Here’s a fun one.
We create separations for a particular client for packaging
printing. In order to allow a bit of wiggle room on press, the file contains
two magenta channels…one process magenta for the image element, and
one spot channel magenta for the logo. Now, the files can print in different
locations, but one location in particular is having trouble matching our proofs
(very long convoluted story that I can’t go into without counseling). So,
this particular printer will be performing a “press calibration” at
the end of the month and we will be able to generate a press profile.
Here’s where it gets ugly, when we start the job
cycle, we often don’t know the final printing location, and even if we
did, jobs sometimes print at another facility at a later time, so we need to
use a standard profile to create the separations up front. I’m looking
into having the file converted from our StandardProfile to their CustomPressProfile,
and then proofing towards their conditions, but the issue is that second spot magenta.
I can convert it to process prior to the CMYK-CMYK conversion/proofing, and get
them an accurate proof, but then we supply 1 bit tiffs to the printer and we have
to keep that second magenta channel as a spot for the pressrun. So, I can’t
just convert the second spot magenta to process, perform a CMYK to CMYK and get
good separations for them.
As I see it I have three options:
1) Convert the second magenta to process, perform the
CMYK->CMYK conversion, then edit the image to pull the magenta spot back out
again.
2) Separate to their press conditions from the get go. Does
not address legacy work, does not address issues if the file prints at another
facility
3) Separate to for standard press conditions (that haven’t
been too successful in the past) and continue to point fingers.
I don’t anticipate the calibration/profiling pressrun
to get any closer to any standard printing condition then they have in the
past, the best I can hope for is a relatively stable pressrun. Does anyone have
any advice on how to address the above issue in a more streamlined way?
Michael Eddington
North American Color, Inc.
www.nac-mi.com