IPA Ink Optimization RoundUP

Results of past IPA RoundUPs were groundbreaking in scope, advancing a variety of core technologies and process innovations. In 2010, IPA will examine a potentially viable technology to dramatically reduce costs within the print production workflow; ink optimization software.

ABOUT THE ROUNDUP

Ink Optimization software works by reducing the amount of CMY inks that are required to produce a color replacing them with black ink. This can have advantages of lower printing costs and better handling on press. It can also have disadvantages such as color change and loss of detail in images. This RoundUP will evaluate a number of available solutions for ink optimization from different manufacturers it will help users determine if ink optimization software is right for them and which of the many offerings best fits their needs.

WHO IS THIS FOR

The RoundUP can be used as a research tool when looking at investing in ink optimization software. The group that will be most interested in the results are those directly involved printing and prepress.

"The recent advent of tools for automatically re-separating and optimizing customer-supplied files represents a huge advance in enabling printers to take charge of the raw materials they require for a cost-effective and efficient print manufacturing process. I think that the re-separation and optimization, for the press, of customer-supplied files will quickly be adopted as the standard prepress workflow in the print industry."  -Gordon Pritchard, Former Technical Marketing Manager for Creo and Kodak

"The IPA's Ink Optimization Study offers our industry a valuable opportunity to review the results of different ink optimization software in a controlled environment. This study provides an excellent starting point for printers considering ink optimized workflows." -Chris Smyth, Prepress Manager, Toronto

WHAT WILL BE TESTED

Ink optimization software from a variety of vendors will be subjected to a variety of test. In the end this testing will help end users determine what software is fits their needs. The tests conducted will compare the the ink optimization software in terms of:

• Total ink reduction

• Color change

• Stability on press

• File integrity

• Features

WHERE CAN I SEE THE RESULTS

The results of the RoundUP will be presented June 7-8 2010 at the IPA Technical Conference, Westin O'Hare, Rosemont, IL. The results will also be available in a report published by the IPA.