Approval XP proofing system now offers users extended gamut of blue-dominant spot colors June 11, 2002 -- Norwalk, Connecticut, USA -- Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) today announced the full commercialization of a blue spot color donor for the Kodak Approval XP digital halftone color proofing system. The new blue donor greatly extends the gamut of blue-dominant spot colors that the Approval XP, equipped with Kodak Approval Recipe Color software, can achieve, including the ability to proof deep, saturated blues common to today's packaging market. "The addition of a blue donor allows Approval system users to simply and accurately produce the intense blue-dominant spot colors that are so popular in packaging and commercial printing today," says Jerry Willer, Product Manager - Analog and Digital Halftone Media, Kodak Polychrome Graphics. "The exclusive Kodak Approval Recipe Color software, along with availability of orange, green, and now deep blue spot color donors for the Approval XP system, provides unprecedented capability in spot color creation for those customers whose work demands this capability." When combined with Recipe Color software, the blue donor opens the door to a variety of additional blue and violet spot colors. This increased capability helps Approval XP system users meet growing customer demands for proofs that accurately reproduce a wide-range of rich blue spot colors. "There are a number of blue and violet spot colors that exist, that are inadequately reproduced in proofs using only process CMYK. The blue donor makes it possible for printers using these blue-hue spot colors to confidently produce a digital halftone proof on the Approval system," says Willer. Beyond replicating blue and violet spot colors, KPG's blue donor can also stand alone to quickly and easily represent fifth color files, varnishes, or die cut lines. The first digital halftone color proofing system, the Kodak Approval system sets the standard for digital color proofing, and KPG continues to upgrade and improve the system based on customer needs. Recipe Color software received the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation's InterTech Award in 2000, and the Approval XP/XP4 system, equipped with Recipe Color software, was approved as PANTONE CALIBRATEDTM in September 2000. Pantone, Inc. also qualifies the Approval XP system as Hexachrome capable.