By: Erik Vlietinck
Tue, February 26, 2008 - 9:12:00

Integrated colour control across all devices --monitors, scanners, halftone and inkjet proofers, and digital and conventional presses-- is going to be achievable using one software solution across the entire production environment: KODAK COLORFLOW Software. Kodak announced that it will launch the new COLORFLOW Software solution at drupa 2008. Although the complete device chain will not be covered in the very first version (the focus will first be on output devices), the news is important, especially so as KODAK COLORFLOW will have a broader range of capabilities than any competing product currently on the market.

COLORFLOW Software tackles the core issues that plague the design, production and delivery of colour in the graphic arts marketplace; the ability to achieve a reliable colour match from the original electronic file all the way through the production process to the final output on both digital and conventional presses.

COLORFLOW Software enables print professionals to reduce costs by helping ensure that critical colour control elements—curves, profiles, and spot recipes—are used together correctly, and by reducing the number of press runs for setting up colour as well as reducing training needs. According to Thierry Callot, Product Marketing Manager EAMER, Portal and Color Solutions at KODAK, COLORFLOW’s history is at the basis of why KODAK is convinced this new product to be superior to anything else in the market. “When we founded the KODAK Graphics Communications Group, six companies merged, each with its own set of colour management tools. We ended up with fourteen tools in all. We kept the best features and bundled those in one solution: COLORFLOW,” he said.

PRINERGY Integration

KODAK partly did this because it hasn’t got the means to develop fourteen different tools, of which some were only available for Windows and others only for the Mac, while all of them had different interfaces. But KODAK also wants to compete with X-Rite solutions like MonacoProfiler and ProfileMaker Pro. While they do partner with X-Rite in the area of measurement devices, the colour management solutions are open to competition.

“KODAK COLORFLOW is comparable to ProfileMaker Pro but it can do more,” said Callot. “The basic product will integrate with the PRINERGY Workflow System, and even this basic product will do more than the competition.” KODAK COLORFLOW therefore should allow users to do more than creating and editing ICC profiles. Except for its PRINERGY integration, it will not force users to comply with standards. It will automatically adapt the profile of proofers when the user changes the output curve of the printing press.

Optionally, when using MatchPrint technology, COLORFLOW will auto-edit a profile based on adjustments made on a reference image on the monitor. “And finally, and also optional, we will be able to deliver an ink saving / optimization module with COLORFLOW,” according to Callot. COLORFLOW Software will be available both as a standalone product, as well as an integrated solution within KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System Version 5.0, which will also be introduced at drupa.

Fully integrated with the KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System, COLORFLOW Software will provide complete colour management through automated communication, control, and tracking of complex PDF pages. COLORFLOW Software’s one step curve and profile creation can characterize an output device using a single print run, calibrating the output to a desired colour response. In this single print run, COLORFLOW Software can generate calibration curves, spot colour recipes, ICC profiles and comprehensive print condition reports.

Ink Saving

COLORFLOW Software will enhance the KODAK SPOTLESS Printing Solution with improved spot colour recipes and accurate n-colour profiles for image separation. Furthermore, COLORFLOW Software can use colorimetric information to build curves that optimize colour and gray balance, providing more uniform colour reproduction across devices.

COLORFLOW Software utilizes Smart DeviceLink technology to create device links for applications such as proofing, press stabilization and ink savings. COLORFLOW Software will be using open standard formats and will work with both Kodak and non-Kodak Systems. Kodak fully endorses the rigorous ISO 12647 printing and ISO 10128 printing system standardization recommendations, as well as supports the international PDF/X data exchange formats (and associated ICC standards), as well as the JDF job control specifications.

It will provide a completely integrated solution to a problem that now can only be addressed by fragmented tool suites.