Press Release: EPSON AND COLORSCIENCES COMBINE EFFORTS INTO LEADING-EDGE
REMOTE PROOFING SOLUTION THAT DRAMATICALLY REDUCES TIME AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED
WITH PRE-PRESS EVALUATIONS AND APPROVALS
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 7, 2005 –
Epson America, Inc. has joined forces with ColorSciences, LLC to market a new
enterprise-based, commercial pre-press proofing solution that is designed to
revolutionize the way certified proofs are delivered to decision makers such as
print buyers, printers, and designers. This Epson PrintCertification solution
incorporates commercial printing technology from Epson and a print certification
technology from ColorSciences into a unique, time-saving system that virtually
eliminates undue delays and expenses that are generally associated with the
pre-press approval process.
The system uses inkjet printers from the new Epson
Stylus Pro® line (the Epson Stylus Pro 4800, 7800 or 9800, including the
Pro Edition of each of these printers) and the new Epson UltraChrome K3
pigmented inks and proofing media. The Epson Stylus Pro printers serve as
remote proofers that can be installed in any office, press facility, design
firm, agency, etc., in virtually any location around the world. ColorSciences
completes the equation by incorporating its CrossMatch Enterprise solution, the
industry’s first supply chain, end-to-end process control solution that
ensures each remote proofer, regardless of location, produces uniform output
with accurate, certified color throughout the entire commercial printing
process. Furthermore, the CrossMatch Enterprise solution continuously monitors
remote proofers in all locations, measuring color output, identifying any
variances and making any necessary adjustments to the Epson Stylus Pro inkjet
printer.
“This may be the most
convenient, time-saving and cost-reducing proofing solution ever developed for
the commercial printing industry,” said Mark Radogna, group product
manager, Epson America. “The fact that all of the parties involved with
proof analysis and approval phases of pre-press production can now view
certified proofs instantly and from virtually any location worldwide will
dramatically speed up the entire workflow, while reducing dependence on courier
services, travel, and on-site visits from proofing technicians. We’re
extremely pleased to be working with ColorSciences on what we believe will
become a must-have solution for busy printing professionals who want to save
time, money and increase
productivity.”
More About
ColorSciences’ Enterprise
Technology
ColorSciences’ CrossMatch
Enterprise Solution removes the guesswork from the color matching process
— across multiple proofers, standards, RIPs and printing sites. The
technology tracks the color consistency of an image file as it moves from file
creation to the monitor, to the Epson Stylus Pro printer (remote and contract
proofers), to the platesetter, and finally to the press
sheet.
The enterprise solution provides
web-enabled statistical process control capabilities that let the user quickly
and easily monitor and maintain color consistency across multiple devices,
multiple vendors, and multiple sites — in real time, all the time.
Using spectrophotometry-based color measurement and real-time remote
monitoring, diagnostic, and corrective action, the system takes the guesswork
out of the color matching process. The user instantly views the status of
every device in the system by drilling down to specific projects or
sites.
ColorSciences technology measures the
digital color value in the original file’s image area and sends that color
value with the image as it passes through the workflow. The software then
compares the color at each measurement checkpoint against the color standard and
ensures the color is within the agreed tolerances. It closes the color loop by
measuring the image area of the press sheet against the digital color value of
the original digital file.
The benefits of this
enterprise solution were recently proven with ColorSciences’ customer
Cenveo, a leading provider of visual communications in North America. Cenveo is
the first multi-site printer to standardize Epson Stylus Pro inkjet printers and
media for remote proofing with ColorSciences’ process controls. The
system centrally monitors approximately 30 of its commercial printing plants,
offering the most consistent, highest quality color output—at the most
efficient cost.
“Epson’s decision
to co-market with ColorSciences is a great affirmation of our color control
supply chain strategy that we began with Cenveo,” says Tom Burns,
President of ColorSciences, LLC. “Our color process control system
optimizes the combined performance of Epson’s Stylus Pro inkjet printers,
Epson UltraChrome K3 inks and media to help print manufacturers and print
customers realize the best color quality and accuracy
possible.”
