New tool saves time and reduces materials cost for contract proofing
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y., – Package printers and brand owners are always looking for new ways to more accurately predict spot colors on press while at the same time reducing costs and improving efficiency. Now, users of the KODAK APPROVAL NX Digital Color Imaging System can do just that with a new tool-KODAK RECIPE COLOR Profiler.

With the new KODAK RECIPE COLOR Profiler, users of the APPROVAL NX System can develop spot color recipes in less time and at a lower cost than in the past. One of the key differentiators of the APPROVAL NX System is its ability to render spot colors accurately using halftone proofing. Kodak has improved the process for setting up recipes, making it faster and easier than before.

Using RECIPE COLOR Profiler, the time it takes to develop spot color recipes can be reduced to less than a minute, while also eliminating the use of three to four sheets of media, which reduces both material and labor costs. Unlike inkjet proofing of spot colors, the APPROVAL NX System takes into account the actual substrate and ink laydown order, which results in outstanding accuracy.

"Halftone proofing on the APPROVAL NX System allows us to simulate the exact press output the customer will receive," says Peter Hamm, Managing Director of Reproservice Eurodigital GmbH in Munich. "Customers expect that contract-quality proof, but they are also very conscious of the cost, so anything that helps us bring that cost down is a valuable addition to our business. The RECIPE COLOR Profiler lets our operators produce the proof in less time while using fewer materials, with the quality our customers demand."

Reproservice Eurodigital specializes in producing digital flexo plates, mostly for high-quality UV flexo printing on plastic film, aluminum and other substrates. The company has been using the KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System for several years, and just recently upgraded to the KODAK FLEXCEL NX Wide System. The APPROVAL NX System is the proofer of choice for most jobs. "There are limitations with inkjet proofing-such as line screens and substrates-that make halftone proofing more desirable when results are critical. Our experience with the RECIPE COLOR Profiler has been excellent. Our operators appreciate the ease of use and the accuracy, as well as the support and training provided by Kodak."

The APPROVAL NX System is a robust and trusted solution for package proofing across a variety of applications. The system comprises a complete suite of hardware, software, and consumable materials designed to create color proofs accurately and consistently. It enables the prediction of process, spot, and metallic colors for litho offset, flexographic, or gravure printing. Offering true halftone quality color proofing at resolutions of 2400 or 2540 dpi, the APPROVAL NX System provides great confidence in predicting color and appearance of the final printed piece, including both traditional flat sheets as well as finished, three-dimensional packages.

"Packaging customers asked us to simplify the process of creating spot color recipes, and this new tool does just that," said Kuty Paperny, Director of Marketing, Packaging Products Group, Kodak. "Color is everything for a brand, so predicting press results is critical. We can provide true halftone dots in process or spot color on any of thousands of substrates that will be used in the final printed piece."

Users can easily and quickly create and manage any number of accurate recipe libraries for any combination of proof conditions and color libraries with RECIPE COLOR Profiler. In addition, the software works with imported spectrophotometer measurements, creates color characterization charts, supports modification of the color library lists, and enables users to easily toggle between CMYK-only and the optimal recipes for a library.

"We are saving at least two days on our color development process with the RECIPE COLOR Profiler," noted Andrew Blaisdell, Technical Manager, Matthews International. "In about an hour, we are getting 90 percent accuracy on our spot and PMS colors the first time. Our customers are extremely happy with our ability to turn jobs around more quickly, and we are very pleased with the efficiency we've gained in the production workflow. It's been a game changer for us."

For KODAK APPROVAL NX System users, RECIPE COLOR Profiler is available free of charge from the Kodak eCentral site. The software runs on Windows-based computers.

Kodak is a global advisor and provider of integrated services to help companies transform and optimize their businesses. Through a network of service professionals in 120+ countries, Kodak provides technical, professional, consulting and managed services to enable customers to focus on growing their businesses, maximize productivity, and more effectively manage risks.  All Kodak products and software are backed by KODAK Service and Support. To learn more, visit www.graphics.kodak.com.