Screen soft proofing technology has matured

According to the GATF survey, 70% of print buyers will use the screen soft proofing, and the soft proofing of the screen can also help print companies better compete in the competition.


Screen soft proofing fundamentally changed the old workflow and enabled printing companies to provide customers with accurate proofs as quickly as possible via the Internet.

The SWOP certification system has already certified Apple LCD screens and screen proofing software (such as ICS Remote Director, Kodak Matchprint, and Dalim DiALOGUE) according to ISO12464:2004, and has obtained the same softness. These hard-software enable the same sheet to be accurate and can serve as a legally binding agreement. With a proven, proven and stable platform, moderately priced displays and color calibration devices, the screen soft proofing pioneered a new era of digital publishing and printing.

Kodak's research shows that 98.6% of the proofing period is used to send proofs, and only 1.4% is actually proofing. According to Kin WahLam of Time Inc., if the digital workflow can get rid of the hard part of the only disconnect, the whole process will be perfect. The soft proofing of the screen completes the digital workflow, which, in addition to cost savings, also shortens the geographical distance between the printing company and its customers and increases the company's global competitiveness.

Screen soft proofing also makes storage, archiving and retrieval easier. Using media asset management systems can effectively store digital proofs and prevent the destruction of natural factors, and digital proofs are significantly faster to search than traditional documents and search systems.

The screen soft proofing system also supports the workflow of proofing anytime, anywhere. When the key personnel responsible for the approval of proofs travel, they can log in and change the digital proofs at any time just like in the office.

Screen soft proofing is a mature technology in the United States and other European countries, but China is somewhat slow in accepting this new technology. However, as we all know, in the early stages of technology adoption, the higher the risk, the greater the return, and it is heartening that the first users of CTP in China are now among the top 100 Chinese printing companies.

Take Time magazine, one of the most successful users of screen soft proofing. For example, Time magazine used screen soft proofing in many publications in the United States and Asia. Now, they demand that advertisers send films to Time Magazine. , and no longer accept hard proofs, this change is inevitable.

Times magazine handles 1620 proofs every week, and the turnaround time is seven weeks in a row. The total number of proofs handled in a year exceeds 84,000. Time is money. Using the screen soft proofing can save a lot of labor costs. This does not include other costs, such as proofing delivery and exchange expenses. Time magazine is now able to provide its customers with better and faster services, thus shortening the publishing cycle.

Classic case: "Ruili" aiming at the screen soft proofing

The application of CTP has not yet passed, and the soft proofing of the screen has pulled out a new industrial chain, allowing people to agree with this trend again. With the continuous development and maturation of display technology, software color rendering and management functions, and the popularity of file exchange formats such as PDF and network, the screen soft proofing program has entered a mature application stage. As the fashion magazine with the largest circulation in the country, Beijing “Ruili” magazine will take the lead in the partial column of “Ruili Home Design” magazine published by it and adopt a soft proofing program to improve the printing workflow.

In January 2007, in order to make the application of screen soft proofing technology more localized, the China Institute of Printing Science and Technology and the Beijing Institute of Graphic Arts jointly launched the "Screen Soft Proofing Test Project" and recently launched the "Screen Soft Proofing Test Report". . This project was supported by Apple China, Beijing Shengcai Printing Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Hualian Printing Co., Ltd. and Beijing Ruili Magazine.

Li Shuguang, director of vision for Beijing’s Ruili Magazine, said: “As a fashion magazine, “Ruili” needs a very high visual effect, and the advertisers we face are also very demanding on the printing quality. It is the large amount of pictures, the picture has been modified frequently, and sometimes even when the magazine is about to send the printing factory, the latest style of a piece of clothing may have changed. The picture needs to be replaced immediately. After the replacement, the proofs need to be edited to confirm the proofs. In the past, the printing methods were stretched." As the designated platemaking company of the Beijing "Ruili" magazine, Beijing Shengcai Printing & Printing Technology Co., Ltd. has recommended to Beijing "Ruili" magazine for its years of experience in screen soft proofing. Use this technology to shorten the process, increase efficiency, and increase editing time. The Beijing “Ruili” magazine is very interested in this kind of technology that has already been applied abroad, and stated that if it works well, it is expected to be adopted in the publication of Shanghai New Magazine.

From a global point of view, the main issue in the application of screen soft proofing is whether the proofs are trustworthy. During the testing process, the testers mainly started around this issue, conducted comprehensive testing and analysis of the Cinema system monitor, and also tested and evaluated the remote soft proofing software ICS Remote Director, and obtained a large amount of data, based on the test. Data analysis yields 10 conclusions. From these results, we can see that the measured display can reach the degree of closeness to the printing color after the color management. For most printing situations, as long as the use of the monitor can be used to meet the high-quality printing level, the soft proofing of the screen can be satisfied. Requirements.

However, it must be pointed out that the soft proofing of the screen is based on color management. The color management is not only the color management of the monitor, but also must be established on the basis of comprehensive color management. Color management is required for all aspects of printing. Therefore, the color of the entire printing process is uniform and consistent, so as to achieve the result of soft proofing of the screen.

In fact, the screen soft proofing is not merely the concept of what is commonly referred to as “what you see is what you get”. What it brings is a more effective way of communication, dedicated to a more effective process and production management philosophy.