Esko claims that its Pack Proof image processing software, part of the Automation Engine workflow, has become the first such software worldwide to gain Fogra55 certification for Extended Colour Gamut (ECG) printing.
The product already holds Fogra39 and Fogra 51 certifications, demonstrating its ability to match to the ISO12647-7 quality standard in offset printing. According to Esko, the development means that Pack Proof can accurately model spot colour and expanded gamut ink systems used to print brand colours to deliver a contract proof that matches the final packaging.
Martin Cusack, product manager for Color & Digital at Esko, commented, ‘Accuracy of brand colours is of paramount importance in packaging, with a key challenge for converters being maintaining consistency between plate production and proofing. This new certification complements our existing Fogra certification to demonstrate how using Pack Proof now makes it possible to output industry standard proofs first time, enabling businesses to maximize press production and reduce errors.’
Fogra, the German Research Association for Printing and Reproduction Technology, provides certifications for the printing and media industries. It assessed the latest version of the Esko Pack Proof software in a ‘rigorous’ process, requiring the software to output, measure and submit Epson proof samples to Fogra, using an Epson SureColor SC-P7500. These were then submitted for analysis and to ensure they met the necessary criteria.
Fogra55 is described as the standard for ECG printing, which Esko says increasing numbers of printers and converters are adopting.
‘More and more businesses today are dealing with increasingly complex designs, and using the ECG process enables them to handle these, incorporating double hit colours and large solids for example, without affecting press stability to recreate the desired design,’ Mr Cusack added. ‘We have a large number of customers around the world using our Equinox solution for the implementation of extended gamut printing, so it was hugely important to us that we demonstrate how successfully our prepress software can further accelerate and simplify the process for them.’
While there is not currently an official quality standard for flexo, Mr Cusack said that many flexo converters use the ISO12647 standard as a guide for CMYK, and many files/images are separated to the ISO standard.
‘Additionally, converters aim to improve their processes and become more efficient, so they use this standard as a target. When we implement Equinox, our Extended Colour Gamut solution, we generally use this standard for the process colours. Furthermore, flexo converters proudly state that they have achieved this standard when communicating to their customers. Brands and retailers appreciate knowing this, as it gives them reassurance.’
