Approximately 35 people gathered in Saddle Brook, NJ, USA, for the “Best in Class Workshop,” an event designed to explore flexographic prepress processes and color management tools. Thermoflexx, GMG, Techkon, MeasureColor, and Hybrid Software partnered for the event, which is scheduled for 12 sessions throughout North America. The first such event took place at Xeikon’s North American facility in Itasca, IL.

Customers and partners were treated to presentations, audience question-and-answer sessions, and a live demonstration. The Best in Class Workshop has been designed to address trends in packaging prepress, as well as establishing solutions for Extended Color Gamut (ECG) printing. Presenters also addressed enhancing color quality and accuracy at lower costs.

Michael Rottenborn, president and CEO of Hybrid Software, welcomed guests and detailed the event. “We decided to call this the ‘Best in Class’ seminar because we think that’s what the industry needs now,” he said. “There needs to be the ability to choose the best products in their class in all the areas where you have needs, and I think we have an important message.

“Color management and especially extended gamut color management is within reach of everybody today,” added Rottenborn. “You don’t necessarily need someone else making your plates for you or doing your color separations for you, the tools that we discuss [at this workshop] make it within reach of everybody.”

Hybrid Software’s PackZ, a native PDF efitor, was utilized for the live demonstration, where guests could see a first-hand example of how to preflight and correct a file. PackZ has the capabilities to recognize and change barcodes, for example, within the software. Users can also make changes and modify angles. The company’s software, which features trapping and color separation options, is available for Mac and PC.

“We want to be able to get jobs ready for approval and send them out as quickly as possible,” added Rottenborn, whose PackZ software has the ability to export Adobe Illustrator.

In regards to color management, Marc Welch, director of strategic accounts at GMG Americas, laid out the foundation of color management, which is to create a common appearance across any output. By color matching throughout various paper grades and prinft processes, brands will find “visual unity.”

“A big part of this program is to show how we’re going to integrate process control and what’s happening in the pressroom back in the prepress,” explained Welch. “To figure this out, we need to know whether the job passes or fails, but wouldn’t it be nice if I could take that data I’m measuring on-press and make profiles out of it. [That may seem like] a radical idea, but we’re actually integrating all these things together.”

The live demonstration featured a 12-color job utilizing eight spot colors, where the job would be re-separated in five different ways. The packaging sample also made use of dynamic profiling. The demonstration established how the eye can be deceived when analyzing a label or package for color matching, therefore necessitating a scientific method to establish quality control.

GMG’s OpenColor and ColorMaster provide multiple benefits, including cost savings and compliance to world standards. By taking various inputs, such as GRACoL or SWOP, brands can utilize a number of outputs (flexo, for example) to generate consistent color. According to Welch, every PantoneLIVE installation around the world exclusively works with OpenColor.

“You may have a system here and a system in China, and those colors have to match,” said Welch. “That’s what we do, a uniform appearance model.”

Thermoflexx at Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, established how its plate technology can improve the printing process for users. Rick Mix, regional sales manager of Thermoflexx, stated that the company’s flat-top dot technology, as well as its high-definition capabilities, improves graphic capability, reduces costs, shortens delivery times, and simplifies the entire process.

Thermoflexx’s imaging plates and processing equipment have been designed to promote creativity at higher-resolution levels. By imaging plates up to 5080 dpi, users can achieve quality closer to round dots. The company’s HD imaging capabilities provide smoother edges and greater consistency, as well as reducing ink buildup.

Thermoflexx products range the gamut from label and tag segments to flexible packaging and tradeshop markets. In addition, these products feature Open Technology, whereby they can work in tandem with other products on the market. Mix said his company’s goals include a reduction of plate handling and damage, which is possible with an automatic loading tool like FlexTray.

Meanwhile, Techkon detailed its color measurement solutions that are designed for the pressroom and beyond. Its color control solutions include spectrophotometers, hand scanners, and plate meters. MeasureColor provides print quality assurance for printers and prepress operators alike. Its modular measurement systems like ChromaTrack report color quality and promote flexibility.

“We want to take the guesswork out of the process,” said MeasureColor’s Brian Sevigny.

The workshop will also take place in future locations like Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Los Angeles, CA, and Minneapolis, MN.