Association members can use the innovative, easy-to-understand printed image assessment service to understand how well their presses operate  

The Pacific Printing Industries Association (PPI), and Image Test LabsTM (ITL), a division of Technology Watch, LLC announce that the Image Test Labs Image GraderTM press grading service will be available to members of the PIA affiliate at a reduced cost.   

“ITL reports help PPI members produce more consistent, higher quality printed work for their clients—and save money and time across the different platforms of equipment that they own,” comments Jules VanSant, PPI Executive Director.  

“PPI represents print providers from Alaska to Hawaii to the Pacific Northwest. We can see why they are one of the leading PIA affiliates in the country. We look forward to working together to help PPI members know where they stand on all their digital and conventional press equipment,” remarks Henry Freedman, one of ITL’s principal developers.  

Industry leading innovation 

The ITL Image Grader is an innovative, patent-pending technology that grades all types of conventional and digital printing presses, wide format printing systems, photographic printing systems and government and scientific print imaging systems. The ITL Image Grader report is an objective, repeatable evaluation of the press output quality and shows exactly where a particular press stands compared to similar and also other types of presses. 

Print providers and major equipment manufacturers use this service to make educated decisions and operating procedures about their equipment. Customers have used the reports in a variety of ways, including for fine-tuning the press, press maintenance and repair, and evaluating the quality of a potential purchase. 

Testing is a simple process. Users load the PDF target provided by?ITL onto the press and print three sets, returning two to ITL and keeping the third. ITL does the rest.  

Hands-on testing 

Three PPI board members performed extensive tests of the ITL Image Grader on their own presses, before deciding to offer the service to PPI membership. The shops ranged from a 5-person shop, to a mid-sized 40-50-employee printer, to a larger, 120-employee print provider, each located in a different climate throughout the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. Based upon the positive results, they recommended that PPI offer the service to its members. 

“Henry Freedman and his Image Test Labs team are truly ‘behind the scenes’ technology leaders in the graphic arts industry. What they bring to the table is strong value,” notes VanSant. “People in our industry today need equipment consistency, accurate color, and machine assessments not dependent upon the vendor, but from an independent, third party source. ITL Image GraderTM reports how press equipment is truly working. It gives print providers the information to be proactive about questions with vendors, rather than reactive.” 

“By ordering the ITL service through the PPI, there are two benefits. There is a cost savings for members, and ITL is also supporting the association by directing a portion of its revenues back to the association. This supports our mission to stay healthy, strong and profitable,” adds VanSant. 

The ITL service is immediately available to PPI members at a discount. They can access the link to the ITL at: http://ppiassociation.org/About/Benefits_Buying_Power.