Proofing to Copier/Laser Printer?

[Hopkins Printing]

Is anyone proofing jobs to a color copier or color laser printer? We are looking to try this for proofing certain types of jobs (11x17 folded to 8.5x11 books would be a common example) needing a digital dylux (not contract color). The goal is to reduce cost and produce the proof faster.

If you are doing this, here are some questions:

1. Which make/model of printer/copier are you using?
2. What software or workflow system are you using to send the data to it?
3. How do you handle perfecting jobs on this device?
4. Up to what size of paper does the printer/copier handle?
5. What is the maximum image area of the paper?

Thank you!
Jon Morgan
Hopkins Printing

 

[juergenroesch]

Hi Jon,
many office level color laser printers support the use of ICC profiles. So often you do not need a special application which keeps your workflow slim and easy. Also the front end units for photo copier style color printers (e.g. a Fiery unit) support color managemen settings.

If properly set, either of them can do a great job in getting your colors very close and you wouldn't have to bother with an expensive add-on which would have to be fitted into your workflow and might interfere with the often command driven (via PostScript PPD) copies, duplexing, imposing or perfecting options.

This should get you quite close - as you mentioned, you're not looking for contract color. Spot colors might not be as accurate, but again that can depend.
So it is in my opinion worth checking your color laser supplier to get in touch with a color expert - so they have one. If you notice they only want to sell office printers and have no idea what you're talking about in respect to color, change the supplier as they might not be able to fulfill your requirements.

You might even have to get in touch with the manufacturer if they can recommend you someone local who knows about setting the printer of your choice up for color reliable output.

The result should look quite pleasing, but expect wider variations than would be acceptable for proofing.

Juergen