Proof Is Printable

What do you get when you cross two technology providers—online?

The answer is NewProof Forum, a Web site that encourages discussions about remote (also known as "soft") proofing.

Printable Technologies launched PrintPlanet's forum in partnership with RealTimeImage. According to Printable, NewProof Forum provides a new open, independent portal about late-breaking soft and remote proofing technologies and industry applications. NewProof subscribers can learn about proofing software, services, techniques and methodologies, as well as equipment, networking, cultural issues and business practices involving applications for online proofing. In other words, the service allows production professionals to take their kudos and complaints to the Web for debate—something on which the PrintPlanet community has built a reputation.

Qualified members of NetProof Forum represent virtually every segment of the industry's supply chain. In addition to printers, users include corporate content creators, designers, brand managers, agency account executives, production personnel, service bureaus and trade shops. Their interests span the entire proofing spectrum from content proofs, color proofs, imposition proofs and galleys to serve a broad constituency within the graphic arts community.

According to Printable, the forum also tackles the following issues:

What is possible with today's technology?

What are others doing in the field?

What are the key issues?

Do clients want the applications or is it all service provider-driven?

Are soft- and remote-proofing analogous to video conferencing?

Will their use be limited only to the very high end market?

Can they achieve the widespread adoption on which many companies count?

Dave Mainwaring, managing director of PrintPlanet and moderator of the forum, admits that early soft and remote proofing applications in the graphic arts industry were costly and complicated. "Today's technology," he says, "has made both applications readily available and affordable with high-quality proofing systems, calibrated displays, broadband Internet and wide-area network connections. The NewProof Forum enables members to access one another's experience, explore the new opportunities that these applications can offer, and air their concerns about committing the future of their companies to the new technologies."