannover: 10/17/2005 - 10/19/2005
Further information and registration under +49 (0)180 433 8 326 or www.heidelberg.com/openhouse.
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
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