LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. - Previously, color control was very much dependent upon the skill and expertise of the press operator. In recent years, however, color control systems that utilize color scale have substituted numerical evaluation of color quality for operator skill. Now Mitsubishi has introduced a system for the next generation based on the control of the print color tone by measuring the entire print image. The Mitsubishi Color Control System V (MCCS-V) image-scanning spectrophotometer records all the image data for a print sheet in a single measuring operation. Limitations of automation in color management Although color control systems using a color scale have dramatically advanced automation of color matching for a print job, some limitations remain. With standard measuring and control equipment, a spectrophotometer scans color bars on the printed sheet to determine deviations in ink density from a pre-established target density. The equipment reads, measures and compares the target color value and the actual value of the pulled sheet to calculate the recommended adjustments for the appropriate ink zone. Usually, the operator is required to match printing colors to color samples. If the printing colors and samples are different, the operator must make fine adjustments manually. In addition, color scale is not printed in all jobs. Then the color control system cannot be used. Color quality can suffer depending upon the skill of the individual operator. Image scanning improves quality To overcome these limitations, Mitsubishi developed a system capable of checking the quality of the entire printing job by measuring the whole print image. The MCCS-V consists of a suction board for spreading paper, sensor head, scanner, processing board, touch monitor as a user interface, and computer and other devices for controlling and supervising the system. Necessary information is set automatically according to the printing job setting by the Mitsubishi PressLink and ColorLink systems. The optimum control value of the printing press to a preset target color is displayed on the touch monitor, fed back and controlled in the printing press as required. Spectrophotometric image measurement is not confined to the quality control strip. The print sheet is measured in both horizontal and vertical directions. The MCCS-V has spectrophotometry and densitometry capabilities; it looks at the L.a.b. characteristics of color, as well as the reflective density. The MCCS-V controls the color tones of the image using measurement data from the image. When measuring a 28 x 40-inch sheet, it collects data from approximately 240,000 points. Superior results are ensured whether the image contains a single color or multiple colors, or is solid or screened. The MCCS-V is an integral part of a streamlined, automated workflow. It measures the product that will be sold to the customer. Printers can provide customers with a finely tuned product that precisely matches the original job file. Mitsubishi will premiere the MCCS-V in Booth #2612 at Graph Expo & Converting Expo 2006, October 15-18 at Chicago's McCormick Place.