New features include adjusting data to match proofs to actual production stock, and printing directly to a Windows printer from a PDF file hotfolder 

Tuebingen – GMG, a leading developer of high-end color management and proofing solutions, announces that it has released GMG ColorServer 4.8, an updated version of its popular color management software. 

GMG ColorServer provides superior, easy-to-use, color management. It delivers consistent and repeatable color results to all output processes—offset, gravure, and digital print as well as online digital displays. It automates the transformation of RGB, CMYK, spot colors and mixed data to a standard, definable output color space. With GMG ColorServer, data from different sources will behave identically on the press. The result is a marked reduction in makeready times and paper waste. 

GMG gamut mapping ensures that colors are ideally converted between different color spaces. GMG’s DeviceLink approach avoids drawbacks of ICC technology, such as reseparation of the black channel. A completely new set of profiles makes GMG ColorServer 4.8 a plug-and-play solution that covers all-important international printing standards. 

“Given the nature of content distribution, while GMG ColorServer is used predominantly for print, we are finding that many companies are also using GMG ColorServer for online color, converting files to RGB. Just as brand and product colors must match in a printed brochure, packaging or display, they should also reproduce as accurately as possible on a monitor’s web page or mobile device,” explains Michael Farkas, GMG Marketing Director. 

“While we have added many new features to GMG ColorServer 4.8, GMG has two new, particularly helpful tools,” adds Farkas. “The first is the Paper Adaptation tool, our solution to help print houses overcome the problems of a mismatch between the paper tint of the proof according to ISOcoatedV2, GRACoL, JapanColor or any other standard, and the white point of the actual paper they will print. With this tool you just pick the color of your substrate and ColorServer will adapt the data to match the proof. This solves a common problem experienced at almost every printing facility throughout the world. Also, GMG ColorServer can now output files from a PDF hot folder directly to any Windows printer”.

Delivering exceptional PDF file conversions

A number of other features for the conversion of PDF files have been updated within GMG ColorServer 4.8. The most significant improvements include:

• The separation of spot colors to a late binding CMYK: It is now possible to accurately convert spot colors into a large printer gamut. 
• Improved Image compression: All flattened images can be treated with either ZIP or JPEG compression, considerably reducing file size.
• Revised sharpening is done in the target color space of the last color management step, typically in CMYK, and can be set more precisely. 

Tools to assure color accuracy

In addition to the Paper Adaptation Tool, GMG ColorServer 4.8 contains all new RGB-to-CMYK separation profiles that are now part of GMG normalization. 

Features to enhance digital printing

Along with printing PDF files directly to a Windows printer, GMG ColorServer can use the wide gamut of an output device to print spot colors more accurately when referring to a calibrated setting.

More control to optimize performance

PDF file processing time depends upon the size and complexity of objects inside a PDF file— along with, of course, the computer itself. The input/output performance of the hard drive with temporary data and the number of concurrent PDF processes that must share the resources of a computer (CPU, memory, hard drive) can considerably affect performance. GMG ColorServer system settings can define the temporary folder for PDF processing, allowing the user to select the drive with the best I/O performance to accelerate PDF processing. The user can also set the number of concurrent PDF processes, defining the breaking point where a higher number of concurrent processes won’t provide any additional benefit.

Availability

GMG ColorServer 4.8 is available immediately through the company’s extensive global network of resellers.

“GMG ColorProof 4.8 takes an important step into the future of color management. We have been listening carefully to our customers,” concludes Farkas. “Not only have we added requested features. We acknowledge that our customers are getting involved in more facets of print—digital printing is certainly a significant trend that requires careful attention to color. However, our customers are also offering more online services, requiring their own careful color management. Our customers understand that GMG ColorServer is an all-encompassing solution.”