Digital Enterprise Education & Research (DEER), IDEAlliance's non-profit charitable foundation, has produced a Printing Guidelines 2011 poster designed to help print buyers and print providers achieve consistent, high quality color printing according to the latest G7 specifications and ISO standards. Do you have yours yet? You can download one at no cost or contact Nanette Nathan ([email protected]) at 703-837-1093 to get printed posters for the cost of shipping and handling.
According to Gerry Gerlach, Color Management/QA Manager at Integrity Graphics and past Chair of the GRACoL committee, "It explains, without making it a tutorial, the important aspects of printing that so affect production and predictability. To my knowledge, there has never been such a complete view of the process aimed at everyone." Gerlach, who contributed to the development of the poster, indicates that the poster will be updated as new standards are implemented and accepted as best industry practice.
I am not a color guru by any means, nor am I a creative professional in the graphic arts sense of the word (I like to think my writing is creative sometimes!). But I was able to clearly understand the section of the poster aimed at creatives. It would seem to be a handy tool for print providers to offer their customers to ease what can still be a difficult communication process relative to color management and proofing.
Discussion
By Margie Dana on Oct 31, 2010
Cary,
I agree with you - I got my poster about 2 weeks ago, and I think this is a terrific tool for creatives and print buyers. If I can understand it, anyone can. :) So glad you wrote about it!
By Jim Luttrell on Nov 01, 2010
Cary,
X-Rite will be distributing this poster at Margie Dana's 5th Annual Print & Media Conference event Wed and Thursday in Westford, MA. Anyone attending can get one there as well.
By Paul Deuth on Nov 04, 2010
It's discouraging to see a lowering of expectations along with a disclaimer that "our processes are too complicated to control." In fact, contrary to their theory, the only way to control the color reproduction system today is via process control. Color control has become a management issue, something a vendor cannot resolve or sell. As a career printer and quality management professional I find this very discouraging, as well as misleading.
By Henk Gianotten on Nov 05, 2010
@paul,
the document was made for creative professionals and obviously not for professional printers. Density values are still the cornerstone of the exchange of color information between most of the old fashioned printers and print buyers. If designers and printers both use spectral equipment such as Color Munki, iOne, IntelliTrack, PCM, Techkon, GMI, Rutherford and/or Prinect Inpress Color Control), they will finally understand that the 'spectral route' is the only valid solution.
Discussion
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