Kodak GCG  colour management  proofing  awards 
Results of the 2006 IPA (International Prepress Association) Color Proofing RoundUP place Kodak proofing solutions among the top offerings in all three main technologies: digital halftone, inkjet and monitor proofing and, says Kodak, its "proofing customers have access to the industry’s deepest and strongest portfolio of proofing solutions, according to North America’s premier technical proofing demonstration". Conducted during the recent 41st Annual IPA Technical Conference, the 4th Annual IPA Color Proofing RoundUP included a comprehensive evaluation of 30 colour proofing systems. Kodak entered seven solutions, the most of any vendor, across all three technology categories, including the Kodak Approval XP4 digital colour imaging system, the Kodak Matchprint digital halftone proofing system (comprising of the Kodak Spectrum digital halftone proofer and Kodak Matchprint digital halftone media), the Kodak Veris digital proofer, the Kodak Matchprint inkjet system and the Kodak Mmatchprint virtual proofing system with three different SWOP certified LCD monitors.

“Regardless of which proofing technology a Kodak customer chooses, they can be confident in the system’s ability to accurately communicate, control and confirm colour through the print production process,” says Brad Palmer, general manager, Proofing and Color, Kodak Graphic Communications Group.

“The depth and breadth of our proofing portfolio offer customers choices when evaluating solutions to meet the wide range of price, quality and cycle time needs. Today, most users routinely use multiple proofing technologies in tandem to meet their daily needs.”

This year’s event marked a significant change in how IPA evaluated proofing systems. IPA determined that Delta E scores are no longer the key differentiator, since most participating solutions achieved acceptable Delta E scores. Each of the four Kodak hardcopy proofing solutions (Approval, Matchprint digital halftone, Veris and Matchprint inkjet systems) scored an average of 0–1.5 Delta E.

“It’s more than who has the best colorimetric scores. IPA is saying that everyone can do that,” explains Palmer. “What’s really important is how well proofing systems produce visual matches and how well they perform when proofing multicolor jobs and jobs with spot colours, which are becoming increasingly numerous.”

The Approval XP4 system ranked among the top solutions in visual match to press sheet, and spot colour judging, highlighting the system’s capabilities for colour rich packaging applications. In addition, the Approval XP4 system was used as the target for the six colour proofing test, in which the Matchprint digital halftone system, Veris digital proofer and Matchprint inkjet system scored in the top group. The Veris digital proofer and Matchprint digital halftone system also joined the Approval XP4 system in the highest rated group in the Pantone® spot colour test for solids.

In soft proofing tests, the Matchprint virtual proofing system posted strong results, solidifying its position among the best monitor proofing solutions currently available. The Matchprint virtual proofing system with Apple Cinema 30 inch display and Eizo CG 210 LCD display scored among the top soft proofing solutions.

In its closing summary, the IPA noted workflow connectivity, value for money, and colour management expertise as the key decision factors when choosing a proofing option. Palmer agrees with the IPA’s assessment and believes it meshes well with Kodak’s vision to provide customers with integrated proofing solutions that address a full range of needs.

“Kodak is uniquely positioned as a leader in both workflow solutions, colour management technology and in offering the broadest proofing portfolio in the industry,” adds Palmer. “Kodak continues to support organisations like the IPA that foster not only standards, but deliver valuable information to the industry to help customers make important decisions that affect their businesses.”