JUST Normlicht has introduced the first D50 colour assessment system for the printing industry based on LED.
Something that was previously considered to be impossible in the graphic arts industry, will now be demonstrated for the first time at drupa 2016(hall 9 booth 9E56).
JUST Normlicht will be presenting the first colour assessment systems for the printing industry based on the latest LED technology to meet ISO 3664:2009. Building on its long-standing experience with LED applications, JUST Normlicht has succeeded in developing an LED colour proof light that is capable of simulating the spectral energy distribution of D50 (CIE) so well, and of meeting the requirements concerning the metamerism index and the colour rendering index, that colour matching to ISO 3664:2009 is possible. The LED systems are likewise equipped for soft proof applications. The dimmable LED light can be exactly adjusted to the monitor brightness.
In contrast to fluorescent lamps, where mercury is indispensable, the LED light needs no mercury at all, making it more ecologically compatible than conventional fluorescent lamps. Another decisive advantage is its energy efficiency, which is also accompanied by a substantially longer service life in comparison with fluorescent lamps. LED colour proofing systems from JUST Normlicht are no more expensive to buy than comparable systems based on fluorescent lamps. So, switching to an LED solution pays off from the very first day.
“The Missing Link” – Print. Measure. See.
For 40 years, JUST Normlicht has been developing products and solutions to create standardized lighting conditions in accordance with international standards. On drupa 2016, JUST Normlicht will introduce solutions for the implementation of the new ISO-standard.
Following adoption of the new standard ISO 12647-2:2013 for a standardized offset printing process, the prerequisites for its practical implementation have now been fulfilled. In the form of Fogra51 for coated papers with moderate fluorescence, and Fogra52 for uncoated papers with high fluorescence, characterization data for offset printing are now available with corresponding ICC and Device-Link profiles. The definition of measuring condition M1 in ISO 13655:2009, the standard for spectral measurement and colorimetrical computations, created a further important prerequisite. With illuminant D50, measuring condition M1 is based on a higher UV component, this being necessary for measuring papers containing optical brighteners.
The updated ISO 3664:2009 is an important standard in connection with the practical implementation of ISO 12647-2:2013 for standardized printing with papers containing brighteners. The standard for visual colour matching is of essential importance in this context. The requirements of ISO 3664:2009 regarding a limited metamerism index in the UV range, and the closer adaptation of the UV component in the spectrum to daylight, have already been met by the JUST daylight 5000 proGraphic fluorescent lamps from JUST Normlicht since 2010. As a result, all JUST Normlicht devices comply with ISO 3664:2009, meaning that, in combination with an M1-compatible hand-held measuring instrument, what you now see really is what was actually measured beforehand. Consequently, there is no longer anything to stand in the way of standard-compliant colour matching in accordance with the new process standard.
Use of LED lamps in general lighting in the graphic arts industry
The general lighting situation in production shops and pressrooms has a considerable influence on the colour matching of print products. Shielding against extraneous light and avoiding mixed light at the colour proofing station are essential prerequisites for ISO standard-compliant colour matching. For the first time, Just Normlicht has developed and is demonstrating and LED lamp designed to replace general fluorescent lighting in production environments. This makes it possible to create standard-light conditions throughout the production area that approximate conditions at the proofing station. LED retrofit lamps already available on the market offer only inadequate colour rendering, and the individual lamps vary greatly in terms of their spectral properties. Another disadvantage of retrofit systems results from their use with imperfectly matched LED drivers, since retrofit lamps are operated on the existing ballast of the fluorescent lamps. This demonstrably has a significant impact on service life. In contrast, the new LED lamps from JUST are operated on optimally matched LED drivers. This entails slight extra expenditure when converting the lighting installation, but it is more than compensated for by a service life of roughly 55,000 operation hours. The new JUST LED lamps rely on the time-proven combination of glass and light, since glass is optically pure and not subject to aging.
JUST LED lamps can optimally adapt to different lighting situations and offer high-quality lighting conditions at any installation height. The spectral properties of the D50 LED lamps are almost as good as required by ISO 3664:2009 and therefore perfectly suited to use in printing rooms and any graphic arts environments. The influence of extraneous light at the press control station is minimized in this way. Moreover, the energy efficiency – which is generally the argument in favour of switching to LED technology – is substantially better than that of existing lighting installations based on fluorescent lamps. The payback time is comparatively short, especially when fitting out entire production locations with LED lighting installations from JUST Normlicht. JUST Normlicht is presenting its range of solutions at drupa (hall 9 booth 9E56).
