Re: Generic SWOP profile or press profile?
You need a custom proofer profile to get best color, and can use a standards-based profile for the press simulation.
In your proofing rip, you'd set the standard/specification profile for the type of paper you're actually going to be printing the final job on (such as GRACoL2006_Coated1v2 in U.S., or ISOcoatedv2 in Europe, if printing on #1 gloss coated stock or #2 matte stock, and ISOuncoated if printing on #4 uncoated stock, and for paper types # 3 & 5 there are new profiles SWOP2006_Coated3v2 and SWOP2006_Coated5v2) as source in your proofing rip (this is the final output you want to match on your proof). Then you would set your destination profile (where the job is actually getting sent to right now, in this case your proofer) in your proofing rip to your proofer's custom profile.
I have two proofers, and one I use Absolute Colorimetric Intent to get the best match (quality proof on Epson 7600), but I have an older imposition proofer with different paper and inks (Sherpa2) that I must use Relative Colorimetric Intent to not get visible dots on paper that I don't want (this proofer doesn't have as many nozzles or as small droplets as the Epson 7600). When I use GRACoL2006_Coated1v2 for proofing on the proofers, there is not much difference at all no matter whether using Relative Colorimetric or Absolute Colorimetric (although if you have small enough droplets you should use Absolute Colorimetric Intent, as long as you don't get visible dots on paper where paper is simulated).
The presses would be set up via G7 method if in U.S., or by TVI method if in Europe. Once presses set up to the standard, the standard profiles can be used for proofing. The plates may be different for the different presses. Some may have different inherent dot gain so one may need a different set of curves than another one to get to the standard.
BTW, the official GRACoL2006 and SWOP 2006 profiles are freely downloadable from
www.gracol.org. The ISOcoatedv2 and ISOuncoated profiles are freely downloadable from
www.eci.org. As we all got on the same page, things get easier for us all.
Don