Screen Soft Proofing Application Helps Success (2)

(III) Comparison of Soft Proofing and Digital Proofing

As a bridging bridge between prepress and printing, proofing plays a very important role in printing. It is the standard for controlling the quality of prepress and printing, as well as the basis for implementing color management. In the digital workflow, accurate reproduction of colors is the key to achieving a soft screen and digital proofing. The cooperation of screen soft proofing and digital proofing is now an indispensable part of most companies' prepress workflow.

Digital proofing technology is a popular proofing method. It completely realizes digital control. Compared with traditional proofing, it has changed the previous complex printing production process, reduced production costs, shortened the production cycle, and improved the quality of plate making and printing. Stability, enabling customers to sign ahead of time, signing faster, simpler and more accurate. Screen soft proofing as an emerging proofing method not only has the advantages of digital proofing, but also has the following features compared to digital proofing.

(1) Predict the print output directly on the screen and realize "What you see is what you get."
(2) Provides a platform for direct communication and communication with customers.
(3) There is no need to repeatedly practise physical samples, saving time and material consumption.
(4) Increased work efficiency and better control of quality.
(5) More advantages in remote proofing.

Years of experience show that soft proofing can be very accurate if all equipment in the production process is properly characterized and standard light sources are strictly used. However, soft proofing lacks the necessary lightness and durability, it cannot be evaluated under different lighting conditions, and it does not really exist like a physical sample. Although the soft proofing system of professional-grade displays has quality assurance, ordinary monitors on ordinary computers still cannot meet the quality requirements for soft proofing, which hinders the popularization of soft proofing technology.

(D) Experience

Yachang's products are mostly high-end fine prints. Most of the original manuscripts are high-grade pictures. The color quality of the pictures determines the success or failure of the entire picture book. Therefore, each page of the high-end album usually needs to be modified several times in the production process. Obviously, Existing mature digital proofing technology can also meet the requirements of users. However, in order to pursue speed, quality stability and cost effectiveness, we still introduce soft proofing. The drafting technician can compare and modify the adjusted images and originals at any time. It not only guarantees speed and quality, but also saves the cost of repeatedly playing digital samples. In addition, in order to maximize customer service, the image production department often needs to change the design at any time according to the customer's request. This situation also requires screen soft proofing so that it can respond to customers' needs in a timely manner.

There are still many customers who have neglected proofing in order to save money. This has virtually increased the probability of mistakes and the cost of proofing is negligible. If the customer really does not need proofing, we must attach great importance to it and carefully check and check the soft proofing. We should not only consider the interests of the company, but also consider the company's reputation and the relationship with the customer.

In addition, establishing a good cooperation relationship with various suppliers of soft proofing is also the key to success and benefit in the application of soft proofing technology!

(Author/Jiang Xianhu Beijing Yachang Color Printing Co., Ltd.)
Sources of Information / Printing Technology 2005, 10 (Publishing and Commercial Printing)