I Got A Lesson In Color!

From: JasonR Sent: 9/24/2002 4:54 AM

Ok, first of all "PROOFING" is a specific printing term that refers to a print that EXACTLY matches the press output. the 3800 3850 and EVERY color copier are NOT proofing devices. When a customer is handed a "PROOF" they are expected to sign it saying "if the output from the press looks exactly like this, then I will pay for the job". If the press print does not exactly match the press output, the customer can reject it, and not pay for the press job, which might have cost thousands of dollars to run.

Proofing devices generally have a very high per page cost($8-100) and look INCREDIBLE.

Our devices have a very low per page cost(.10-.99) and look GOOD. Believe me, if anyone made a PROOFING device that had this kind of cost per page... and we were selling it... we'd all be rich.

The next step back in the process is called pre-proofing, this step is where our devices have a chance. We can print a very good approximation of what the press print will be. The text will look like this, this picture will be over here, your logo will be blue not red, etc. etc.

Doing a pre-proof on inexpensive page cost devices saves printers a lot of money, the hope is that you will do enough pre-proofs (costing you .25 each) that you can only print ONE poof (costing you $25) and then go to press.


Lastly, here's my .02 on the 3800 (havent see a 3850 yet): the 3800 is a very good printer as long as you are replacing a hp4500 (a very bad color printer in my experience) or the like. Don't try to force it into an environment it's not made for, such as a design department or proofing, because compared to the devices in that range, the output does not measure up.