pressSIGN-Pro version 4

pressSIGN-Pro measures and controls the printing process for up to 6 colour printing to ensure accurate colour on press. pressSIGN-Pro features complete set of analysis tools to help improve press and operator performance identifying issues of wastage and quality.

Each pressSIGN-Pro installation comes with a free copy of pressSIGN-Trends.

Read the full width of the press sheet with pressSIGN-Pro using the X-Rite Eye-One and pressSIGN extended ruler, X-Rite EasyTrax S, Techkon SpectroDrive, Techkon SpectroJet or import CGATS data from a number of autoscanning devices like X-Rite's Intellitrax S, Heidelberg's ImageControl and Komori's PDC-SII.

pressSIGN-Pro v 4 main features include

pressSIGN summary view

• uniquely predicts the best possible density - based on the press target selected and the actual ink and paper in use.
• Pantone® Libraries for 5 or 6 colour printing
• Create and adjust plate curves
• Update all common platesetter RIPs - no need to type in curve data - export directly from pressSIGN
• Create your own spot colour libraries - exportable to other pressSIGN users
• Upload reports to the internet for access by other staff members or clients
• The summary view shows all aspects of job including density, dot gain, grey balance, trapping, overprint and overall score
• The full sheet view shows how to adjust each ink key density to achieve the lowest Delta E
• Identify readings as make-ready or production mode and see how long each operator and/or press takes to get up to production mode.
• The Trend view windows shows overall score and score for the individual measured criteria for each reading or job.
• The second Trend view window shows value for every criteria by reading or by job.
• Create averaged dot gain curves from multiple readings. Allows two presses to be set up with the same plate queue
• Compensation for the colour shift as ink dries (dry back)
• Easy to use scoring with traffic light system to monitor performance
• All International Printing Standards built-in
• Input any CMYK ICC profile and make the profile the press target.
• Read the actual media in use to adjust the press target export the amended ICC profile back to pre-press for accurate proofing based on the actual media in use.
• Make individual readings anywhere on the press sheet for density, dot area, Lab, DeltaE comparisons
• pressSIGN provides an across the sheet consistency score. This can be part of the overall job score, giving a better assessment of the quality of the print.
• Receive a detailed pdf report for measurements or a production report for single or multiple jobs showing complete job or multiple job analysis
• Generate the colour bar to match the press target you have selected
• Search the pressSIGN database for existing readings and jobs by date, time, client, press, operator, make ready times, comments etc
• Save searches for re-use
• Sort jobs by name date, score, press, operator etc.
• Import single or multiple jobs

• add the pressSIGN-Pro control strip to one of your jobs
• read the control strip with your Eye-One or other measurement device and adjust the densities as recommended for each ink key by pressSIGN-Pro
• read the control strip when dry and update the dry back calculations
• adjust the plate curve as recommended by pressSIGN
• run the next job with the pressSIGN settings and you'll have consistently accurate colour

pressSIGN-Pro 4 multi-tasking database

pressSIGN-Pro 4 is based around a multi-tasking database with multiple clients running either pressSIGN-Pro or pressSIGN-Trends (free with every pressSIGN-Pro installation). The pressSIGN administrator can assign rights to other pressSIGN users.

pressSIGN-Pro and pressSIGN-Trends run on any combination of Mac OS X 4 (or higher), Windows 7, XP and Vista

The pressSIGN administrator who usually operates pressSIGN-Trends and can:

• Create jobs with name, press target, ink and paper, run length, press, spot colours, client and any instructions for operator
• Allocate jobs to an operator - the operator will only see his own jobs and jobs that are ready to print are highlighted
• Create own spot colour libraries
• Upload jobs to pressSIGN OnLine
• Administer pressSIGN OnLine

For more details on pressSIGN-Trends please visit theweb page.

pressSIGN-Pro 4 Pantone and Spot Colours

pressSIGN 4 contains all the following Pantone® Libraries

• PANTONE Matching System® PMS - coated, uncoated & matte
• PANTONE Goe® System - coated & uncoated
• PANTONE Matching System® Plus Series coated & uncoated

pressSIGN-Pro users can create their own spot colour libraries by typing in a Lab value or measuring a colour swatch. User defined colour libraries can be exported to other pressSIGN users.

