GLENDALE HEIGHTS, Ill -- All Printing Resources (APR), the leader in flexography products and services, announced today the availability of the first G7 Master Printer certification program for flexographic operations. With its in-house G7 Experts, APR is able to assist converters in obtaining G7 Master qualification.

Developed by IDEAlliance and the GRACoL committee, G7 Master qualification signifies that a converter has been trained to print to the new G7 Proof-to-Print Process and has calibrated the proofing system or press to the G7 method. The qualification also indicates that a converter uses the most modern technology, techniques and process controls and standards required to produce high-quality printing.

"This is a process that's traditionally been associated with offset printing presses and is now becoming more of a factor in the flexo market as we continually strive to improve color consistency," explains Dave Nieman, president of All Printing Resources.

G7 is a revolutionary new process that helps printers print consistent color, with less preparation and less waste, and reliably produce high quality printing that matches from proof to press and from press to press. "The G7 process provides predictable and consistent color without requiring printers to set up presses on job-by-job basis," says Richard Black, APR's director of digital solutions.

The G7 proof-to-print process is based on the principles of digital imaging, spectrophotometry and computer-to-plate technologies and is a simple calibration process that allows converters to achieve a visual match between their proofing and printing methods.

G7 is named for its gray scale calibration technique and the seven ISO ink colors it requires. The "G" refers to the calibrating gray values, while the "7" refers to the seven primary color values: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green and blue defined by the ISO.

"With this qualification, converters are able to validate their process, which is a tremendous advantage if a company has multiple locations or if jobs are transitioned between presses," explains Catherine Haynes, APR's G7 expert.

"This qualification is also a tool that helps converters evaluate how they're printing as well as why changes in their printing may be occurring," she adds. "This is the tool to help them print consistently, efficiently and at the highest levels of quality."

APR offers the first G7 Qualification program for flexographic printers, including on-site consulting and a complete program to calibrate, linearize and profile the press. For more information on becoming a G7 Master Printer, please call APR at 708-784-3115 or visit them on the web at www.teamflexo.com.