Soon after the launch of the Mellow Colour 100 Club, Australian Printers GEON were one of the first to achieve the 100% ISO 12647 grade with their PrintSpec software implementation.

David Crowther, of Australian Distributor DES spent three days with the GEON staff implementing the PrintSpec software in the Banksmeadow site to make the company ISO-accredited. During the implementation, all aspects of the reproduction and print process was checked and measured, resulting in a PrintSpec audit score of 100 per cent for Proficient Printer.

Crowther praised the result. "By the end of the implementation, the staff were inspired and motivated by this structured approach to standards and colour management," he said.

With the Banksmeadow site now accredited, DES is completing a national implementation of PrintSpec ISO 12647-2 throughout GEON's remaining sites in the following months. According to Tracey Read, NSW customer solutions manager at GEON, ISO offers great benefits when it comes to increased colour quality control, reduced make ready times, quicker turn arounds and greater customer satisfaction.

"The ISO 12647 system provides GEON and its customers with a proven solution in regard to the management of colour sensitive campaigns," she said.

 "Customers and their agency partners alike can have total confidence that the proof supplied is on target, and is truly representative of the press results. The final certification sticker is attached to every proof and will allay any doubts with the measurable LAB tests clearly shown."

GEON's NSW pressroom manager, Peter Boots, has been elected the "colour champion" and will guide the technical team in using PrintSpec. He pointed to the company's score of 100 as a positive indication for GEON's future.

 "I cannot be more proud of the team work between all the GEON departments to achieve this result," he said.

Mellow Colour is very pleased to welcome the German company GEKKO Brand Services to its family of international partners.

“We met GEKKO representatives at Drupa and discussed a potential collaboration as GEKKO have been busy assisting some large brand customers with their printing challenges in Germany.” Commented Alan Dresch, Director of Mellow Colour. “GEKKO saw the Mellow Colour solution as being perfect for helping them to solve some of the many issues that they face with their customers.”

The GEKKO representative said; "We were particularly impressed by the depth of the software and some of the more advanced tools will really help us in our diagnostic work for our customers. We are very pleased to partner with Mellow Colour and very much look forward working with them and their knowledge."

GEKKO Brand Services will take care of business in the West of Germany and are seen by Mellow Colour as an important partner in its plan to ensure ongoing conformity to ISO 12647 in the German printing market which is the largest in Europe.

For more information on GEKKO take a look at their website:
www.gekko-gmbh.com

As more printers achieve the Mellow Colour Proficient Printer status, Mellow Colour has announced the prestigious “Mellow Colour 100 Club”.

Membership is awarded to ISO 12647 Proficient Printers that can provide PrintSpec Reports made from recent production print runs that show a score of 100.

This means that the Company is capable of producing work 100% in compliance with the tight targets and tolerances of the Mellow Colour Quality management system. The scoring system is heavily biased towards grey balance and consistent scoring of 80 is considered excellent by major print procurement companies and brand managers.

At DRUPA 2008 in Dusseldorf Germany, Mellow Colour Ltd will release the latest version of the popular PrintSpec ISO 12647 colour quality control and verification software.

ISO may be the current buzzword of the industry but some printers are mystified at exactly what they need to do in order to meet the ISO print standard 12647.

PrintSpec allows Printers to generate comprehensive ISO 12647 pass/fail reports generated from the small PrintSpec strip placed along with production CMYK printed work.

Printers requiring a system for straightforward ISO verification will need PrintSpec software plus a spectrophotometer for measuring the PrintSpec strip printed along with the job.

PrintSpec Reports include ISO12647 pass/fail information about the CMYK inks, the overprinted colours, the Dot Gain (TVI) and Grey balance. A configurable 'percentage of ISO Excellence' scoring system is built in.

The targets and tolerances of ISO 12647-2, 3, 4, SWOP and GRACol are selectable from pull down menus, and custom in house standards can be generated for special applications.
For printing companies requiring a more powerful set of colour quality control tools, PrintSpec Colour QA Manager and PrintSpec Colour Consultant have new features added for launch at DRUPA 2008.
These include:

Calibration Manager - for tuning the CMYK printing process, using TVI (dot gain) or grey balance methodology

Curve Tuner - for fine tuning of TVI curves printed from non-linear plates

Neutralise - for generating TVI curves that produce neutral three colour greys calculated from the standard PrintSpec strip

Match Curve - for matching print appearance from ISO standard paper types to different stocks

Averaging of multiple reports, historic analysis and advanced trending tools have also been enhanced for the DRUPA version of RetroSpec.

