Best Proofing (Printer) Machine for offset

[aldrinmckie]

Can anybody suggest or recommend the best printer for proofing that would match our offset machines. Can also be calibrated with our monitors (LCD)

[mazengh]

it's a combination of paper, plotter, and rip...
for example, efi rip with espon 9800 and paper that is has profiles in efi.
or onyx rip with hp Z6100 and hp paper that is profiled already...

[Ian Mackenzie]

That's both a tough and easy question.

It's easy because Canon, HP and Epson printers are all so good and CGS, EFI and GMG RIPs are also good. Any combo of these will work for you as they do for thousand s of companies globally every day.

It's tough because matching your offset presses becomes an issue of training and implementation and not technical ability of the printer. All recent model printers can match your press if you know how to do it.

Of course, you can never go wrong with an Epson printer - much to the chagrin of the industry. HP Vivera inks are good as well. Canon....well, they have never focused on proofing.

What is your CTP workflow?
Do you have a good reseller locally?
Are there good consultants to work with? They can do the installation, the press matching and help you with a recommendation, too.

As for your monitors....that's also an issue of profiling. You are trying to match an RGB monitor to a CMYK printer. Your consultant or vendor can help you with the right spectro and software.

[stargate]

It really depends how much you would like to spend. The more you spend the more controls you will get. Even something like this:

Veroproof.com

or even super cheap as this:

ZEDOnet | PrintFab Mac OS X | PrintFab - the Printer Driver RIP for Mac OS X

It may work for you. But do you have any basic linearization with them? Nope.

Step up to ColorBurst rip.

Do you get global visual color matching controls in the rip software even if your proofs are within let say ISO or Gracol2006 specs in ColorBurst? Nope.

For this you would want to step up something like efi. Do you get selective color corrections with efi? Let say, you want deeper, darker, blacker reds. Nope again.

For this you will have to step up to GMG or CGS.

Test, ask for demos and educate yourself.

[prepressing]

The HP Z6100 and Epson 11880 are very nice printers. If you don't a large printer the Epson 9880 is just as good but a bit smaller. Create your digital proofs using the same RIP software that is creating your plates (less chance for error).

[aldrinmckie]

Thank you so much sir, it just that i transferred to this company which is very much downgraded when it come to pre-press department. we are one of the biggest printing company here in Jeddah, but here in prepress dept. we have the most outdated equipment. We are trying to compensate whatever we have, like using G4 machines and forcing to install in it CS4 because our clients right now are using CS4 but the company dont want to buy any G5 or macpro, also our server for our Agfa OLP is 10 years old it doesnt even have a USB port! and also we have printer an epson but also it is already 11 years old and when we are printing 30% black it is printing almost 10%cyan and 10%black! we dont have densitometer, also. By the way i am aldrin a graphic designer for 15 years, Filipino.

[lexobys]

Can anybody suggest or recommend the best printer for proofing that would match our offset machines. Can also be calibrated with our monitors (LCD)

Well Aldrinmckie ... I suggest that you need to have Canon C1 or Canon C1+ for proofing. It is designed by Canon to fulfill the need plus it is also very easy to operate. Where are you at?US? or Asia?

[edwinb]

if your familiar and happy with the epson the new epsonss are very good, reliable and stable
you can probably get a trade in from your local dealer for the old kit
make sure you cost in the rip colour management upgrade

edwin

[prepressing]

The new Epson 7900 and 9900 are nice printers. You can purchase a new RIP from:

Harlequin RIP, Harlequin RIPs, Software RIP, NEW! Harlequin Software RIP Version 8.1

Prices vary depending on the model being purchased. They include color profiles and often you can get a trade-in credit for older software. Media saving is a nice feature on the larger format machines (Epson 11880 for instance).