3/7/01 - Customers are praising its ease-of-use, its speed and color representation and—with the Fujifilm PictroProof—they are not afraid to put their money where their mouths are. Fujifilm Graphic Systems, a division of Fuji Photo Film, U.S.A., recently sold the 400th PictroProof unit in the United States and the numbers continue to climb. PictroProof, a two-page digital proofer, uses Fujifilm’s proprietary Thermal Development and Transfer Technology, a laser-diode imaging process capable of producing fast, high-quality color results. PictroProof also uses CMYK donor material and receiver paper to simulate commercial printing ink and stock, giving users an early glimpse of the final product. The digital proofer is able to replicate the color and feel of an analog proof, but without any chemicals or toners. "Our clients have learned to read and understand the colors so well that we can use PictroProof for the higher end projects," said Ken Wing, plant/production manager for Electronic Easel in St. Paul, Minn. "It’s been very successful for us." Speed is one of the key advantages of the PictroProof. "It’s fast and it’s accurate," said Dave Reeves, prepress supervisor at Ohio-based Banta Publications. With a maximum print size of 12.2" x 18.1", PictroProof has a print engine speed of 93 seconds for the first proof and 53 seconds for subsequent proofs, allowing printers to keep up with the ever-increasing workload. Users are also impressed with the PictroProof’s ease-of-operation, low maintenance, automatic calibration and environmentally friendly processing. "We don’t have to worry about the calibration and the maintenance is easy," commented Reeves. "The PictroProof also gives us a better workflow process. It doesn’t require a person to sit there and oversee what is happening. Other activities can continue as the proofing is underway."