InSights

Dear PrintMedia,

Since the magazine I work for went fully digital last year and changed printers, I am having a hard time matching colors in-house with the print. As quality control manager, I am responsible for making the match, but the differences are pretty significant. Is there a good resource or tool to make this system work better? I tried consulting a few vendors, but I'm not sure which is best or whether we have the funds at this time to make a serious investment. Help? -Quality Out of Control

Dear Quality Out of Control,

Always remember: Calibration! Calibration! Calibration! Your question is a common one when it comes to newly digitized workflows: that is, how to make the digital file match the printed page. In a past issue of PrintMedia, we tackled this question in a case study with S & S Worldwide catalogs where creative director, Mike Fosso, similarly advocated for calibration in "Past Imperfect" (September 2000). For your immediate needs, Pantone offers some sound (and free) advice about color theory and tools on its site: www.pantone.com. The company also offers PANTONE Personal Calibrator software to help set up manufacturer standards between you and your printer. According to PANTONE, "In many cases, the number of colors in an image will exceed the capabilities of the device used to display the image." That's why calibrating your desktop or imagesetter to match your printer's digital press is the key in solving your dilemma. Otherwise, you may also want to check out www.swop.org. The organization, Specification Web Offset Publications, is dedicated to getting everyone on the same page when it comes to file formats, which can also contribute to many color mismatches, according to SWOP.

Dear PrintMedia,

In the past few months my department has suffered many staff cuts. We've lost about five people during this rough time. I was one of the people who had to leave. Now, I am looking for work in the industry, but not sure I am finding the best resources. Do you know of any good online sites for the media industry? -On the Dole