About Epson Stylus Pro Inkjet
Printers for Commercial Proofing
The Epson Stylus Pro 4800, 7800 and 9800 are designed to give today’s most
demanding printing professionals the most accurate and stable color proofs in a
matter of minutes. Each of these new printers takes advantage of Epson
UltraChrome K3 ink technology, a new eight-color, high-density pigmented ink
system designed to increase image quality for both professional color and black
and white prints. This technology is used to produce higher degrees of color
fidelity and incorporates a new high-gloss Microcrystal Encapsulation™
resin chemistry to create prints with greater scratch resistance and reduced
gloss differential.
The Epson Stylus Pro 4800,
7800 and 9800 can handle virtually any media type, in cut sheets or rolls up to
17”, 24” and 44” wide (respectively). Each model has a
built-in cutter that automatically trims top and bottom edges of roll media
safely and accurately to produce full-bleed images on all four sides. Both
cut-sheet and roll media are loaded via the printers’ straight-through
media path. An optional automatic take-up reel system is also available
exclusively on the Epson Stylus Pro 9800 for unattended production of large
print runs.
Each of these new printers’
ink cartridge channels/slots can handle either 110 ml or 220 ml cartridges (or a
combination of both sizes) that can even be replaced in the middle of a print
job. Printer interfaces include one USB 2.0 port, one IEEE 1394
FireWire™ port and one expansion slot for an optional 10/100 BaseT
Ethernet card. All three printers are supported by most leading third-party
RIPs.
Pricing and
Availability
To obtain the Epson
PrintCertification solution, the customer purchases the recommended Epson Stylus
Pro printers and third-party RIP solutions, and on a consultative basis,
ColorSciences’ CrossMatch enterprise solution. Epson’s products,
the RIP solutions and ColorSciences’ consultative solution are sold
separately and are now available through authorized professional graphics
resellers. The solution works especially well with the Epson Stylus Pro
“Pro Edition” printers, which include a PANTONE®-licensed,
SWOP®-certified PostScript® Language Level 3™ Compatible RIP by
ColorBurst® , and a 10/100 BaseT Ethernet card. The Epson Stylus Pro 4800
“Pro Edition” is shipping through authorized professional graphics
resellers with an estimated street price of $2,495. The Epson Stylus Pro 7800
“Pro Edition” and Stylus Pro 9800 “Pro Edition” will
begin shipping in Fall 2005 and are respectively priced at $3,995 and $5,995
(estimated street prices), which includes a complimentary stand for
each.
Service &
Support
Epson Stylus Pro printers are supported
by a standard Epson PreferredSM Limited Warranty. This one-year program
includes toll-free advanced telephone access Monday through Friday and usually
next-business-day full unit exchange service (for the Epson Stylus Pro 4800) or
on-site service (for the Epson Stylus Pro 7800 and Epson Stylus Pro 9800) in the
unlikely event of any hardware failure. Optional Epson Preferred Plus Service
Plans are also available, offering one or two additional years of protection.
For more information on Epson warranties, service programs and products, call
1-800-GO-EPSON (1-800-463-7766) or visit our Web site at
<http://www.epson.com/>www.epson.com.
Epson’s
Environmental Commitment
All of Epson’s
new printer products have earned the ENERGY STAR mark by meeting strict energy
efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
U.S. Department of Energy. Epson is committed to protecting the
environment for future generations by offering a broad range of ENERGY STAR
products designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by significantly reducing
electricity usage, which minimizes pollution, without compromising quality.
Epson encourages consumers to save energy, save money and save the
environment by selecting ENERGY STAR
products.
About
Epson
Epson offers an extensive array of
award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer,
business, photography and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading
supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transactions terminals
for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S.
affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and
supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for
increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency.
Epson America Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach,
Calif.
About ColorSciences,
LLC
ColorSciences is an innovator in the printing industry. By improving color
fidelity and reducing costs, ColorSciences is changing color management for
printers, advertising agencies and corporate marketing departments worldwide.
ColorSciences, based in Austin, Texas, is the successor to Southwest
Software, Inc., founded in 1989. The company is a consistent leader in
calibration and process control software. Today, the company is at the
forefront in color process control for all devices in the color workflow.
ColorSciences leads the industry by integrating calibration,
characterization, statistical process control, remote monitoring, remote
diagnostics and remote color correction to deliver contract-quality inkjet
proofs.
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Posted: Wed - September 7, 2005 at 02:46 PM