The Best Color color management software has been in the country for many years and is well known to those in the industry. The company that developed this software - Germany Best GmbH was established in 1994. Now it has branch offices in the United States and Malaysia, and branches in Shanghai, France, and Latin America in China. It has a global sales network. From January 2003, Best became a division of EFI (Electronics For Imaging).
1, software version classification
There are mainly three versions of Best Color color management software: Design Edition mainly for low-end users; Color Proof for RIP before and some RIP intermediate file processing; Screen Proof mainly for RIP generated after the 1-BITTIFF file processing, it covers All the features of Color Proof.
2, the software kernel
The Best Color color management software uses the core of EFI in color management. The RIP processing uses the core of the world-renowned RIP vendor ADOBE - ADOBE PS3, so the software supports optional calculation accuracy, workflow and double-byte fonts.
3, the file type can be processed
Color Proof and Screen Proof are two kinds of software whose version has been upgraded several times. It is now 5.0, and there are many file types that can be processed. Color Proof 5.0 can handle TIFF, JPEG, EPS, PS, PDF, DCS, DeltaList (intermediate files generated by Heidelberg DeltaRIP), CT/LW, TIFF/IT, etc. Screen Proof5.0 is not only these file formats, but also It can handle the RIP processing of the screening files - 1-BITTIFF format files and HQ / PGB (HQRIP generated intermediate files), Founder / FMP (Founder RIP generated intermediate files) and so on.
4, software support font
Color Proof and Screen Proof software can support the installation of PS fonts, and the upgraded version 5.0 now supports the installation of CID fonts for testing.
5, software and hardware environment required by the software
Color Proof software is recommended to use P41.0GHz or higher computers with 256MB or more of memory, while Screen Proof software recommends using dual-processor computers with more than P42.0GHz and more than 512MB of memory. Both software require the computer to have free USB ports and CD or DVD. driver. System software requirements are Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Server system. The Design Edition software runs on the MAC and the required operating system is OSX.
6, the software interface
Best company has its own translation company in Germany, which specializes in translating the software interface into various languages. Therefore, the Best Color color management software is Chinese-speaking and the operation interface is a Chinese language interface, which is convenient for domestic users.
7, software parameter adjustment
The Best Color color management software has been continuously improved and updated. It has its own characteristics in color adjustment.
Color Proof and Screen Proof complete the adjustment of the printing equipment by adjusting the total ink volume, adjusting the single-channel ink volume, forming the printer's basic linearity, paper white adjustment, and basic linear calibration. Previous versions of Color Proof and Screen Proof software were cumbersome to do these tasks, and some of the values ​​needed to be completed by the adjuster's experience and understanding of the colors, which inevitably led to different colors caused by the people's understanding. deviation. The current version 5.0 turns these tasks into software to calculate and reduce the deviation caused by human factors. When operators make adjustments, they only need to follow the software prompts to perform the “next†operation and perform “printingâ€. Measurement - reprint - remeasurement ..." work.
On this basis, Best Color also introduced another optional feature-packed plug-in package - Best Premium, which is a combination of hardware and software, including Colormanager, Remoteproof and BestEye. The BestEye is a portable spectrophotometer that can be used in conjunction with Colormanager to generate ICC profile files, and it can also be used in conjunction with Remoteproof as a quality control tool. The use of Color Proof and Screen Proof software in conjunction with the Best Premium software package greatly enhances their capabilities. Both printer linear and printer profiles (ICC Profile files) can be generated in color management software, and print profiles can be generated without the need for third parties. The software is used in combination to avoid subtle deviations of the data due to different software. In addition, the Best Premium package can perform automatic closed-loop correction, which means that it can be “closed indefinitelyâ€.
Another feature worth mentioning in the Best Premium package is that when the two adjustments of printer line shape and plate compensation curve are made, the corresponding 0 and 100 points can be adjusted, which is not available in previous versions. It makes fine adjustments more accurate. However, the Best Premium package can only be used in conjunction with Color Proof and Screen Proof software, and requires more accurate print proofs, including field density, dot gain, and uniform ink color when printed.
As a low-end Design Edition software, the adjustment function is not as strong as the above two software. It fixes some profile (ICC Profile file) in the software for users to choose, and cannot generate or recall the user's own profile. At the same time, it is also not possible to use the profiles generated in the Color Proof and Screen Proof software.
8, the software adjustment of spot colors
Best Color has been certified by PANTONE, Inc. The color values ​​of PANTONE spot colors are embedded in Color Proof and Screen Proof software. At the same time in the software can determine whether the spot color exists, and the name of the spot color corresponding to the PANTONE color, find the corresponding color value and print it out. However, there is no good solution for gold and silver.
9, the software's remote proofing function
In the Best Screen Proof software you can select the "Export" item to generate a file of the file to be printed, the corresponding printer linear, profile, printing profile, color patches and color patches for measurement, the locally measured Lab value, etc. Transfer this file to a different place for printing. Of course, this alone is not enough, both in the local and remote areas need a photometer - BestEye, used to measure the color of the Lab's value and calculate the color difference ΔE value. For users who have purchased the Best Premium package, remote proofing is more convenient and reliable. In the Best Premium package, an adjustment tool to ensure the color consistency of two or more printers has been added, making it easy to ensure the color consistency of remote proofing or multi-printer collaboration.
Design Edition software now does not support remote proofing.
10, review
According to the above description, the features of Best Color's color management software are: The software's color adjustment function is powerful. Most of the work is calculated by the software based on the measurement results, reducing the color difference caused by the difference in the experience of the personnel and the understanding of the colors. It has certain advantages in remote proofing. The Best Premium software package is more convenient to use with software, and the print quality is better, but the requirements for the printing proofs will be higher. Therefore, the user is required to obtain good printing equipment, materials, environment and other factors when printing proofing proofs. control. For Design Edition software, there are few tunable links, a low-end product, and a relatively low price. Let's call it "a powerful MAC print driver."
11. Successful case
The Best Color color management software has entered China since the 1990s and has been adopted by many domestic companies. Its use of manufacturers is not only offset printing industry, as well as gravure printing industry, among which the more well-known companies are: Beijing Yachang color printing, Beijing Ribon Printing Co., Ltd., Dongguan Yuncheng plate making company.