CrossXColor News

RHEINE, GERMANY — In January 2020, FOGRA Research Institute for Media Technologies organized and hosted its second annual multicolor comparison test conducted from April to October 2019. Along with several other color management providers, ColorLogic GmbH tested their solutions using actual print samples and a controlled offset printing process. ColorLogic opted to participate in all seven categories and emerged with excellent results. The categories included Spot Color Overprint Prediction, PDF Integrity, 7 Color Characterization & Separation, Proofing, Color Prediction with Limited Input, Ink Replacement, and Color Prediction with Inking Variation.

Multicolor results using ColorLogic software

The team at ColorLogic was thrilled with their performance on the multicolor comparison test. “We spent a lot of effort in the past months, especially on optimizing and extending our multicolor technology in all our products,” states Thorsten Braun, ColorLogic’s Chief Technical Director. “This can also be seen in our outstanding performance in the use-case covering color prediction. Furthermore, it also in the integration of industry standards for multicolor, such as support for CxF/X-4.”

ColorLogic CEO, Barbara Braun-Metz adds,“I think it is also important to point out that we ran the test using our end-user products, ColorAnt, CoPrA, and ZePrA. These weren’t lab results or a fine-tuned file that we submitted. This means that every ColorLogic user is capable of achieving the same results.” Over the next few months, ColorLogic plans to upload short video clips to their YouTube channel to show how these tests were conducted.

PDF results

ColorLogic was able to retain the vector integrity when converting spot colors and flattening the PDF sample file. All other participants except one, had to rasterize the PDF file. Keeping the vectors is by far more complicated to achieve and allows for last minute editing and retaining of text. ColorLogic applications also created the smallest file size, which is crucial for efficient performance in production.

New proofing feature

The main highlight was the new proofing feature in the soon-to-be-released ZePrA 8 Smart Color Server that supports the CxF/X-4 standard. It delivered outstanding results and was able to incorporate the FOGRA Multicolor media wedge. In addition, ColorLogic lead the forum using their color profiler, CoPrA 6, by providing the only solution that was capable of iterating multicolor data.

Another important functionality of spectral overprinting technologies for multicolor and CMYK production is the ability to update available characterization data due to changed ink (solid coloration). In the use-cases on exchanging colors in a characterization data set, the Edit Primary tool in ColorAnt 6 delivered the best results. Just by using this tool, every user can produce the same results on the same level.

In conclusion

This second annual FOGRA Multicolor Forum not only provided a platform for testing and comparisons of various solutions, but it also showed which areas multicolor technology has improved. While FOGRA stated at the conclusion of the first event in 2018,“multicolor technology has left its infancy,” they now came to the conclusion that,”multicolor technology has mastered adolescence.” Overall, the industry continues with their effort on optimization. Most notably is the communication of ECG measurements and characterization data as well as developing an objective metric for ECG separations.

“ColorLogic is grateful for the opportunity to test our technology at the FOGRA Multicolor Forum. This confirms years of hard work and effort in creating the best color management solution. Our strengths shined. It also helps us to further improve our solutions to meet the changing market demand, and to make our user experience the best it can be, all while contributing to progress of the industry’s technology,” states Barbara Braun-Metz.

For details and test results please refer to the FOGRA website.

For more information

About FOGRA: The objective of FOGRA Research Institute for Media Technologies is to promote print engineering and its future-oriented technologies in the fields of research and development, and to enable the printing industry to utilize the results of this activity.