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Color Management De-Mystified by Sandy Alexander at Print Buyers Meeting

Press release from the issuing company

Boston, MA - December 13, 2005 -- On December 6, Boston Print Buyers celebrated its first anniversary meeting at the Millennium Bostonian Hotel, near Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The sold-out event was sponsored by Sandy Alexander, Inc., one of the country's most respected, full-service graphic communication companies, and Kodak. Michael Graff, Senior Executive Vice President at Sandy Alexander, spoke to the members and guests of Boston Print Buyers about the latest color management technology. Graff defined color management as "a system that allows for reproducible, predictable results across a range of uses." It is a system -- together with standards and a program -- that allows color management to work effectively. The challenge with using color on press is that different color theories are utilized in different applications. For example, additive color (RGB using red-green-blue) is used in television, cameras, and the human eye. In printing, subtractive color theory (CMYK using cyan-magenta-yellow-black) is used. Adding to the challenge of color subjectivity is the fact that vision is not dependable when remembering color. Graff outlined four ways to promote accurate color management in the printing industry: 1. Support an industry-wide standard, so printers themselves will focus on service rather than the printing as a commodity; 2. Encourage the use of RGB retouching; 3. Communicate with digital photographers regarding processes used to view and save images and proofs. 4. Flexibility with substrates, including digital archives, inkjet and remote proofing. Sandy Alexander is a certified user of Kodak's Matchprint Virtual Proofing System, which was presented to the group by Michele Laird-Williams, Director of Print Media for the Kodak Graphic Communications Group. Matchprint Virtual Proofing System–LCD uses high-end flat panel displays to combine RealTimeProof with the KPG Matchprint Virtual Proofing technology. This system allows Sandy Alexander's customers to soft-proof their jobs on a desktop monitor with full color accuracy, and offers tremendous savings in time and productivity. Benefits of "soft" monitor-based proofing include allowing integration of editorial and design, simultaneous routing to individuals or teams anywhere in the world, and time savings in each stage in production. By knowing about color management, print buyers play an important role in encouraging the adoption of technology that uses math to build consistent, accurate color profiles.