The benefits of printing accurately to an independent, international standard offers huge benefits to printers. Colour quality control brings reduced make ready times, reduced waste, quicker turnaround, effective communication and therefore, increased customer satisfaction.

PrintSpec is also a distinct marketing advantage in colour critical printing. Printing to common standard ISO 12647, is attractive to the Print Buyer, who can then rely on a supplier to offer consistent colour, job to job, and to international targets and tolerances. Mellow Colour has established a Proficient Printer Program, recognising printers around the world that have received training in the practical implementation of ISO 12647 and operation of the PrintSpec Colour QA System. Print Buyers use the Proficient Printer Program to recognise and monitor a print supplier's performance to ISO 12647.

Mellow Colour Quality Control System is not just about consistency and performance. Mellow Colour is focused on improving communication. PrintSpec generates a comprehensive but clear report that acts as a benchmark everyone can refer to address quality issues.

“To implement PrintSpec and meet ISO standards a printer is demonstrating technical commitment and a progressive approach towards standardisation." Stated Alan Dresch, Director of Mellow Colour.
Dresch went onto say “This is a simple approach to the complex issue of implementing process control over the entire production workflow. We do see customers with concerns about adopting new standards, but Mellow Colour are probably the most experienced in the field and go the extra mile, to carefully guide printers through the procedure logically. By the end of an implementation, we usually find our customers are inspired and motivated by this structured approach to colour quality control."

At DRUPA 2008 in Dusseldorf Germany, Mellow Colour Ltd will release a Free of Charge version of the popular PrintSpec ISO 12647 colour verification software.

FlashPrintSpec allows Print Buyers, Publishers and Printers to generate comprehensive ISO 12647 pass/fail reports generated from the small PrintSpec strip placed along with production CMYK printed work.

Printers requiring a system for straightforward ISO verification will need PrintSpec software plus a spectrophotometer for measuring the PrintSpec strip printed along with the job.

Print Buyers that want to adopt a simple 'remote' colour verification system can ask their printers to email them the small xml print measurement files which they can read into their free PrintSpec software to generate comprehensive colour appearance reports to check that the job is being printed to standard.

"The benefits of a simple pre requisite such as this could be huge for Print Buyers. It will reduce proof cycle times and result in a more efficient approval process. It also gives Buyers a simple way to recognise and monitor a supplier"s consistency. To meet with these standards a supplier is demonstrating technical commitment and acceptance, which is becoming more and more important as the industry moves towards standardisation.” Stated Alan Dresch, Director of Mellow Colour.

Dresch went on to say, "FlashPrintSpec colour quality control and production analysis is not just about the Print Buyer defining satisfactory performance to their suppliers. Mellow Colour is focused on the facilitation of communication. By using a target such as ISO 12647, we are giving the Buyer and their suppliers an independent and synchronised objective that will help them work together and understand quality issues."

PrintSpec Reports include ISO12647 pass/fail information about the CMYK inks, the overprinted colours, the Dot Gain (TVI) and Grey balance. A configurable "percentage of ISO Excellence" scoring system is built in.

The targets and tolerances of ISO 12647-2, 3, 4, SWOP and GRACol are selectable from pull down menus, and custom in house standards can be generated for special applications.
For printing companies requiring powerful colour quality control tools PrintSpec Colour QA Manager and PrintSpec Colour Consultant have new features added for launch at DRUPA 2008.
These include:

Calibration Manager for tuning the CMYK printing process prior to submission of print samples for FOGRA certification. Curve Tuner for fine tuning of TVI curves printed from non-linear plates and Neutralise for generating TVI curves that produce neutral three colour greys calculated from the standard PrintSpec strip.

Averaging of multiple reports, historic analysis and trending tools have also been enhanced for the DRUPA version of RetroSpec.

FlashPrintSpec is available free of charge in two versions for ISO 12647 verification – both packages run on Macintosh and PC.

