Fall 2004

To ensure accurate representation of colors on proofs, Mr. Peterson's firm profiles, or fingerprints, their printing presses using profiling software. This data allows them to match house densities to the inkjet proofer. The same software can be used to calibrate inkjet proofers at locations of the packaging buyer. This allows for accurate remote proofing, in which an electronic file is sent directly to the buyer's printer.

But proofing for color can still be a challenge for many packaging firms with CTP systems. Inkjet proofing systems made before 2004 will provide excellent proofs for content, register, fit, trapping and other areas related to the final print. But if exact color matching is essential, firms without the latest proofing systems will need to provide ink swatches for spot colors and use an outside supplier to produce a dot proof for process colors.

And even the latest generation of inkjet proofers cannot print on the actual packaging substrate. If a color proof on the substrate is required, even firms with the most recent inkjet proofers will need to provide a press sample or dot proof from an outside vendor.

What It Means for Packaging Buyers

The bottom line is, CTP systems allow packaging suppliers to offer a number of benefits for buyers of folding carton, litho-laminate, and other types of packaging. But CTP technology is not always a panacea and not necessarily important for all packaging buyers. There are a number of things to keep in mind.

First, you should decide if it is important for your specific packaging needs to have a supplier with a CTP system. You are most likely to benefit from a supplier with CTP technology if:

	You have frequent changes to your graphics requiring frequent plate changes;
	Premium image quality is essential; or
	Turnaround time and speed-to-market are important to your business.

On the other hand, if you make long print runs with existing films and rarely have copy changes, it is probably most cost-effective to keep your business in a film-based platemaking environment.

Second, talk to your packaging supplier about the kind of proofing system it uses. Ask whether they fingerprint their presses to match ink densities to their proofing system. If you are concerned about the color accuracies of proofs, ask them to provide comparisons of digital proofs to press samples. This will help your organization become comfortable with digital proofing. If you are still concerned about exact proofs of match colors, ask for an ink swatch on the type of substrate your packaging is printed on.

Finally, ask your supplier or potential supplier if they have adopted a fully digital workflow. The more the printing workflow„from prepress through to the printing lines„is automated, the more your supplier will reap the benefits of CTP-related efficiencies. It will also allow for more seamless communication between your organization and theirs. Ultimately, it's important to remember that just because a supplier has a CTP system that seems to meet your needs perfectly doesn't mean that they will meet your needs in other ways. A mammoth packaging supplier with an inflexible organization will not be able to turn around new plates in an hour whether they have a CTP system or not. So as you assess a supplier's CTP capabilities, don't forget that other considerations like responsiveness, flexibility, and overall cost structure will always be paramount.

Further Information

Further information on CTP systems is available from the following sources:

	CtP Ü Reviewing the trends and the technology (PDF)
	DotPrint CTP
	Graphic Arts Information Network

You are also welcome to contact the Independent Carton Group at (203) 270-7578.

Agfa, the approved supplier for CTP systems and plates for ICG members, provided technical information and other assistance in the preparation of this article.

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