There have been a lot of really exciting developments in ink technology lately. Especially in the last couple of months, a lot of interesting products have surfaced from some of the big manufacturers. Inks today go far beyond your typical CMYK – now we’ve got silver inks, invisible inks, dry inks, clear inks, environmental inks and inks that can produce a wider colour gamut than ever before!

Consumables - inks

Color-Logic Process Metallic Colour System

This system from Color-Logic uses a special formulation of silver ink that, when layered with your regular process CMYK, can create over 250 different metallic colour combinations. Regular silver ink typically doesn’t do well when it is printed together with other inks on top, but the silver from Color-Logic is specially formulated. It is non-leafing, so that aqueous or UV coatings can be added – enhancing the colour underneath rather than dulling it. The silver ink is printed underneath the other process colours.

Many times, when creating brochures, artwork and promotional material, designers request metallic colours directly from a swatch book. However, printers can’t always necessarily reproduce every colour in these books. Using Color-Logic’s system, printers create their own test sheets using their press, their substrates and their inks. This way, designers know with certainty that each metallic colour can be reproduced accurately by the printer.

Kodak’s Red Fluorescing Dry Ink

This red fluorescing ink is brand new technology from Kodak. Designed for the Nexpress, the ink is clear and virtually undetectable to the naked eye. When it is illuminated with UV light, however, it becomes red. Red was chosen because it gives a better signal – blue, for example, might not give enough contrast to clearly see the ink due to paper brighteners.

It is a dry ink, similar to how toner works. It is applied to the substrate, which could be paper or plastic, and it is run through a fuser and pressure roller to bind the ink. Kodak is also working on gloss matching to make the ink imitate the paper’s gloss, ensuring it is even more undetectable. Similar fluorescing processes involving offset inks, liquid toner and inkjet inks don’t seem to fare as well as the dry ink used on the Nexpress. They have a tendency to spread, making detailed images and barcodes difficult or impossible to print.

There are a number of applications for this type of product. Firstly, items like event tickets, prescription pads and drivers’ licenses would benefit from having added measures to authenticate the documents. Secondly, barcodes could be printed using the invisible ink for internal workflows and inventory management to track-and-trace items. Because the Nexpress is a digital device, the fluorescing dry ink printing process can encompass variable data on each piece.

Sun Chemical’s Bio-renewable content inks

Sun Chemical has recently earned accolades for its environmentally sustainable series of inks. Five of the company’s commercial sheetfed inks have achieved the highest average index ratings in the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) bio-renewable content certification (BRC) program.

Among the highly rated inks are SunLit Diamond, SunPak Diamond, SunLit Intense, SunLit Exact and SunLit Express. Each of these received a BRC index of 80, which means that they use an average of 80 percent renewable resources. Typical BRC materials for sheetfed inks include vegetable oils and wood-based resins.

Sometimes, buying “green” products can mean that quality is sacrificed in order to use materials that make them more environmentally responsible. However, the SunLit inks are versatile and high-quality. They set fast, reduce waste print and are compatible with a number of different presses.

INX Digital International’s MLD Triangle Magenta Ink

INX Digital International manufactures ink for wide format and super-wide digital printers. The company recently released a new magenta ink for its MLD Triangle series onto the market. Designed to work with Roland Soljet and VersaCAMM series printers, the Triangle inks are now colour-compatible to OEM inks.

OEM refers to inks that come from the Original Equipment Manufacturer. While there are certain benefits to buying the same brand of ink as your press, price is usually not one of them. This latest development from INX Digital International is especially important in cost-conservative times such as these because the possibility of looking elsewhere for ink could save a lot of money. The Triangle inks can reportedly give a comparable quality and colour gamut – at a much lower cost. The company says that users can save a minimum of 20 percent, in some cases up to 40 percent.

Prior to INX Digital International’s release of the new MLD Magenta, re-profiling was required to capture a larger colour gamut. With the new version, users will not have to re-profile in order to obtain the same colours they were getting with their OEM inks. Triangle inks also come with outdoor durability and ink train warranties as well as comparable service and support that you might find from your press manufacturer. Something to think about!

Xerox’s clear dry ink

Xerox recently launched two new presses: the Colour 800 and 1000. These have an optional fifth clear, dry ink print station. This special ink format allows images and text to be highlighted for visual impact and can also be used to create digital watermarks.

