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With complete electronic workflow systems becoming the rule rather than the exception in the graphic arts field, the search for effective digital proofing of jobs is a hot topic among art directors, designers, and printing buyers. The utilization of computer-toplate (CTP) technology, which circumvents the separation film step altogether, virtually requires digital proofs for checking.
Contrary to widespread opinion, the introduction of digital proofing is not too recent a technological event. It was the advent of color electronic prepress systems, like Scitex, in the early '80s that fostered the need for a pre-film-stage proof of the electronic color separation data. Various soft- and hard-- proofing preview devices attempted to fill that need.
Then, a decade ago, Kodak (now Kodak Polychrome) introduced its Approval digital proofing system and 3M (now Imation) began selling its Digital Matchprint equipment. Both systems, by means of laser exposure, generated prints with simulated halftone dots directly from digital data files. Nevertheless, those dot patterns were somewhat different from film output. The equipment was relatively expensive. And it was slow. While 3M's machine lasted only a few years before being withdrawn from the market, Kodak's was more successful.
In fact, today, the Approval system, having undergone various upgrades, is utilized in many prepress and printing establishments where high-quality halftone digital proofs are desired. They are now common in the consumer advertising production field, where such proofs are becoming increasingly acceptable.
But despite those early direct digital color proofing (DDCP) devices,...