Color Proofing All Jobs?

[kdc415]

dlandon - you were clear, just clarifying for some other folks. Good info, thanks.

Wondering if there is a low cost solution for us commercial sheetfed guys that anyone has implemented. We PDF everything, so maybe it's as simple as throwing that up on a calibrated monitor. Since we got our color management under control I think I really just need something to cross check that the right plates were hung - lol

[Lukas Engqvist]

We use 2 kinds of proofs, colour proofs and imposition proofs. We allways make imposition proofs, ie 90g paper that costs 10% or less than proofing paper, this is run from the separated files and includes page area marks, crropframes and information about raster etc. We output a new imposition proof if there is the smallest change. The imposition is also checked off with others in production…*this is not a customer proof, but a tool for us to know that the journey to the finished product can be made.

For customers we will either maka a proof, or make proof of representative pages along with have them approve their PDF in writing. In Some cases, if it is more convenient than proofing on our epson, we will print a digital copy on an indigo, so that the customer getts a feel for the product.

[dlandon]

You could use the soft proof preview in Acrobat for that; it's a hassle to set it up for every image / imposed flat but it's pretty good. You'd have to calibrate the monitor, of course (ColorEyes Display is the best thing to use for that) and you can still get a 30" Cinema Display on the Apple Refurb store one most days for $1300. So for a grand total of maybe $2000 you could be in business.

dlandon - you were clear, just clarifying for some other folks. Good info, thanks.

Wondering if there is a low cost solution for us commercial sheetfed guys that anyone has implemented. We PDF everything, so maybe it's as simple as throwing that up on a calibrated monitor. Since we got our color management under control I think I really just need something to cross check that the right plates were hung - lol