The IPA recently published the results of its third annual “Color Proofing RoundUP”, which were also presented at its June Technical Conference. Once again, the IPA is to be applauded for their efforts to evaluate and improve available proofing options. The goal of the effort is to help graphic solutions providers understand and compare various proofing systems. Twelve companies, described as an industry “Who’s Who”, participated in the “RoundUP”, submitting samples from 27 systems for evaluation. The report can be a helpful tool in assessing and selecting a proofing system. It provides a systematic comparison of a variety of products and approaches, across a number of metrics that measure color quality (both visual and colorimetric), and PDF compliance, including color management support and RIP performance. The report also includes an invaluable and detailed comparison of features of each solution, including system pricing, maintenance, and cost per proof.

A team of five experts evaluated each system across a variety of criteria: Colorimetric Analysis by Abhay Sharma, then of Western Michigan University and now Chair, School of Graphic Communications Management, Ryerson University; Spot Color Simulation by Steve Smiley of Vertis; Visual Evaluation by Tom Collins of Quad Graphics; Soft Proofing by Ray Cheydleur of X-Rite; and PDF-X3 compliance by Florian Süssel of Meta Design.

Participating suppliers were provided with a GRACoL certified press sheet and were asked to produce proofs that were a visual match to the press sheet images. They were also required to submit a visual target matching averaged measurements from a set of GRACoL press sheets. Unlike in 2004, participants were not allowed to optimize for each evaluation separately. Measurements were made before the conference, while the visual evaluation was made at the IPA Technical Seminar, by both experts and attendees.