(May 29, 2008) X-Rite, Incorporated, the world leader in color management, measurement and communication technologies, today announced the immediate availability of vipPAQ version 2.0, the industry's first inline

color density measuring system for flexographic and gravure printing. Designed to optimize production control and quality assurance, vipPAQ is the only on-press solution able to control the optical density of any spot color, enabling faithful and accurate ICC color management and allowing consistent reproduction of targeted printing conditions. With version 2.0, vipPAQ introduces a host of new features and enhancements that help reduce make-ready for print runs and ensure press operators recognize and correct errors before they become costly.

vipPAQ version 2.0 is fully networkable and designed to be integrated into every stage of the flexographic printing workflow, from pre-press to pressroom and QA. In pre-press, reference values can be measured with an X-Rite handheld spectrophotometer or imported from other applications (e.g., from X-Rite InkFormulation software) with the new "vipPAQ Import Tool" application. The color data obtained can then be forwarded directly through the network to the vipPAQ system in the pressroom, thereby shortening make-ready time and delivering accurate color on time, every time.

vipPAQ performs quality checking in the actual print situation at the control console, for true real-time job control with no need to slow down the press. Throughout the print run, vipPAQ monitors density and dot variations due to deviations in substrate, viscosity, speed, pressure, temperature and ink impurities so that immediate corrective action can be taken. Jobs run at higher speeds, producing better quality output with less wasted consumables. In QA, measurement data of the print runs can be viewed and analyzed with the new "vipPAQ Job Viewer" application.

vipPAQ version 2.0 features of up to four 9-channel densitometers with handheld-compatible optics, a controller and system software. To ensure accurate future reprints, vipPAQ 2.0 can also record the exact print conditions and archive the job data for optimum long-term quality control.

Other new key features in vipPAQ 2.0:

-- New "Multi-Trigger" feature allows control elements to be split when limited space is available on-print

-- Displays dot area values to control halftone patches, in addition to density values for solid tone patches

-- Continuous measurement without trigger marks, e.g., to capture data from a coating line

-- Alarm capability option to connect optical signal tower (flashing light or sound) to the host computer to increase visibility of out-of-tolerance warnings