The Big Picture - June/July 2014 - (Page F14)

FOCUS CANON SOLUTIONS AMERICA www.csa.canon.com Leveraging Color Management And Workflow Color management and workflow have been talked about for a long time in this marketplace, but it's amazing how many shops are getting by without embracing all the benefits they bring. Quite simply, the purpose of color management is essentially to identify a device's color behavior in a device-independent color space. As a result, you know what you're going to get and you get what you expect - today, tomorrow, and next year. Otherwise, when the device, ink, media, operator, or RIP version changes, so does the color and then what? A color-managed workflow is the solution. ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH? WORKFLOW/COLOR MANAGEMENT Many devices now provide software and profiles that some consider "good enough" to get by. So, if many shops are indeed getting by without understanding color management or workflow very well, then why do we need to keep discussing this? The answer is simple: They can continue to be just "good enough" - or, instead, they can take control of it, maintain it, master it, and impress their customers. There's an increasing need to understand the importance of color management and workflow. The definition of a "print provider" continues to blur with the convergence of new and existing printing technologies, new substrates, and new applications. What were once strictly commercial printers, screen printers, sign shops or reprographers, etc. may now be producing graphics across all these market segments. And they're doing so on a range of inkjet technologies - UV, aqueous, solvent, and latex - that can all be managed with software RIPs. Implementing new print technologies also requires synchronizing them with your existing processes and capabilities; it's typically not just a matter of linearizing or calibrating the devices. The ability to bring in new media and applications that customers demand will help further set you apart from those "good enough" print service providers. A shop that can consistently reproduce a brand owner's colors across multiple 14 FOCUS 2014 devices and locations - and across a range of applications and over a period of time - provides you with the opportunity to not only garner that business but also retain that business. THE COLOR OF MONEY The payback in investing in color management and workflow is often overlooked, but the benefits are many, including: less re-dos, less waste, and faster turnarounds. A company-wide, standardized training program and workflow process can also greatly alleviate the risk a business owner and a company reputation might face when being at the mercy of a single employee who knows how to "make it work." Both the training and the process need to involve everyone, so that if and when that one person leaves, your business is not adversely affected. To be a quality shop, expect to obtain one or more color-measurement devices, a workflow solution (not just a collection of different RIPS and a network), and very importantly, the proper training to bring it all together. A RIP and color-managed workflow with enough duplication to handle all of the shop's volume and devices is critical. Despite the accuracy of the devices we measure color with (calibration needs to be current on these as well), the accuracy of the printing device, and the care taken by the printer operator, the customer ultimately decides if a print looks right. This is often a very subjective process and it's where the PSP can provide value by demonstrating consistent, accurate results throughout the entire production process. You can then position your company to educate your customers on how to properly set up files for your workflow, ensuring that the best results are achieved. Canon Solutions America offers a full range of products and services including the award-winning Océ Arizona Series UV flatbed printers, cutting solutions by Zünd, and Onyx Thrive RIP software to pull it all together, plus highly skilled, G7-certified industry veterans that can provide comprehensive onsite training on endto-end workflow, color management, and applications. http://www.csa.canon.com http://www.csa.canon.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Big Picture - June/July 2014

The Big Picture - June/July 2014
Contents
InSight
Wide Angle
Up Front
Graphics on the Go
Flavorful Interiors
Step-by-Step: Deer Caught in the Spotlight
Stay Sharp with Cutters and Routers
R+D
Explorer

The Big Picture - June/July 2014