The clear toner can create a different look and feel to the printed sheet. It “punches it up” in terms of trying to accentuate the features of a person or a texture. Frank Romano, professor emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology, even said himself that “the clear, dry ink delivers. It adds vibrancy, quality and value to an application.”

The formulation of the ink itself is similar to other Xerox toners. The unique thing about this process on the Colour 800 and 1000 presses in particular, is there is a fifth toner head that allows you to lay down this clear toner option.

Soft proofing

Soft proofing is a complex and detailed topic. You could fill every page of this magazine with information about it and still not cover everything. Aspects like device profiles, monitor calibration, lighting and so on, all play an important role in this process – but that’s another story for another day. We’re here to discuss the highlights and lowlights of some of the leading soft proofing systems on the market.

There are many different options available out there. While we can’t cover all of them here, we’ll look at three very different programs that each come with their own benefits and drawbacks. Hopefully it will help give you an idea of what is possible, and what you should be looking for if you’re thinking of investing. It all depends on what type of organization you have and what needs must be met. Some of the most important traits to look for are tools like activity and approval reporting, simultaneous viewing, on-screen densitometers and collaboration functionality. As well, of course, cost plays an important role.

There are a couple of systems that we didn’t cover in this article that deserve a mention. Heidelberg’s Prinect Remote Access, Agfa’s Apogee and Dalim’s Dialogue are all good solutions to look into as well. It really depends on what workflow you already have in place, but these three systems have received good press and have come a long way. They’re definitely worth a look if you’re in the market for soft proofing solutions.

With that said, let’s dig in!

Kodak MatchPrint Virtual

Kodak’s MatchPrint Virtual is a complete hardware and software system that is SWOP certified. MatchPrint combines closed-loop colour management, monitor calibration and colour science to provide a controlled viewing environment. CMYK colours are very accurately represented on an RGB display.

The system designates what lighting, specifications and monitors are needed for accurate viewing booth conditions. There are only two monitor vendors that are approved for use, however, either Eizo ColorEdge or Apple Cinema Display. While these are pretty pricey and you will have to calibrate them at least every 24 hours, they are high-quality and do the job. You can easily compare a soft proof with a hard proof.

The MatchPrint Virtual system is a great advantage for companies that already have a pre-existing Kodak workflow because it integrates easily and securely with existing portal products like Insite Prepress Portal or Insite Creative Workflow through Smart Review. While the initial startup cost for the system can be high, there are no monthly fees and charges like others on the market. You can also easily track customer usage and bill them accordingly. Clients can sign off on the final RIPed proof themselves. All in all, the system provides good image quality with a high degree of colour accuracy.

ICS Remote Director

This system from ICS enables viewing of proofs on both Mac and Windows platforms. This standalone software-only solution is SWOP certified, provided you use one of the recommended monitors. Users have a lot of control over the system – you can even choose your specific lighting conditions.

There are some important tools that are included, such as the ability to select your own total ink coverage. Since monitors can’t display the full gamut of colours that can be printed, a gamut stain tool even highlights what you can’t check on the display. After final sign-off, you can also lock the proof. The program will also RIP the PDF, however users don’t have as much control over the RIPing parameters as other systems allow.

In terms of collaboration, one person has control of the proofing and annotation at a time, but other viewers will see what changes have been made. Remote Director has a relatively low startup cost compared to Kodak’s system but, on the other hand, you are billed each time you make a proof.

Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro

Adobe’s Acrobat Connect Pro system is quite unique in terms of the tools it offers, especially when looking at collaboration. Video and audio conferencing is possible, and users can take control over the screen with permission from the host. The desktop, open windows and even applications can be shared with other participants. (It is important to note though, that unshared windows can obstruct other users’ views). Meetings can also be recorded for future reference.

The layout of the program is very customizable. There is a whiteboard area that allows for freehand drawing and annotations that can be quite handy. Users can also add a digital signature, making the final proof a certified PDF.

Each proofing meeting in Acrobat Connect does cost money, however. You can be charged on a per-minute basis or get an unlimited package for a monthly fee. Pay-as-you-go plans are also available. Make sure you get the pro version because although it is pricier, the regular system doesn’t include tools like meeting recording or customizable layouts. Adobe’s Acrobat Connect Pro is a good option for businesses that need a Web meeting room and would take advantage of the program’s webcam support.