The IPA recently published the results of its second annual “Color Proofing RoundUP”, which were also presented at its recent Technical Seminar. The IPA is to be applauded for their efforts to evaluate and improve available proofing options. The goal of the effort is to help graphic solutions providers understand and compare various proofing systems. Fifteen companies, described as an industry “Who’s Who”, participated in the “RoundUP”, submitting samples from 31 systems for evaluation. The report can be a helpful tool in assessing and selecting a proofing system. It provides a systematic comparison of a variety of products and approaches, across a number of metrics that measure color quality (both visual and colorimetric) and RIP performance. The report also includes an invaluable and detailed comparison of features of each solution, including system pricing, maintenance, and cost per proof.

A team of five experts evaluated each system across a variety of criteria: Colorimetric Analysis by Abhay Sharma of Western Michigan University; Spot Color Evaluation by Steve Smiley of Vertis; Visual Evaluation by Glenn Andrews of AGT; and RIP performance by David Zwang. The results are summarized by R.R. Donnelley’s Mike Rodriguez.

Participating suppliers purchased a GRACoL Premium Press Kit from IPA and prepared two setups; a “ Visual Setup ” intended for visual match to the press sheet images; and an “IT8 Setup ” intended for IT8 measurement match to a CGATS-DTR004 characterization. This was intended to allow participants to optimize for each evaluation separately if they chose to do so. The files were available to the vendors for two weeks. The samples were submitted to the team; organizing and measuring was undertaken at Western Michigan University. The visual evaluation was made at the IPA Technical Seminar, by both experts and attendees.