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rande · #1 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 05:32 PM

I wonder if someone can help me with something?
One of our biggest client is move to Gracol 7 color man. compliant.
I'm not a color expert. Just found out today. This sounds like a major change. Lots of money. Do we need to change?
If we change how will that effect other clients.
finger printing and densitometers are't cheap. I'm thinking we'll need someone to come in and set us up. Wondering how long would it take to get going.
Any help would be appreciated.

thanks
rande

stargate · #2 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007, 11:34 AM

need more info. what equipment? presses? inkjets? what rip? etc.

rande · #3 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 08:04 AM

Screen Plate Rite 8100 w/ Trueflow 3.12 rip
Epson 10.6 w/ Dupont Croma Pro
Heidelberg CDL and 102

thanks

macdevin · #4 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 08:44 AM

Gracol 7 or G7 is not color management.

Please see GRACoL Definitions

More then likely it's not going to be major change.
Gracol 7 is more about controlling the Grey and printing to certain TID.

This is a WIN for all printers and something that you need to do.

Devin

stargate · #5 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 10:03 AM

Making all your devices to conform to G7 is lots of work that you will have to hire some color consultants to do. Basically there two ways to do it. 1) Conventional. There is a certain process: make plates linear, print on the press, measure, make adjustment curves, makes plates again, print on the press again to confirm. I am not going into details. This is the short version of making press G7 if nothing would go wrong. On Epson you would get G7 data set as your target and you would generate color profile to match it. I am not sure if Chromanet is iterative rip (easier) or not.

2) not conventional. Lot of color pros would scream at me for this. Anyway, you could just print as you print and color adjust all your output files before they go to color rip or plate matching G7. There are solutions that can do that like gmg ColorServer or CGS PressMatcher. This way you can print G7 without going through "normal" G7 process.

Both solutions will cost you at least 15-20K but with buying software that will color adjust to G7 you are getting something permanent (software license, dongle, printer licenses). With conventional G7 - you are paying for someone knowledge and time. Once this person leaves and someone will invent G8 or G9 - you will have to hire him/her again. Hopefully with software you will learn the software and match G8, G9 or whatever yourself when there is a need...

Do research and do it...

I wish we all would confirm to some standards in USA as European folks do. Maybe this will be G7?

clod · #6 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 12:01 PM

Stargate briefly outlined two alternatives, and though I agree that #2 is certainly doable, if your going to be color adjusting your output files to emulate G7 on a given press condition, you'd need to have characterized that press condition for it to work properly, so you'd still need to go through a finger printing process, G7 or otherwise, if you hadn't already. But the device-link approach can be done quite effectively. I wouldn't necessarily call this an easier route, as there can be a lot of bumps along this path as well, but it certainly can be a flexable approach A benefit of utilizing the G7 methodology is that by targeting a neutral print density curve for calbration and process control, your aiming for more unambiguous metric than solid density and dot gain, and hence process control press-side can be more meaningful.

Further, IMO G7 implementation doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. If you take time to learn the methodology, its actually an intutive process. What it would ultimately end up costing the company would depend on consumable and labor costs, but a compentent color geek/pressman can make it work on a budget.

UbarW · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2007, 09:23 PM

To me, the more interesting question on color management involves getting seperate plants to have consistant color. Seems like the color server might be helpful on that...

Say you want to have two plants split a single job, and have color be consistant...

stargate · #8 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 03:46 AM

Yes. ColorServer would be great for that. But you would have also another advantage. gmg has build in remote proofing capabilities for important customers and for remote plants. Basically you can print to remote printer from your office. Not to mention that you can remotely re-calibrate (linearize) off site printer also. Clod has this implemented really well.

rande · #9 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 09:55 AM

Actually we don't do alot for this client. Do we need to change?
This client gets their expensive proofs done somewhere else and the press needs to hit those. With their transition will the press beable to match the proofs?
thanks

ArtproPro · #10 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 07:21 AM

I think it would be a good investment for the future. We are switching to Gracol 7 today and a few of our clients are switching over in the near future as well. It just seems like the industry is moving towards this standard. We did most of the work internally because we have a few gifted people that work here and are used to dealing with the pitfalls of color management and calibration but we did have to hire a color consultant for 5 hours to audit our G7 move. So my advice would be hire a color guy and have him set you up. Be careful who you hire though. If you go to the Gracol website I believe there is a list of Gracol certified experts around the united states. Hire one of them. GOOD LUCK!!!!