Dusseldorf, Germany-X-Rite announced its plans for DRUPA 2004, introducing Streamlined Color Management including seven innovative, lower cost streamlined hardware and software color management solutions, targeting creative, prepress, commercial print, on demand and packaging segments of the graphic arts. To kick off its Streamlined Color Management product lineup, X-Rite announced an industry first for the pressroom – a fast, one-step, self-contained method both to evaluate color quality and to generate (ICC) color profiles. Through the single press of a button, any press operator can initiate a fast color measurement from a linear CMS test form to create a high-quality ICC color profile, which characterizes the parameters of a print job (press, paper, ink, screening, etc.). This innovation makes pressroom production color management so simple, it can be widely adopted and utilized by printers to ensure better separations and improved proof to press matching. “At X-Rite, our focus is to develop color management solutions that are ‘streamlined’ within the printing process,” said Weaver. “By this we mean faster, smarter, more universal applications, consisting of integrated hardware and software to create solutions that are easier to operate, while delivering an economic return for our global customers.” X-Rite also announced plans to introduce the industry’s first and only low cost, highly accurate, upgradeable, and truly portable spectrophotometer solution for the graphic design market. Utilizing the company’s new patented color measurement technology, paired with innovative software, this product offers color management for the initial phases of the workflow.  Jim Weaver comments “X-Rite’s new ergonomically designed portable instrument, integrated with our innovative color management software, sets a new benchmark as the perfect creative color solution for graphic artists worldwide.” For the prepress area and on-demand printers, X-Rite will introduce a new X-Y AutoScan Spectrophotometer, which enables users to measure ICC color management test forms faster than ever before, saving time and money.  Today, this process requires at least 20 minutes.  This new X-Y solution will measure targets in less than 3 minutes – with no compromises.  Also included is a “set it and forget it” mode, which only requires the user to place the test form in the X-Y AutoScan and push a button to begin operation. This process only takes five seconds.