FFEI Ltd, the developer of award-winning digital imaging solutions, has announced the introduction of RealPro ColourCloud, a unique and cost-effective cloud-based colour application which offers online ICC & Device Link profile creation combined with ink saving via a “pay-as-you-go” pricing model.

RealPro ColourCloud allows users to upload data and create custom ICC and Device Link profiles with single, averaged or mixed data sets. The solution offers free registration (www.colourprofiling.com) allowing users to create and test profiles with no initial outlay or ongoing subscription charges.

Ink saving is offered as standard and can be applied in ICC or Device Link profiles, users can preview the effect using their own test images which can be processed in the cloud and downloaded for viewing and assessment in advance of payment. An advanced 3D gamut viewer allows accurate comparison of profiles ensuring critical colours have not been clipped and the required quality has been achieved.

Users can access the solution from any location using their own private login via a web browser. Previously purchased profiles and data are all stored within the cloud makingRealPro ColourCloud ideal for colour consultants or quality assurance personnel working across multiple sites. The solution is ideal for those who have immediate or long term colour requirements, such as a quick “one-off” Device Link profile to repurpose legacy CMYK images, or for colour control across a range of devices in digital, offset or hybrid print environments.

Free-of-charge promotion until end of May 2012
As part of its introduction of RealPro ColourCloud, FFEI is inviting drupa visitors to try the solution free-of-charge. Users can simply log on to www.colourprofiling.com and follow the drupa promotional link on the main page to receive free of charge credits that allow them to create and download ICC & Device Link profiles. The site will be live from the first day of drupa and the promotion is available until the end of May.

Cost effective solution
The ability to “try before you buy” allows users to create and test profiles to ensure settings are correct before purchase.

“Traditionally, to create Device Link profiles, colour consultants or users are obliged to invest in high end proprietary solutions, which typically cost several thousand pounds,” says Nick Gilmore, software business manager at FFEI.

“RealPro ColourCloud is a potential game-changer because it provides a revolutionary approach using a risk-free alternative costing as little as £20 per profile,” he adds. “Instead of being forced into current offerings that are costly and inflexible, FFEI’s solution puts the power in the hands of the user with a cost-effective, flexible product that ticks all the right boxes in terms of quality, whilst also offering other added-value benefits.

Increased benefits from ink-optimised profiles
“With RealPro ColourCloud, users, both conventional and digital, can purchase an ink-optimised profile that enables them to obtain high quality, while achieving savings on ink or toner. As a result, they enjoy enhanced image quality, faster drying times and increased press speeds, while also saving money on expensive inks,” he continues.

RealPro ColourCloud is compatible with any workflow that accepts standard ICC or Device Link profiles and doesn’t require the installation of dedicated servers. As it is cloud-based, the solution offers reduced software maintenance and hardware costs without long term commitments or subscriptions.