inkjet proofing

[ar17]

i'm looking at replacing my epson 9800 for my inkjet contract proofing. i use efi and gmg rip for the two proofers... please help me decide what is the best inkjet prooofer available today... i proof pdf and 1bit tif format for my contract proof... thanks

 

[ansoft]

I have Epson 9900 with spectroproofer. The best in the class. It is driver by Labproof of Screen Dainippon. Labproof is true ORIS. The inks are really beautifull. I use Kodak Matchprint 240P and 190P paper for offset proofing. Really nice.

 

[Al Ferrari]

Following good practice, most of us have specially built profiles for the specific ink, paper, proofer combination. But what is the best way to go about selecting the paper choice "setting" when the paper to be profiled is not one of those available from the printer manufacturer?

Al Ferrari

 

[csawatzki]

Epson 9900

Epson 9900

I agree on the 9900, however I go without the built in spectro.

Only reason being, if you use a spectro for anything else doing with your G7, other proofing, etc, I like for it to be read in by the same spectro. Takes on possible variable out of the equation.

Good luck, and happy proofing.

 

[michaelejahn]

Replace - or change to a different marking engine ?

Replace - or change to a different marking engine ?

i'm looking at replacing my epson 9800 for my inkjet contract proofing. i use efi and gmg rip for the two proofers... please help me decide what is the best inkjet prooofer available today... i proof pdf and 1bit tif format for my contract proof... thanks

We find that - if you are interested in Proofing Pantone colors - the EPSON 9700 offers the O and G and enables customers to simulate them - not sure why you would need to replace the 9800 - is is old and wore out, why not get a new one - or are you unhappy with this for some reason ?

We sell Star Proof to customers who need to proof 1 bit screened TIFF files.

I also suggest you go without the built in Spectro - besides the logistics of "how can i measure my press sheet with the same device, the device itself is not on par with better instruments from x-rite - lets say, the i1iSis with Optical Brightening Compensation (OBC) from x-rite

X-Rite: Get exactly the color you need, every time, anywhere in the world.

to Al Ferrari's question;

"But what is the best way to go about selecting the paper choice "setting" when the paper to be profiled is not one of those available from the printer manufacturer?"

You measure your paper and find an EPSON paper that you can select that has a similar LAB value I suppose - or if this is some very exotic paper ( like, if it is bright green, for example ) well, you will need to create a custom profile and your proofing application would need to be a able to select and process through that...

Star Proof enables this.

Compose Color Blog

Hope this helps.

 

[TerryWyse]

Following good practice, most of us have specially built profiles for the specific ink, paper, proofer combination. But what is the best way to go about selecting the paper choice "setting" when the paper to be profiled is not one of those available from the printer manufacturer?

It sounds like referring to profiling using "driver" media settings. With the typical RGB OS-level driver from the manufacturer, you're stuck with their preset media choices which control total ink, tone distribution, etc. Best you can do in that case is simply test or profile 3-4 likely media candidates that would be a close match for your 3rd party media and see what comes of it. Sometimes the media manufacturer will even recommend a media preset to use although these recommendations can't always be trusted.

When you're talking RIPs like EFI, ORIS, GMG, ColorBurst, et al, most of these give you the ability to start completely from scratch in determining ink limits and tone distribution. Point is, you're not bound by media presets like you are with a driver. Some of these RIPs make it simple to calibrate and profile unknown or 3rd party media while others force you to go a bit "under the hood" so-to-speak to customize media settings.

To the original poster's question....it would appear that Epson has raised the bar once again with the new 7900/9900 printers...but be aware that the choice of what's driving the printer is at least as critical in my opinion. Particularly with these "extra ink" printers that usually have RGB inks or variations of these inks, it's critical how the RIP blends these extra inks into the normal CMYK and their light ink variants. It's non-trivial and most RIP vendors will not offer you direct control over the extra ink channels.

Regards,
Terry