If working with printers who do not conform to a specification or
standard such as SWOP, GRACoL, ISO, etc, I am wondering how viable
it is to profile their contract proofing system (assuming they can
match it on press) over going to the expense and time of an actual
profiling press run?
The definition of a proofing system is that it simulates a device. If
the printer uses a proofing system,
it MUST be set up to a reference process it simulates. Ask for the
setup.
There is not need and sense in profiling.
To say it clear profiling the proofer won't help here as you can't
distinguish between what the simulation
does and what the actual printing device does. (It might be tweaked
to match the press, but you can't
find out where and how)
All you can do is make a proof on their contract proofing system.
If the colours are well in the sense they match what you've expected,
and the printer grants he could
match this on press too, you're done with the simulation profile.
If the colours don't match, I would assume you are dealing with a
printer Ray described.