Mellow Colour has developed a new area on its website for print buyers looking for suppliers that are working with its PrintSpec™ product, which enables them to become ISO 12647 proficient. All the companies listed have been accredited with the Mellow Colour ISO 12647 proficiency certificate and have the training and tools to produce print that complies with the specification.

‘The Proficient Printer Programme validates the printers who can provide optimum colour output and meet the targets and tolerances of the ISO 12647 specification,” comments Alan Dresch, founder, Mellow Colour. "The list and contact details available on our site provides a one stop service helping print buyers to locate a printer that can offer colour consistency.

"Colour quality control and production analysis is all about changing the culture of an organisation – by using benchmarks as targets and specialised measuring techniques for analysis it is possible to be much more systematic about the way we print colour. This also makes it easier to identify press and ink problems when things do stray off track.”

Printers that are featured on the website have undergone an on-site ISO 12647 Implementation and Training, undertaken with a Mellow Colour-trained PrintSpec implementation specialist. Reviews are then carried out every six months by Mellow Colour to ensure that all presses remain calibrated and able to meet the Dot Gain (TVI) and Lab values specified by ISO 12647 and that grey balance values comply with PrintSpec targets and tolerances. Only by passing each audit does the certificate remain validated.

"We have introduced PrintSpec, which gives us the opportunity to develop new skills and which takes out the objectivity from reprographics and print,” comments Ian Duddle, print manager, APS Group. "By working to strictly defined parameters we are able to standardise our colour output and improve consistency which is of benefit to all our customers."

Each six-monthly audit undertakes the following process:

• Checks that sufficient numbers and quality of PrintSpec trained individuals are still employed and actively using the system.

• Checks that PrintSpec measurement files have been collected on a regular basis during the previous six-month period.

• Checks CtP curves and ink settings provide ISO compliant print appearance.

• Checks ink sets used for ISO 12647 related work comply with targets tolerances in the specification

• Checks spectrophotometer accuracy using manufacturer's diagnostic tools.

• Checks viewing booth lighting conforms to ISO 3664.

• Revision training

Mellow Colour Proficient Printers automatically become members of the Mellow Colour Club, which allows them discounted PrintSpec software upgrades and access to the online Mellow Colour Knowledgebase.

Mellow Colour currently has 14 companies listed - in the UK and Scandinavia, with contact details and a description of what exactly the company does. The list can be found at http://www.mellowcolour.com/HomePages/ProficientPrinters.html >

PrintSpec was developed to enable colour printers to comply with the tight targets and tolerances defined in the ISO 12647 Specification. PrintSpec offers more than proof-to-press colour consistency; the software provides a more efficient workflow, reducing time, cost, waste and delivering improved customer satisfaction.

Mellow Colour announces the launch of two new products for print professionals requiring a predictable and consistent print appearance. InkSpec™, designed for analysing the accuracy of spot colour reproduction, complements and builds on the functionality of Mellow Colour’s flagship product – PrintSpec™ (previously Mellow Colour ISOLithO System). RetroSpec™ enables printers and their clients to perform CYMK trend analysis, by utilising data compiled from consecutive reports generated by PrintSpec.

Alan Dresch, founder, Mellow Colour, comments, "Following several installations of our PrintSpec product, which provides the tools to help printers meet the ISO 12647 standard for Offset Lithography, it was clear there was a demand to build on its functionality to develop new applications. RetroSpec allows users to identify patterns in CMYK colour printing, enabling them to take action to prevent reoccurring problems.”

RetroSpec
RetroSpec is a software application that allows printers and clients to perform trend analysis on the appearance of their CMYK colour printing over an extended period of time.
Working in conjunction with Mellow Colour’s PrintSpec (previously Mellow Colour ISOLithO System), users of RetroSpec can identify small mechanical or consumable issues that could become serious if not addressed, preventing escalation and long periods of press downtime. RetroSpec sorts reports compiled by Mellow Colour’s PrintSpec in a variety of orders for detailed retrospective analysis. Using the CineScroll™ function that allows the reports to be scrolled through for identification of trends and anomalies, the data can be viewed individually or collectively, to identify and address printing problems that may be detrimental to a smooth production workflow and colour critical work.

