User manual LACIE 724 LCD MONITOR HOOD CALIBRATION SOFTWARE COLORIMETER

[. . . ] In this process, the responsibility of printout quality rests in the hands, eyes, and skills of the printing company. Original LaCie 724 LCD Monitor Camera Monitor Camera Proofer Press Pr Print result P Page 2 PrOOFiNG: tO eNSure CONSiSteNCy thrOuGhOut the PriNtiNG PrOCeSS In general, proofing consists of an agreement between the customer and printer to go to press only once a shared document, called a proof, is created and approved. The proof is considered representative of the desired end result, and can be used as a reference to evaluate the printed output. If the final product of the printing process is close enough to the proof, it is deemed contractually acceptable. On the other hand, if significant discrepancies exist between the prints and the proof, it is the printer's responsibility to resolve them. [. . . ] This is the traditional method for proofing, also called hard proofing or contract proofing, because the proof serves as a contractual reference and because it most often takes the form of a tangible, laminate proof or a high-end digital proof considered good enough to accurately predict color from the press. Page 3 LaCie White Paper: Soft Proofing SOFt PrOOFiNG VS. hard PrOOFiNG Unfortunately, the method described above is frequently inconvenient: printers may be in one or several remote locations, hard proofing costs may be too high, or production time may be too tight to allow for a hard proof. However, an alternative proofing method, called soft proofing, has recently appeared, which offers a financially superior alternative to the more expensive and time-consuming hard proofing. The major difference between soft proofing and hard proofing is that in the former, the reference document is never printed; it is only displayed on a computer monitor. In this case, print accuracy is controlled by comparing it with the document displayed on the monitor. Since it is not a printed, tangible proof which is used as reference, but an electronic, virtual document, this method is commonly called soft proofing or virtual proofing. SOFt PrOOFiNG BeNeFitS These advantages deliver better client satisfaction, predictability and consistency. Shorter turn-around times The consistency, predictability, and reliability of high-end monitors combined with soft proofing systems reduce the number of required proofs and accelerate processes. Higher return on investment Monitor profiling can be implemented with relatively low costs, as recommended systems prices have dropped. Ease of use Thanks to the increased popularity and ease of use of color management and calibration systems, it is no longer necessary to employ a color management specialist to implement them. It is used to render the color of the target device (typically the press) on the LCD display. A soft proofing profile can be created from a digital proofing device or from the press. The most accurate method is to profile the press, and because there are more variables in this process, more rigorous quality control procedures are required. Using measurement and calibration to achieve a repeatable and consistent process ensures the accuracy of a profile created from a press run. This requires measuring plates, using the same ink set and running to an established printing guideline (such as SWOP or GRACoL) in the pressroom. The following features are key points to consider when selecting a suitable display. Page 6 Gamut Or COLOr raNGe Most monitors can't actually reproduce all the colors that a good press can print. However, a large gamut monitor like the LaCie 500/700 Series will offer the gamut range required by most printer profiles, such as ISO Coated. y 0. 8 0. 6 0. 4 Gamut Compression 0. 2 0 0. 2 0. 4 0. 6 0. 8 x y 0. 8 ShadOW detaiLS The monitor's LUT (look-up table) determines how many levels of color are available per pixel. With 14-bit per channel, the LaCie 724 and 730 offer the highest range available. 0. 6 0. 4 0. 2 0 0. 2 0. 4 0. 6 0. 8 x Banding can be caused by large steps in monitor color response curves. 14-bit gamma correction virtually eliminates banding by finely adjusting color transitions. VieWiNG aNGLeS Color and contrast can appear to vary considerably as you move off-axis on some screens. These are side effects of the type of screen technology that is used in the LCD panel. [. . . ] These are side effects of the type of screen technology that is used in the LCD panel. LaCie monitors offer industry-leading 178°/178° viewing angles. BriGhtNeSS To be suitable for soft proofing, an LCD monitor should be capable to display relatively high luminance levels (120 cd/m² or more). All LaCie monitors provide these levels without limitation. Page 7 LaCie White Paper: Soft Proofing a mONitOr CaLiBratiON SOLutiON (deViCe + SOFtWare) In addition to a monitor, hardware requirements also include a colorimeter. Professional displays such as LaCie monitors support hardware calibration. [. . . ]