Hingham, MA, USA - GMG Americas, the US office of Germany-based GMG, developer and supplier of high-end color management and proofing solutions, is pleased to announce that the winners of the Fernando Pini Award in Brazil for the two categories of ISO compliance were both GMG customers. Winning an award for compliance with ISO Standard 12647-7 (proof/print match) was ColorPixel, demonstrating the proof that best matches a standard press condition. Receiving an award for compliance with the ISO Standard 12647-2, demonstrating the best compliance with the offset print parameters defined by this norm from its press sheet, was Log& Print Gráfica e Log'stica S.A. (Log&Print) for Publisher Rick Dan Ltda. In fact, from among the many entries, all but one of the ten award finalists were GMG customers, including Log&Print and ColorPixel, as well as Rona Editora Ltda, Stilgraf Artes Gráficas e Editora Ltda, Image Networks, and Arizona.

Created in 1991, the Fernando Pini Brazilian Award for Graphic Excellence, the Brazilian printing industry's oldest and largest graphic arts competition, promotes excellence in print communications and recognizes companies and individuals who produce the best in print media. It is considered the most noteworthy award in the graphic arts industry throughout Latin America. This year, 2,500 guests attended the ceremonies, which featured 1,331 works submitted in 60 categories.  The award is sponsored by Abigraf (the Brazilian Graphic Industries Association) and ABTG (the Brazilian Graphic Technology Association).

This year was the first time the 'ISO 12647-7 Proof Systems' category was established. ColorPixel produced its winning proof with GMG ColorProof, GMG paper, and an Epson 4880 printer. Based in Rio de Janeiro, ColorPixel (http://www.colorpixel.com.br) offers color management and image processing, ranging from scanning, to calibration of equipment, to the printing of pictures on high quality papers. With experience in art reproduction printers and color management, ColorPixel consulting offers high quality printing using inkjet technology.

ColorPixel's proof recorded the smallest average ?E variation measured from the Fogra test chart on a digital proofing system. "Our customers have always been very pleased with the proofs we deliver for them, as well as our GMG ColorProof solutions," remarks Lorenzo Ridolfi, ColorPixel director. "We are grateful that we received tremendous assistance from the GMG Americas team and Technical Services group, including Chris Schowalter, Victor Asseiceiro and Paulo Monteiro."

The ISO 12647-2 Proof Systems' award was presented to Log&Print (http://www.logprint.com.br/index.php?idioma=en). Founded in 1992 and located in Vinhedo, near São Paulo's interior, Log&Print-formerly known as Globo Cochrane, and printers for one of the biggest magazine publishers in Brazil, Globo Editora-operates a printing complex that is one of Latin America's largest and most modern structures. The company is very active as a member of the ABTG committees studying Color  Management.

The challenge of this award was that entries had to demonstrate consistency between a proof and a test swatch printed on a press sheet. There are many variables that can limit the minimum average ?E. "Looking for constant improvement in print quality, in 2008 we installed a reliable color management system and implemented a standards-based print condition project. The primary objective of these projects was to deliver a unified, reliable and stable print standard in all Log&Print print facilities. These projects implemented ISO norms 12647-2, 12647-7 and 3664. The implementation followed ECI specifications and PSO graphic control system specifications," explains Alan Alves, Log&Print Manager of technology and new product development. "To help with the project, we installed GMG ProofControl to check proofs submitted by external customers. This was followed by GMG PrintControl and GMG RapidCheck, to help with our ISO 12647-2 implementation and with print verification. Finally, we installed GMG Colorserver and GMG InkOptimizer to manage RGB to CMYK conversions and to save ink and help reduce print color fluctuations. The consolidation of all this work culminated in the company's Fernando Pini award in the ISO 12647-2 best match category. We thank GMG Americas for all their support."

"We are extremely thrilled that, once again, GMG entries performed exceptionally well in an independent event. We are proud of the achievements of all our customers-award winners and finalists," comments Paulo Monteiro, Latin American Manager, GMG Americas. "GMG solutions are installed at some of the more successful printers in Brazil. We know that they need to rely on an accurate color management and proofing system, and GMG ColorProof is their system of choice."