InkSpec
InkSpec provides a colour quality system that addresses the needs of printers, namely specialist and packaging printers, who require greater control of spot and special colours. Hosted on the same platform and incorporating the functionality of PrintSpec, InkSpec delivers process controls for those printing outside the CMYK colour gamut.

Alan adds, "InkSpec reads ink TVI (Dot-Gain), Gradation and L*a*b* values from a special colour control strip and compares the measurements to target values in the Ink database, to highlight inconsistent and inaccurate special and spot colours. Access to the intelligence provided by all Mellow Colour products, enables our customers and their clients greater control over print quality, providing clear differentiation from their competition.”

Using a pre-defined menu, the operator selects the paper and ink sets relevant to the job. Having specified certain colours to be measured within the ink set, readings are compiled into a page per colour report.

Particularly significant for packaging applications is that up to ten InkSpec report pages can be in use at the same time. Every InkSpec report provides the measured values for each ink on a separate page, and for a job with up to 10 different colours, printers can clearly view each report to identify how a colour is performing. Users can specify which inks are used for each job and can save these ink sets under a specific product, customer or paper type, to be recalled for later use or reference.
These small measurement files can be emailed from printer to client should the specified colours show conformance peculiarities on particular stocks.

PrintSpec
PrintSpec assures consistent print appearance, job-to-job and device-to-device. The user selects specified L*a*b* targets for paper type and ink colour, along with tonal value increase (dot gain) targets from a pre-defined user menu. A spectrophotometer is used to quickly capture colour data from the print sample and a comprehensive colour report is generated, detailing colour appearance and comparing the measurements with the ISO 12647 Specification.

The entire family of Mellow Colour products will be demonstrated at IPEX. Visit the Mellow Colour stand #09-D25.

Mellow Colour signs up two new distributors in Europe and Asia Pacific

Mellow Colour has signed distributor agreements for its ISOLithO Precision-Colour Quality Control System in Asia Pacific and Europe. Following widespread success in the UK, it is anticipated that IPEX will serve as a platform to facilitate more partnerships across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the United States.

The benefit of the Mellow Colour system is that it provides an international standard enabling printers to compare jobs at different sites or with customers, locally or internationally. Its user-friendly design allows small files containing the reports to be easily transferred anywhere by email, making it a very accessible and user-friendly interface.

"Over the next few months, we will continue to build on the UK success while extending our focus to distribution abroad,” comments Alan Dresch, Founder, Mellow Colour.
"Forging relationships with local distributors is key for Mellow Colour – they understand the needs and requirements for their markets and are best placed to advise and educate customers on the products benefits. We have a product that is responding to a need in the market for consistent print appearance, job-to-job and device-to-device. ISOLithO has been proven to deliver a more efficient workflow, reducing downtime, cost, and waste, while improving customer satisfaction. We need to communicate this to the worldwide audience.”

Asia Pacific Success: Australia
DES, one of Australia and New Zealand's most innovative providers of integrated digital imaging solutions for the professional printing industry, has signed a distributor agreement for Mellow Colour's ISOLithO range of products. Sales and support is handled by Chromaticity Australia, a provider of colour management training, technical support and consulting services.

"DES now has a marketing advantage in colour critical printing. As the exclusive distributors of a superior product, we can offer a unique package that our competitors don’t have access to,” comments David Crowther, director, Chromaticity Australia. "ISOLithO has been successful because it is not just measuring colour in comparison to an irrelevant chart – it is an international benchmark, giving Australian printers a standard comparable to anywhere else in the world.”

European Success: Scandinavia
The concept of using ISO12647 to rationalise and streamline print production has also rapidly taken hold in Scandinavia. Since January 2006, the graphic arts consultancy Medit Consult, with offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus, has been distributing ISOLithO in Scandinavia.

"Through thorough testing of Mellow Colour’s ISOLithO application in Danish press rooms, we found it delivers an excellent combination of both colour accuracy and ease-of-use,” says Bård Blytt Sandstad, print quality consultant, Medit Consult. "Installations have already been confirmed in the run-up to IPEX, and we have no doubt the show will only serve to generate even more interest.”

