DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY, May 29-Prepress professionals, print service providers, designers and others involved in the print production process have historically struggled to control and manage color, often employing a variety of disconnected tools in an attempt to achieve the desired results. KODAK COLORFLOW Software aligns color across devices, enabling integrated color control with the KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System.

COLORFLOW Software delivers Color Relationship Management that unifies all the color elements, such as ICC profiles, curves and spot color recipes, managing the relationship between them and the device print conditions. Tight integration with the workflow and between devices enables automatic updates when production variables occur or a print condition is redefined. Color control can be automated through the PRINERGY System's job process templates, a process that can be further enhanced by the sophistication of database rules based automation.

COLORFLOW Software will be fully integrated with KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System Version 5 and enables efficient setup of complex color workflows with an intuitive user interface that leads users through the necessary steps to ensure accurate color production. COLORFLOW Software supports open standards and has been designed to simplify the tasks of busy prepress professionals.

"Kodak offers a solution that is simple to use and delivers high quality, consistent color for all applications," said Arjen Van Der Meulen, Director of Color, Enterprise Solutions, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG). "With our experience in color science and our unique technology, we are able to bring all the elements together to address the color challenges that exist in a majority of today's production environments."

Able to accurately manage color on everything from displays and proofers to platesetters and presses, COLORFLOW Software takes the guesswork out of color. Users can be confident that the color specified at the beginning of the job is the color that will appear on the final product. COLORFLOW Software enables users to capitalize on one integrated solution that is part of a complete workflow, without having to pull the pieces together themselves.

 "Color relationship management enables the process to be automated, thereby reducing human intervention and the risk of error," explained Charles Nordeen, Product Manager, Color, Enterprise Solutions, GCG.

Ink Optimizing Solution Improves Print Quality While Reducing Ink Consumption

KODAK COLORFLOW Software with Ink Optimizing Solution reduces ink consumption and ink costs for web and sheetfed printers while improving print quality through greater press stability.

The Ink Optimizing Solution produces ICC device link profiles that can be used to reseparate images automatically through GCR separation techniques within the PRINERGY Workflow. Unlike ordinary ICC profiles, device link profiles do not describe a specific color space, but instead define the conversion from a specific source color space to a destination color space. This way, primary and secondary tints and solids all remain pure.

"The effect of using a GCR separation process is to reduce CMY ink consumption while introducing black ink, resulting in more stable color, while also reducing makeready times and enabling higher print speeds and improved repeatability from job to job," noted Nordeen. Users can specify the total area coverage, black onset value, and GCR level to optimize the device link for the target print condition.

KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. KODAK Service and Support is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging and data storage industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.