VALHALLA, N.Y. (January 2005) – The natural heritage of Canada – from the Arctic to the Appalachians and the Northwest Plateaus to the Boreal Plains – has been captured and preserved in “Canada’s Wild Lands,” a new book printed by Canadian printer Caractéra, Inc., using an all-Fujifilm workflow. While a team of photographers managed to capture the beauty of Canada on film, reflecting it in a 237-page book is another challenge. The book includes more than 200 photographs of the country’s astounding and impressive landscapes, ranging from the lush forests of the Queen Charlotte Islands and the imposing coastline of Newfoundland to the sagebrush and cactus prairies of Saskatchewan and the glaciers of the High Arctic – and the book’s publisher, Les Éditions GID, looked to Caractéra to get the job done right. A traditional commercial printer with offices in Quebec City and Montreal, Caractéra first opened its doors in 1968 and has established a reputation as being a technology leader and innovator in the graphic arts community. As part of its all-Fujifilm workflow, Caractéra employs Fujifilm’s Co-Res Screening, a revolutionary screening software that allows computer-to-plate customers to get the increased productivity of high-line screening as well as superior reproduction of details in highlight areas. And when you’re printing photos of a mountain reflected in a river or the formation of snow crystals, details are critical. With Co-Res Screening, Fujifilm engineers developed proprietary Multi-template Technology, which is an innovative way of arranging halftone dots that are smaller in size. The result is a markedly smoother image that is also free of moiré. Co-Res was also engineered to eliminate the problem of a jump in the midtones that occurs when halftone dots intersect. Fujifilm’s Co-Res does this by varying the dot shape in different parts of the halftone range. We see a smooth tonal shift that allows the beautiful Canadian scenery to be printed with impeccable detail and realism. Caractéra pairs Fujifilm’s Co-Res Screening with the manufacturer’s FINALPROOF digital contract proofer and the Saber Luxel V-9600 computer-to-plate system to achieve the high-quality output they need in the prepress department. “Our main goal was not to have any problems on press,” said Yvon Sauvageau, printshop manager for Caractéra. “We wanted to be sure there would be no guesswork. We were able to do that thanks to our Fujifilm equipment.” In combining Fujifilm’s FINALPROOF with Co-Res Screening, Sauvageau was able to show his client the same screening technology on the proofing device that was used on press. “It was the first time that he’s been able to see that and he was very impressed by it,” he explained. Fujifilm engineers focused on maintaining compatibility with existing technologies and workflows, including the FINALPROOF and Saber series of platesetters, in order to give printers a complete solution and be able to offer their customers high-definition printing. Additionally, Co-Res Screening requires no change in the pressroom, giving Caractéra the flexibility to go from job to job without changing procedures. In addition to the screening technology, the proofer and the platesetter, Caractéra also looked to Fujifilm for the ICC profiling software, the plates and even the fountain solution, says Sauvageau. “The entire job was all Fuji,” he boasts. Sauvageau isn’t the only one happy with the outcome of “Canada’s Wild Lands.” The book’s publisher has already discussed working with Caractéra on another project – a second book of scenic photography documenting the beauty of Canada.