Gent (Belgium) - EskoArtwork, a global supplier and integrator of innovative solutions for packaging, commercial printing and professional publishing, today announced that integration of EskoArtwork software with the Sun Chemical SmartColour database, as announced at drupa 2008, will be available for commercial release in the 4th quarter of 2009. This solution saves time and money for label and packaging converters by eliminating the need to fingerprint spot colour on production presses in order to obtain accurate colour results on proof.

"Following our announcement at drupa," said Dan Pulling, EskoArtwork Product Manager Colour and Proofing, "we have been working with Sun Chemical and six pilot sites, including the cooperation of a major Brand Owner, to develop and test an integrated solution that delivers more accurate and realistic proofing of spot colors, as well as faster press make ready. We are now moving into the Beta phase and are looking forward to bringing this exciting solution to the market later this year."

How It Works
The EskoArtwork colour management software, included in the Esko Software Suite 7 workflow, downloads full spectral ink profile information directly from the Sun Chemical SmartColour database of ink readings.  The SmartColour database gives operators access to +200.000 spectral profiles of real colors printed with real inks on real substrates and regularly up-dated for the purpose of accurate on-screen display and color accurate digital (inkjet and other technology) proofs. There is no longer any need for label converters to allocate resources to spot-colour fingerprinting of production presses, saving significant time and money.

In prepress, designer color specifications are mapped to SmartColour inks shades, allowing the design to be accurately previewed. The prepress operator then uses FlexProof to produce a colour accurate digital inkjet proof or generate a colour managed PDF file for remote proofing.  Production jobs stored electronically contain a reference to the SmartColour data so that recurring jobs are processed quickly and consistently.

"Feedback from our pilot sites has been overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic," said Iain Pike and Patrice Aurenty, SmartColour Business Leaders for SunChemical North America and Europe. "Users agree this integrated solution allows replacement of wet proofing with digital proofs with no surprises at the print stage.  As one pilot user said, 'SmartColour is part of the jigsaw to deliver a full digital workflow.' This unique partnership is the first time that an ink supplier and a prepress solution supplier have brought together their expertise to offer an integrated and comprehensive solution to the converting industry. This collaboratively developed solution addresses one of the most urgent challenges in label and packaging production-accurate brand color reproduction in a hybrid printing workflow.  The feedback we received from our six pilot sites validates the value to the industry of this strategic alliance."

Demonstrations of the SmartColour integration with Esko Software Suite 7, including live application of the SmartColour database, will be demonstrated on the EskoArtwork stand at Labelexpo Brussels (Hall 5, Stand 5B30). On the Sun Chemical stand (Hall 5, Stand 5E80), SmartColour experts are available to answer any questions related to the SmartColour database and its application domain.