Re: How "good" can a press profile really be?
Re: How "good" can a press profile really be?
- Subject: Re: How "good" can a press profile really be?
- From: Terry Wyse <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2001 21:09:32 +0000
All very good points. The short answer is "it's better than nothing!" or
assuming any of the number of "generic" press profiles that are out there.
To your points:
on 9/6/01 9:32 AM, joseph wilhelm wrote:
>
I am preparing to have another press profile made and this has gotten
>
me to wonder. Just how good can a press profile be? Even if the
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prepress person and the pressman stick to repeatable settings and
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densities aren't there random variables that will screw up a profile?
As long as they're hitting density, dot gain and print contrast numbers, it
should be pretty good. However, imposition can be a big variable. Pages can
end up arranged such that achieving good color in one area/page(s) can mean
sacrificing color in others.
>
How much does the image setter affect things? Its not just the image
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setter but the film batch and chemistry consistencies.
Imagesetter/platesetter should have virtually zero impact as long as
calibration/linearization is checked and verified regularly. It would be
unusual for any modern (<3-4 years old) film or platesetter to vary more
than 1-2%, even between film/plate batches and chemistry changes. I've known
devices that despite daily checking won't change for several months. In
other words, there's no excuse for the output device to have much, if any,
influence on the final press color.
>
Aren't there
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variances each time that make knowing a press a bit unpredictable?
Sure. But to be honest, I've people's choice of PAPER undermine a print job
way more than press variables. Too often I've seen decent process control
dashed to the wind because somebody chose a lighter stock just to save a few
bucks in mailing costs. "It don't make no sence!" (said in your best Pete
from "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" imitation). :-)
>
One challenge has been in the attempt to achieve neutral values for
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light background color such as 5/3/3/0 or 3/2/2/0 (CMYK). Is it
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possible to actually get this much control and predictability by way
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of press profiles?
Well, I'd say that's not really a problem of the press profiles. To put it
bluntly, I'd say that's questionable design values expecting such tight
control of background colors that are, say, less than 6-10%, especially if
it's a crossover or "gutter jump". Again, imposition would be a big factor
here.
Just my .02 worth. Now, time to get ready for Print'01!
Terry
_____________________________
Terence L. Wyse
Color Geekus Emeritus
All Systems Integration, Inc.
http://www.allsystems.com
email@hidden
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