Zaventem, Belgium -- EFI announced the release of version 4.0 of its market-leading EFI Colorproof XF for software color proofing and Fiery XF for production printing. Patent-pending Dynamic Wedge, Intelligent Calibration, and enhanced spot-color simulation provide a measurable advantage for achieving color accuracy for every job and device, even in remote locations. EFI's new software increases productivity and saves costs by eliminating redundant production steps.

"Printing today requires full control of the entire color supply chain with maximum productivity," said Frank Hueske, EFI product marketing manager. "EFI's new Colorproof XF 4.0 and Fiery XF 4.0 allow users to manage color in a new dimension with efficient and fast production tools to achieve standardized, accurate color effortlessly."

EFI Colorproof XF and Fiery XF V4 automation features ensure accurate set-up and maintenance of a perfectly defined color workflow from linearization and profiling to calibration, allowing hands-free overnight calibration.

Dynamic Wedge

EFI's patent-pending Dynamic Wedge is a revolutionary technology that checks and initiates optimization of key colors – including spot colors – based on a dynamically created wedge. Unlike a static wedge (for instance the Ugra/Fogra media wedge), the software always takes into consideration the job's key colors and all spot colors relevant to color analysis. Dynamic Wedge uses its advanced algorithms to analyze these colors. It also ensures the highest accuracy of output devices onsite and at remote locations. It is an essential tool for controlling key colors either in proofing or wide format production. Its dynamic analysis and tracking of spot colors makes it perfect for the packaging applications. Dynamic Wedge is a critical tool for matching logo and other special colors in CMYK.

Another unique advantage of the Dynamic Wedge, which is essential for color-critical applications, is its ability to automatically verify color accuracy against standards such as ISO 12647-7.

Printing systems with embedded spectrophotometers will also benefit from the Dynamic Wedge. It fully automates verification and optimization-for labor-saving color-quality assurance.

Intelligent calibration
Version 4 of EFI Colorproof XF and Fiery XF also include a re-linearization and re-ink-limiting feature, which checks the calibration of output devices and automatically brings it back to its original state when parameters, such as media or ink, change. After analyzing the device, XF will either launch the re-linearization or re-ink-limiting/-linearization for easy and effective printer calibration. This new feature provides a fast and accurate method of ensuring calibration accuracy.

Enhanced spot-color simulation
Enhanced spot-color simulation automatically identifies the ideal output values to provide dead-on spot-color simulations, with challenging low Delta Es.

Automated Proofing with Epson Stylus Pro x900
EFI Colorproof and Fiery XF v 4 prints a label directly on the proof on Epson Stylus Pro x900 printers with embedded spectrophotometer after inline verification. This allows the user to see if the proofs failed or passed immediately. This fully automated feature eliminates the use of a semi-automated measuring device as a first step before printing the label.

Each step of color measurement from linearization, profiling, calibration, optimization and verification, as well as the immediate label printing directly on the output can be executed automatically. This complete workflow automation maximizes productivity while ensuring color accuracy.

"EFI XF v 4.0 solutions, which includes the revolutionary Dynamic Wedge, will dramatically change the current proofing workflow," said Hueske. "V4's combination of features provide XF customers with the highest degree of color control and automation."

Additional improvements include wizard-based licensing, set-up and configuration, intuitive one-click spot-color handling, uniform page scaling, easy conversion to grey scale, enhanced tiling and step-and-repeat functions.

EFI's improved proofing and print production tools extend automation with JDF-based communication to EFI's leading MIS and Web2Print Solutions. Support of the latest technologies such as Adobe PDF Print Engine v2.0 streamline and enhance workflow communication.