KODAK Approval NX Color Digital Proofing Technology Innovation

Kodak Graphic Technology Group’s Kodak Poly Light’s Approval NX color digital proofing technology has been available for some time. This internationally leading technology has caused a strong response in the global market. So far, with the characteristics of halftone true dot output, real material printing, and dot density control, it is the industry's high-end direct digital color proofing program (DDCP). The Approval Proofing System has sold more than 1,300 units worldwide and has been widely used in various fields such as packaging processing and commercial printing. It has become the indispensable standard for direct digital color proofing in digital workflows.

At the same time, Approval NX color digital proofing technology has high-precision, high-stability color correction capabilities, making it possible to develop new business development strategies with DDCP as the core.

At present, domestic plate-making companies, printing companies, advertising agencies, etc. are actively promoting color standardization in digital workflows. Therefore, many customers are considering introducing the Approval NX proofing system. Due to its ability to provide high-precision color matching and stable color quality, Approval NX has been evaluated as a high-confidence proofing system in the industry. Approval The NX Proofing System adopts the concept of an open system and is advancing the establishment of interfaces with major prepress systems such as Sai Angel and Heidelberg. Moreover, the Approval proofing system can accurately represent spot colors and metallic colors, and is therefore widely used in the packaging industry for making contract proofing.

Kodak's Approval NX digital halftone color proofing system uses Rapid Recipe color matching technology, which brings the performance of the Approval thermal halftone color proofing product line to unprecedented heights. As the new proofing system of the Approval family, it brings new levels of flexibility, productivity and performance. It accurately simulates various production processes; accurately reproduces millions of beautiful spot colors, special colors, blend colors, and brand-specific colors, including glossy metallic colors; strictly controls density; in the field of packaging and commercial printing To achieve high-quality printing, the accuracy of the proofs can be comparable to that of printing; the need to print proofs is eliminated; faster than the previous proofing system.

Rapid Recipe color matching technology is a great achievement of Kodak Poly Lighting in digital proofing. In spot color proofing, Kodak's Approval NX system's Rapid Recipe color matching technology is 45%~55% faster than the current standard time, while maintaining the same high quality and accuracy. At the same time, it also broke through the traditional four-color simulation of four-color proofing methods, can accurately simulate the actual printing process and fully consider the specific circumstances of the printing materials. For example, in the case of packaging proofing, Rapid Recipe color matching technology replaces the black in the traditional four-color printing with blue, so that the proofs produced are closer to the actual effect of the packaging printing.

With Rapid Recipe color matching technology, Kodak's Approval NX proofing system can better simulate the actual color gamut of packaging processing and commercial printing, so its proofing effect is more accurate and can better meet the needs of users.

Photochemical proofing and Approval proofing are very different in quality

In Japan, Wuhaoyatang Co., Ltd. is a professional manufacturer of packaging products designing from CAD modeling and design to the whole process of sample production. They introduced the Approval proofing system and abandoned the use of the Rainbow sublimation photochemical proofing system for many years. Platform proofing system. As a managing director of the company, Mr. Takeshi commented on the Approval NX system: “In the production of packaging samples, the similar color proofing proofing system and the printed proof proofing system can be said to be a world of difference in quality. ."

Nine years ago, this company established a direct business relationship with the home appliance giant S Company and took charge of the packaging business of S Company, whose main business is liquid crystal displays, tape recorders, video recorders, and MD. The content of the cooperation is not only plate making, but also Also includes the packaging design. However, after a period of use, they found that "color proofs using photochemical proofing systems and inkjet proofing systems cannot be standardized." The packaging molding samples submitted to S company involved five departments: the planning department, the exterior design department, the interior design department, and the packaging design department creative design company. Approval proofing systems must be approved by the same department for forming and packaging samples. "Basically, only one color-formed sample can be obtained, and all these departments can be approved." Moreover, the Approval NX proofing system also greatly shortens the preparation time for the packaging design of molded samples.

After introducing the Approval NX proofing system, the company also developed a business plan to provide remote proofing services using the Approval NX proofing system. Minister of Commerce Nakano Yukie said: "Because there is no facility for large-data-volume file transfer, it is still somewhat early to say that remote proofing services through Approval are still early. However, once a network system capable of transmitting 100-megabyte files in real time is available. It will be easy to establish remote proofing using Approval, and we will start the remote proofing service immediately.”

At present, taking into account the cost issue, many Japanese packaging plates and printing are seeking to produce overseas, while Japanese companies have become a business department that is only responsible for receiving orders. In this form, the company is also actively responding by transmitting the standard color data of the Approval NX proofing system to overseas factories, realizing on-site output proofing, and starting to conceive it as a link in packaging production data management.

The approval proofing system is the cornerstone of the introduction of computer-to-plate technology

The color management of product packaging is at the digital internalization production center, which is borne by the Approval proofing system and the corresponding Recipe color system.

Otsuka Packaging Co., Ltd. has been responsible for the packaging and printing of the main products of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., and its business volume is considerable. The average monthly order volume reached 1100, and the printing plate usage reached 3300 pieces. Although they have a complete set of processing lines, but with the tendency of multiple types, small batches, and short lead times for cosmetics boxes and commercial prints to be increasingly exposed, the current pattern of outsourcing and proofing can no longer accommodate changes in the market. The introduction of proofing into internal production has become an urgent issue to be resolved.” Mr. Qing Mu, assistant to the company’s production minister, said: “The shift from 100% film production to internalized production has brought about the problem of correction printing. Everyone discussed whether it was the introduction of platform proofers, the use of printers for proofing, or the continuation of outsourced proofing, and the opinions were not uniform. At this time, some people proposed the use of direct digital color proofing (DDCP) methods, proofing and printing with platform proofers. Compared with machine proofing, direct digital color proofing can save time and money in waste, and the quality and stability are also very good.Based on these considerations, the decision was made not to adopt the traditional proofing printing method, but to use direct digital color proofing. Method (DDCP)."

As a result, Otsuka introduced the Approval NX proofing system. The introduction of the Approval NX proofing system actually paves the way for the use of computer-to-plate technology in the future, and it will also become the core device after the database is built.

Previously, the type and quantity of packaging printing that we were responsible for from Otsuka Co., Ltd. is a huge number and is currently preserved in the form of photographic film. For example, changes in the contents of the pharmaceutical packaging box can only be modified on the film. After several modifications, the text quality of the film will decline.

Now, taking advantage of the introduction of digital systems including the Approval proofing system, the company is promoting the digitization of photo films centered on Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group's products. This prevents the deterioration of the quality of the text caused by the change of the text. Shorten change modification time, and it is easier to use communication methods to confirm changes. Of course, the final confirmation is still performed using proofs output by the Approval proofing system. "It is also asserted that the introduction of direct platemaking technology with the ultimate goal of improving filmless production and printing plates, and improving quality, has reached the point where "it is impossible to consider without an Approval system for proofing."