Idealliance® launch XCMYK

Idealliance have released a new dataset and profile for four-colour expanded gamut printing for both digital and offset – to get more color for your money.

The dataset and profiles can be downloaded from the Idealliance web site.

pressSIGN 8 supports the XCMYK print target.

The principal behind the process is that “more ink means more color” (within reason), and will therefore produce a larger color gamut with more saturated and richer color printing. The resulting gamut is noticeable larger in comparison to GRACoL 2013 (and also PSOcoated_v3). The wider gamut can mean an increase from 68% to 83% of the Pantone® + Library that can be reproduced effectively. On offset this can be achieved with standard conventional inks.

The advantages of XCMYK in comparison to a 5, 6 or 7 color expanded gamut solution is that you are maintaining the same CMYK workflow . The only change is the choice of profile for separations and proofing.

To establish the new XCMYK dataset and profile, trials were carried out and overseen by the GRACoL Working Group and a special task force, that included Don Hutcheson and Ron Ellis, well known consultants and speakers on all aspects of color management, as well as more than 100 professionals from 88 companies and conducted over a 15-month period in 2015-16 involving 26 test runs from all over the world, including Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan, Canada, and the United States. The XCMYK project involved significant contributions of pressruns, time, labor, and raw materials from printers, manufacturers, and Idealliance volunteers, with total time and raw materials estimated at more than $350,000.

All measurements were carried out in M1 mode.

XCMYK is not seen as a competitor to any multi-color ICC profile solution but an alternative with some advantages for mixed offset and digital print combinations and pressSIGN 8 supports both options.

For a more detailed background visit the Idealliance web.