The Scandinavian pilot site for ISOLithO was the Danish book printer Norhaven Book, based in Denmark. "Our customers increasingly expect all printing jobs to be produced according to FOGRA standards and ISO 12647,” says Kim Birk Laursen, Norhaven Book. "ISOLithO is a good fit for our need to continuously monitor the production processes in our two sheetfed plants."

Aimed at pre-press, printing and print buyers, ISOLithO is purchased as a colour managed "Project Package”, made up of ISOLithO System Software, a GMB or X-Rite Spectrophotometer and a 3-day implementation. The implementation includes installation, colour theory and measurement training for managerial, sales and production staff, process control checks, on-press set up and ISOLithO report evaluation training.

"Over the past couple of years, we’ve worked with companies such as Williams Lea, St Ives and DuPont in the UK, while developing international business, and have come to realise using ISO 12647 is more than process control, it is about changing attitudes to colour control and consistency. It is inevitable that printers will follow customer pressure to implement printing standards internationally and now is the time to take the first step on that journey,” concludes Alan.

IPEX 2006, Stand 09-D25: Mellow Colour will launch a new range of products at IPEX 2006, following the international success of the Mellow Colour ISOLithO System – a colour quality system developed for print professionals who insist on predictable and consistent print appearance.

Demonstrating fast colour measurement from printed sheets and intuitive trend analysis, Mellow Colour is offering printers the opportunity to put their prints to the test with a free ISOLithO colour health check on its stand. Prior to the show, visitors can log onto www.mellowcolour.com and download the free ISOLithO Strip. This can be printed along with a production job, via the printers normal workflow and brought along to the stand for an on the spot ISOLithO Health Check.

"IPEX provides the ideal platform for us to showcase an extended and enhanced range of products that improve efficiency for printers and ensure that customers receive accurate and consistent colour,” comments Alan Dresch, Founder, Mellow Colour. "The free ISOLithO colour health check facilitates the first step towards this and together with product demonstrations on our stand, organisations can take the first step to meet with the ISO 12647-2 standard.”

ISOLithO was developed to enable colour printers to comply with the ISO standard and achieve the tight targets and tolerances specified in the ISO 12647-2:2004 Specification for Offset Lithography. ISOLithO offers more than proof-to-press colour consistency; the software provides a more efficient workflow, reducing time, cost, waste and delivering improved customer satisfaction and has been updated with the targets and tolerances of the latest ISO specification.
"Williams Lea uses ISOLithO as part of a vendor audit program. The reports are easy to read and give a wealth of data to help our vendors align to the ISO 12647-2 standard. The technical support and training provided by Mellow Colour is first class,” said Andrew Horn, Senior Vendor Manager, Williams Lea UK.
When applied correctly ISOLithO assures consistent print appearance, job-to-job and device-to-device. In practice, the user simply chooses the appropriate ISO specified L*a*b* targets for paper type and ink colour, along with tonal value increase (dot gain) targets from pull down menus in the ISOLithO set-up dialogue. A spectrophotometer is used to quickly capture colour data from the print sample and a comprehensive colour report is generated, detailing colour appearance and comparing the measurements with the ISO 12647 Specification.

Around the globe colour professionals are recognising the benefits of ISOLithO. David Crowther, Director, Chromaticity Australia, has successfully installed the software with local printers. "It is a culture change for printers to adopt a more systematic approach to colour quality management,” said David. "However, with appropriate training and use of systems such as ISOLithO, I am confident printers will see the benefits and adopt this modern approach to manufacturing, already commonplace in other industries, without major outlay.

 PrintSpec™ quality control and colour appearance matching software has been awarded the coveted Print21 Hot Pick at this years PrintPac 2005 in Melbourne Australia.

Alan Dresch of Mellow Colour commented 'expertise and expectations in the Australian printing industry are high, it therefore made perfect sense to showcase PrintSpec™ at PacPrint 2005. The reception at the show was extremly enthusiastic and working alongside Chromaticity Australia the first installation of PrintSpec™ will be at a high quality Sydney sheet-fed printing Company in early June'.

Alan Dresch of Mellow Colour (right) receiving the Hot Pick Award from Print21 Editor Andy McCourt at PacPrint 2005 in Melbourne.

© 2009 Mellow Colour Ltd