pressSIGN-Pro 4 - full press width color bar
Generate a color bar for the full width of the press sheet (see screen shot)) or as a single set of patches for placement on the press sheet. Use the full width color bar to replace your current color bar or use the single color bar as an additional bar on the sheet.

pressSIGN generates the color bar based on the press target you have chosen. For example, you may have selected an ICC profile as your press target but your customer wants to print on a different paper color. Read the new paper color with the Eye-One, re-calculate the grey balance, select the measure points for the tints and save the settings. Now generate a new color bar based on your customers needs.

pressSIGN 4 predicts the correct density
All international printing standards set target L*a*b* color values for the primaries (CMYK). pressSIGN converts these target colours into density settings that the press operator can use. See the pressSIGN summary window above. In that window pressSIGN tells the operator that for the best results (i.e. lowest Delta e) the magenta density needs to be increased by 5% , the yellow density needs 2% more but the cyan and black are as close to the standard as that ink, paper and press combination will allow.

pressSIGN-Pro 4 - adjust the density for each ink key across the press
pressSIGN-Pro reads across the press sheet and shows the operator how to adjust the density for each ink key to get the lowest possible Delta E.

pressSIGN 4 adjust the plate curve.
To match the customer's proof and meet any press standard the dot gain on press must be controlled. pressSIGN reads the dot gain from the colour bar and generates an adjustment curve. This plate adjustment curve is then exported to the plate or imagesetter RIP. Most RIP formats are suported. Average several readings to get a smooth curve. Import readings from another press to create average plate adjustment curve to apply to two or more presses.

Make-Ready & Production Mode

pressSIGN-Pro 4 allows users to distinguish between make-ready and production mode. The job score saved to the database is based on the average score for production readings and excludes readings taken in make-ready mode so any reports generated are a true reflection of the performance of the press.

pressSIGN captures the job start time and the time when jobs enter production mode. Production reports make it easy to track make-ready times and compare between presses and operators enabling production managers to focus on issues that may be causing undue wastage.

pressSIGN 4 monitor and analyze press and operator performance

As a database application pressSIGN 4 stores all readings for quick and easy retrieval. The database can be searched by a whole range of criteria such as job name, press, operator, standard, score, comments, make-ready time, date, time etc. Searches can be saved for repeated use. Individual jobs can be re-opened in pressSIGN and the press/operator performance can be analysed not only for the overall performance, but also for all elements of the job; grey balance, dot gain, CMYK primary scores, overprint Lab, trapping.

Multiple jobs can be selected and re-opened in pressSIGN allowing users to examine the day's work on one press for example. Comparisons can be made between day and night shift or a report can be quickly compiled of all the jobs for one client.

pressSIGN version 4 gives production managers a whole range of opportunities to objectively see how they can improve print quality. See pressSIGN-Trends for the version of pressSIGN specifically designed for production managers who don't need to read data into the pressSIGN database but need to have access to all the data.

pressSIGN 4 compensates for dry-back
Use pressSIGN both to evaluate the press sheets and adjust the press during the press run. Because pressSIGN compensates for any colour shift that occurs as the ink dries, use pressSIGN to adjust the press-on-the-fly. Adjust the densities as suggested by pressSIGN and find the colours will dry back to hit the required targets. Each control strip reading takes only a few seconds and you have a objective measure of the colour, grey balance, trapping and overprint.

Measure the control strip in one sweep or individual patches

pressSIGN step by step guide to accurate printing

pressSIGN takes you quickly and easily to your own or international printing standards. pressSIGN's five easy steps reduces make-ready times and improves your colour. pressSIGN's tools allow you to test during the run and to make any density adjustments knowing any colour shift during ink drying will be compensated for.

pressSIGN both reads the density and suggests the correct density adjustment, making it easy to get to the right settings quickly.

Setting the right dot gain curve can be difficult. pressSIGN provides you with the tools to set the correct dot gain curve quickly and easily. Read one sheet or multiple sheets and within seconds you'll have the plate adjustment curve to add to your plate or imagesetter. Import this data directly into the most popular RIPs.

