Proofer of Your Dreams

[RRudeski]

Hi All,

Considering any currently available proofing system, what would you choose as the proofer of your dreams? It should be quick, hold color well, be able to proof an 8 page imposition at a minimum, have a large color gamut, be driven from Prinergy, and any other useful features.

Tell me what you would choose as the proofer of your dreams.

Rob

[PeterA]

Rob

I don't really dream of proofers - is this a KBA thing -

I learnt a long time ago that unit cost of a proof is important - it is pointless putting in a system where the copy cost is so expensive that u cant redo a proof if u need to ,

I run 7800 Epsons and I would question why anyone would want to use anything else - all my proofs get vaildated with a Fogra strip and they do the job - they cost about £2 for a B2 proof so its agood price .

Peter

[Sequoyah Graphics]

How about a 74 Karat for proofing?

(I have big dreams)

[ASM]

GMG software (can take 1-bit TIFF from Prinergy); Epson 9800, GMG or Mitsubishi Proofing paper, Gretag/X-Rite Eye one for profiling, Profilmaker Pro software and a guy who knows how to fingerprint a press well. Oh, and a day or two to do it properly.
A beautiful dream and one that will always coming true, but sadly very few printers dream this dream.
BTW Karat 74 won't do an 8-up impo Al!
Andy

[Andy]

Hi Rob,

That's easy:
1. Either Samsung XL20 (£524) or Eizo CG241W (£1,000) - probably the former as it has a wider gamut and is much cheaper.
2. FirstPROOF Pro v5 CM (£995).
3. XRite Eye-One Pro (£495).

> It should be quick
It's quick to set up & configure - to profile the press you take 5 measurements with the Eye-One Pro, taking around 40-60 seconds.

A full color accurate proof of a page circa 20" x 26" at 2400 dpi takes around 30-60 seconds (one-off), with non-color-accurate variable zoom well before that, can easily go up to an 8-page imposition (with full color accurate zoom).

> hold color well
Color drift is marginal (you can re-calibrate the monitor easily every week).

> be able to proof an 8 page imposition at a minimum
Can easily go up to an 8-page imposition (with color accurate zoom). In fact can go up to almost any size limited by 64 bit integers - that's very large.

> have a large color gamut
The Samsung XL20 has a gamut that covers most printing process color (CMYK) inks. The Eizo CG241W is not too far behind.

> be driven from Prinergy
Accepts (Harlequin PGBs, Esko LEN and) TIFF files from Prinergy.

> any other useful features
And certainly has lots of other useful features -
a) Duplex mode - for checking front-to-back alignment.
b) Progressive proofs.
c) Lots of tools to check traps, overprints, screening, moire, ink limits,...
d) Plate delete, merge, rotate,...
e) Any much more...

And one of the most important things, is that once you've bought it:
a) Has a very low cost per proof... $0
b) No need for consumables...
c) Doesn't need servicing...
d) Doesn't break down...
e) Takes up no additional space...
f) And more I'm sure...

I wouldn't call it my dream, but it certainly works well.

Regards,

Andy.

Andy Cave,
Chief Executive Officer,
Hamillroad Software Limited.
www.firstproof.com
www.hamillroad.com

[Sequoyah Graphics]

>BTW Karat 74 won't do an 8-up impo Al!

Good point. Either wait for the 102 Karat, or do tiling on the 74 now.

Al

[RRudeski]

Hi All,

I am well aware of the Karat, and it is an excellent proofer, though the initial investment might be a bit more than most are willing to spend for a proofing system. :-) It's 4-page limitation is the show stopper for me in this case, however.

We've got the Kodak Press Proof here, and Matchprint Virtual as well, so we've got soft proofing covered. I'm looking for a hard proofing system, with the aforementioned qualities. I've got a couple leads, and I'll keep this question open a little longer in the hopes I'll get more.

Thanks for all the feedback so far.

[PeterA]

Rob
Having read the posts I must come back and comment -

proofs without a label confirming that they conform to a standard can only be treated as a content proof -

Peter

[roger]

Hi Rob,

Do you want 8 page imposition (4 pages up) and not 16 page backed up proof?

If you want the former and want simple and consistent with minimal to no maintenance issues of streaking and relinearizations and unbelievably consistent color, then buy a Veris. These proofs are for your demo center use for selling presses, right? And you're not necessarily looking to save 2 dollars per page on every print job, right?

If you want the latter, then you have to get an Epson and drive it with a rip and buy double sided sheet paper and not rolls. Rip vendors include: Kodak, EFI, Oris, GMG.

Good Luck,
Roger

Edited by: roger on Feb 15, 2008 8:22 AM

[RRudeski]

Hi All,

Probably over 90 percent of what we print here is single sided, so I guess I should have said I need an 8-up proofer, not an 8-page proofer. We are using these proofs in conjunction with press demos, so it is correct that we are not too concerned about the unit cost of each proof, so long as the cost is reasonable. We are wanting something that is representative of what any of our customers might use.

After the research I've done so far, I am leaning towards a GMG driven HP Z2100.

Does anyone have any experience with either of those, good or bad? If so, I'd love to hear what you've got to say.

Thanks.