Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Toner-based Proofing Devices
One of the misconceptions I heard repeated a number of times on the trade show floor last week is that toner-based imaging systems are not the best proofing devices. Color digital printing systems have come along way since they were first introduced and modern systems are breaking image quality barriers and it's no longer entirely true to think of them as sub-par print imaging systems.
At RIT, the Xerox DocuColor 12 has proven to be a consistant proofing device and is SWOP-certified when coupled with the KPG Matchprint RIP. While the DC 12 is at the end of its product life, other systems have emerged to take its place.
At last years PRINT, Xerox released the DocuColor 250, a small toner-based printer that is perfect for creative environments and proofing. The DC250 utilizes the same imaging architecture as their DocuColor 7000/8000 mid-level production systems. This is the same imaging architecture Henry Freedman demonstrated could be used to match offset lithography in an issue of his Technology Watch.
Announced at the same time as the Canon imagePRESS C7000VP, the Canon imagePRESS C1 (which shares core technologies with the C7000VP) has also been receiving accolades for its image quality, stability and consistency.
Modern toner-based digital printing systems are capable of meeting the requirements of many proofing applications. But like any other proofing system, process control procedures need to be followed to insure that the system is meeting your color quality requirements.
Posted in: Digital Printing | Proofing
3 Comments
I'd say pretty heavy process control needs to be in place. The problem isn't in the color quality as much as the consistency from sheet to sheet, hour to hour.
Great to hear that manufacturers are addressing the need for stable output in their latest devices.
Comment by Scott - Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 11:34 AM
Scott - I agree, temporal consistency is just as an import a factor as spatial uniformity. Like any process, they both need to be monitored to insure that the output is meeting set standards (either internal or industry).
Comment by Adam - Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 05:48 PM
My limited experience with toner based devices is that they can maintain decent color consistency for non-overprint colors. It's when you start making complex heavy saturated PMS or 3 color grays that the Delta E's are all over the board.
The area I see that may keep people from using it for proofing is the color difference on a single printed sheet. A color on the operator vs gear side (inboard vs outboard) can vary enough to be visually observed.
Comment by Mike - Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 10:25 AM