La Crosse Litho Supply Announces Interactive D50 Technical Sessions

Monday, January 09, 2012

Press release from the issuing company

ISO-3664:2009 D50 lighting standards have taken effect, and all graphic arts lighting companies are now shipping new D50 compliant bulbs. Recently, it has been discovered that the D50 lighting standard has an adverse affect on proof-to-print comparisons and can cause major disruptions in your overall color reproduction.

La Crosse Litho Supply is announcing they will be hosting several opportunities to visually demonstrate how the changes in the D50 compliant bulbs affect your press sheets and proofing media.

The interactive sessions will be held in the following cities:

Indianapolis, IN – La Crosse Litho Technology Center (January 17-18)
Appleton, WI – Hilton Garden Hotel (January 24)
Sussex, WI – La Crosse Litho Technology Center (January 25-26)
Oakdale, MN – Hilton Garden Hotel (February 7)
Bloominton, MN – StayBridge Suites (February 8-9)
Addison, IL – Hilton Garden Hotel (February 14-15)
Lake Forest, IL – Hilton Garden Hotel (February 16)

There will be private hourly time slots beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m.

“The purpose of these interactive sessions is to demonstrate how new lighting standards change the appearance of press sheets and proofing media,” reports Matt Fehn, Technical Director for La Crosse Litho Supply. “We are finding that many of the existing papers do not meet the standards our customers and others need when viewing in the new lighting standards.”

New Versus Old Evaluation At Color Conference

Fehn continues, “At the 2011 PIA Color Management Conference, an impromptu meeting was held to look at the effects of common press stocks and common proofing papers under the old and the new lighting standards. Samples without any printing were used in order to simply evaluate the white point.

“First, we looked at a variety of press stocks under the old lighting. Typical visual differences existed with some greater than others. Then we evaluated the same samples under the new lighting. The effects of the different levels of optical brighteners was much more obvious, and the result was a much greater range of white points. The papers looked much more different from each other than they did under the old light.

“Next, we moved the press stocks back to the old lighting and added a range of proofing stocks from various suppliers. We evaluated how their white points compared to the different press stocks. All of the proofing stocks were a reasonably close match to one or more press stocks. Then we moved the samples into the new lighting. All but one of the proofing stocks turned a yellow or greenish color, making them a poor match to the press stocks. One stock, PrecisionImage™ D50 Standard Certified Contract Proofing Paper, was a good match to some of the press stocks.

“In short, what we learned at the Color Management Conference, was that press stocks look different depending on the level of optical brighteners, and a wider variety of proofing stocks with the appropriate level of optical brighteners will be required in order to match the differences.”

The objective of the Interactive D50 Technical Sessions is to duplicate the test method seen during the Arizona conference by having attendees bring their printing substrates and proofing medias to evaluate the level of conformity. From there we can consult alternative solutions if need be.

Owner and President of La Crosse Litho Supply, Randy Peters, says, “La Crosse Litho Supply is committed to offering our customers, and our industry as a whole, all the components of color. All of the pieces have to fit together to give our customers the very best in their quest for color accuracy and better serving their customer base – this is what we do!”

To schedule a consultation and receive a Technology Bulletin discussing the new D50 lighting standards, please call or write for more information.

La Crosse Litho Supply

www.lacrosselitho.com

1-800-658-9022

[email protected]