Make individual readings anywhere on the press sheet for dot area, Lab or density

Complete set of measurements in seconds
pressSIGN works in conjunction with the X-Rite Eye-One spectrophotometer, Techkon SpectroDrive and other measurement devices and reads the pressSIGN control strip in seconds. Choose the control strip to suit the job or press. Using the spectrophotometer read a strip that runs right across the press sheet or place a single set 23 patches anywhere on the press sheet. Alternatively measure the patches individually. When you have read the strip you'll receive an instant report on all aspects of the press sheet (see the summary window above).The speed with which pressSIGN operates allows constant monitoring of the press.

Choose the right press target
Select different international printing standards according to the type of press you are running, the type of paper, the appropriate dot gain curve and your customers needs.

All standards include the choice of appropriate paper types:

• ISO 12647-2 for sheet and web offset
• ISO 12647-3 for newsprint
• ISO12647-4 for gravure
• ISO 12647-6 for flexographic
• GRACol 2006 (G7)
• Already measured press sheet: - Capture the way the press is printing now so that you can reproduce the same condition when you need to re-run the job. Ideal for reproducing work that is outside any standard or for customers who want to conduct a press pass.
• CMYK ICC Profile - import a profile and then adjust the profile see below
• Custom target - type in the target L*a*b values for the primary colors (CMYK) plus the dot gain etc.

Import an ICC Profile as your press target

It is often easier to match press and proof using a common ICC profile. An ICC profile is used throughout the pre-press workflow and for color accuracy it is often better to use the same profile as the press target. presssIGN makes matching the ICC profile easy but also adds further features to help color matching on press.

Import an ICC profile, with options to change paper color & grey balance

• Import any CMYK ICC profile
• Measure or type in the paper color that will be used to print the job. This will adjust the Lab value targets of the primaries and amend the dot gain. You can then re-calculate the grey balance.
• Export the adjsuted ICC profile back out of pressSIGN for use in the pre-press workflow.
• Save this new standard and then generate a new color bar to match the new target.

Use the current readings as a new standard

Some print buyers still want to be at the factory in order to pass the job on press. pressSIGN allows you to capture how the job as it is printed, so that it can be replicated for the rest of the run and for any re-runs.

Just read the press sheets as they come off the press. Select the readings that pass the print buyers standards and average those readings in pressSIGN. Save these average readings as a new standard. You can then return to this saved standard at any time and reproduce the job exactly.

pressSIGN also allows you to customise a standard by typing in target values for the primaries and dot gain etc.

Compare colours, density and CIELAB Delta E anywhere on the sheet

Once the standard has been set select the default tolerances or adjust the tolerances to suit. For example you can add or remove tolerances for grey balance, overprint and trapping.

pressSIGN turns the Eye-One into complete press measurement tool.
Measure the Lab value, density and dot area and compare it with other readings either from the press sheet or your Pantone book, a proof or ink drawn down. Set pressSIGN to automatically check the DeltaE or Dot Area of the CMYK primaries or compare the Lab values/Dot area of secondary colours or spot colours. You can even type in a target Lab value from Adobe PhotoShop, and compare this with the colour on the press sheet.

pressSIGN meets all your measurement needs

• CIE L*a*b* values for CMYK & spot colours
• Density values for CMYK & spot colours
• Dot Gain (Tonal Value Increase - TVI) for CMYK & spot colours
• Grey Balance
• Overprint values
• Ink Trapping
• Paper Colour

Review past printed jobs
Every time you create a new job pressSIGN generates a new folder and each reading is saved to this folder. Reviewing old jobs is simple just open up the job folder and inport the reading into pressSIGN. You'll instantly see how well the job was printed. Import readings form several jobs or the same job printed on different presses and compare the readings.

pressSIGN traffic light system
Each reading in pressSIGN is given a score. Select multiple readings for an average score. pressSIGN comes with a default scoring system but users can adjust the scoring to suit their needs. The default percentage for an acceptable print (solid green) is 80%, the production controller can set this percentage to any value required. The other scores will be adjusted to compensate.

pressSIGN is used in 40 countries around the world with many hundreds of installation. We look forward to making it easier for you to print to the standard you choose.