Kennesaw, GA--At the recent 2002 GATF Tech Alert Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Heidelberg's proofing solution and ICC Color Management took top ratings in the eight-up Digital Color Proofing study matching a digital color proof to a press sheet. In the ranking of seven companies that included Heidelberg, Agfa, Kodak, Fuji Film, DuPont, CGS and Creo, GATF independently measured the supplied IT8.7/3 test chart with 928 color patches of each company's proof against the GATF press sheet. The test chart was measured using a spectrophotometer and the color differences between the proof and press sheet were calculated. The Heidelberg proofing solution had the closest color match to the supplied press sheet. The color difference was described as a Delta E value, the term used in measured color differences, with the smallest color difference having the smallest Delta E value. Not only did the Heidelberg proofing solution have the lowest average Delta E value (1.97) of the 928 color patches, but the color with the greatest Delta E difference was nearly half the value of the next closest proof. Color matching has to date been a subjective process. Based on these results, however, Heidelberg has proven its superior color matching technology, demonstrating that the HP Designjet 5000 with the appropriate ink, paper and color management technology provides the best proof-to-press sheet match possible. That data was scientifically measured by spectrophotometric devices, eliminating any bias or defects the human eye can have. The scoring was a statistically valid analysis.  Based on the data supplied to the study, Heidelberg not only had the closest color match, but also had the least expensive and most productive 8-up digital color proofing solution. "Heidelberg has always heard from a qualitative basis that our color matching technology was excellent," said Ray Cassino, director, Heidelberg Prepress.  "With these results, we now can substantiate that proof with quantitative data." The GATF Tech Alert Conference was created to inform printing innovators about the key management and production issue developments. It provided original research and information on prepress and press operations to give insight into the effects of technological innovation.