Compose Releases Star Proof 6.5

We are proud to announce the release of Star Proof 6.5. Star Proof is Compose's dot per dot proofing solution. Capable of generating proofs up to 220 lpi. Star Proof does this by recombining 1 bit tiffs or ESKO LEN files. This new version of Star Proof brings compatibility to the new Epson Stylus Pro 3880, 4900, 7890 and 9890 plotters.

The Epson Stylus Pro 4900 is designed to offer professionals a powerful combination of performance, flexibility and ease-of-use. It includes automatic switching between roll and cut-sheet media, allowing users to have both the front paper cassette and roll feeder loaded with different media types and automatically switch between them with a simple driver selection. In addition, the high-capacity paper cassette holds up to 200 sheets of 8.5”x11” to 17”x24” sized sheets.



The Epson Stylus Pro 7890 and 9890 offer the same leading technology found in the Epson Stylus Pro 900-series, including ePlaten™ automatic media loading, spindle-free roll media loading, a roll media tracking system, front control panel with 2.5-inch color LCD, rotary cutter, fabric catch bin, and robust printer stand. The printers also feature Epson’s latest ink-repelling coating and auto nozzle verification technologies to virtually eliminate clogged nozzles, and use nine individual high-capacity ink cartridges up to 700 ml. In addition, these new models are capable of handling virtually any media type, in roll or cut-sheet. Both models are available with an optional SpectroProofer® spectrophotometer.

All these printers including the 3880 can swap black inks without having to remove any print cartridges. This is very important for those customers who switch back and forth between glossy and matte media.

Star Proof takes full advantage of the features included in these printers.

If you have any questions about this contact me directly or your Compose dealer.

Live from the press room

Dear Reader,

I'm at a very large flexo printer in Mexico doing a Star Proof calibration. So far our result our results on the Epson WT7900 have been great. We are doing two calibrations, one on Epson Clear Proof Film, the other on Epson Metallic Proof Film. On the Epson Clear Proof we have over 97% of our Pantone® guide (1126 colors) matching. While on the Epson Metallic Proof Film we have over 90%.



The next step is to calibrate Star Proof to their presses. But before we get to that, we calibrated their press to G7. As I write this, we are are reading the values from the confirmation run. So far the numbers look great.

The idea behind G7 on a flexo press is to have a shared appearance with SWOP 3 and GRACoL. In other words, the idea is that what's printed on a G7 calibrated flexo press looks like things printed in other presses.

By the time I leave this customer, they will have their presses calibrated to G7, their proofer matching their presses and better Pantone® color accuracy on proofs than ever before.

With Star Proof 6 spot color matching is a breeze

By Michael Jahn



Capable of simulating line screens up to 220 lpi, Star Proof is well known for reproducing the sharpest dots possible on an Epson proofer. Star Proof will show the same dot produced by your RIP on your proofer, in just the way they will show once printed on your press. But, did you know that Star Proof can reproduce spot colors with a high degree of accuracy?

The new EPSON Sylus Pro 7900/9900 and WT7900 offer an incredibly larger color gamut than previous plotters. This is due to the additional inks these plotters utilize. Orange and green on the Stylus Pro 7900 and 9900. And white ink on the WT7900. Star Proof 6 takes advantage of this larger color space to accurately reproduce spot colors. Calibrating Star Proof to do this, it's very easy with its optional Packaging Option. Here's how:

With the aid of X-Rite's color port, we create a target made up of all the spot colors that we wish to calibrate. Then we print it and read it using your favorite spectro device - in our case, we used the i1 iSis reader, also from X-Rite.




Then we iterate this process. As we go along, we watch the dE between the actual values and the expected values get smaller and smaller



... and at the end of the process, we have over 1100 spot color definitions with 96% of them under 5 dE. Simple!



Another very cool feature of the Star Proof Packaging option is the ability to add spot colors by using an spot spectrophotometer, like X-Rite's i1. Read it, add it to the spot color list and you are ready to use it.

Think accurate duotones
Have you ever tried to proof a duotone? Star Proof can generate color precise duotones. With Star Proof your press operator can see a proof and know what inks make up a color. Try that with your average proof from a plotter.

Star Proof also enables you to assign the appropriate opacity to each spot color providing ultimate press simulation.

You may be thinking, why a dot proof?

Printing processes that use coarse screening or different screen ruling in the same job will have a major influence on its visual appreance and color gamut.
Actual dot per dot - right down to rosettes, fine line art, text at just 1pt, and even defects such as moire patterns.

Here's how a typical Star Proof workflow looks like:

Click on the image to see a larger view

The new Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 is here and Star Proof is ready

This image was printed on clear film on an Epson Stylus Pro WT7900. What makes it different from other prints done on other plotters? Well, if you look at the flying dove, or the guy's checkered shirt, you'll notice that there's white. But wait a minute, wasn't this printed on clear film and the background is certainly not white. How can this be?

Let me introduce you to the new Epson Stylus Pro WT7900. And you guess it, it can print white ink. What makes this new printer more interesting, if you are say involved in flexo printing or part of the packaging industry, is that Star Proof can drive it. As you may know, Star Proof is a dot per dot proofing system. Meaning that it can reproduce the same halftone screen patterns that will end up on press. Star Proof can provide very accurate color proofs with dots and with this new printer, with white dots!
You can click on any of the images on this post to see them bigger.

Call your Compose dealer or us directly at (916) 920-3838 for a printed sample.

Epson launches Stylus Pro WT7900 for packaging proofing

At LabelPrint in Brussels earlier this month, Epson launched a new plotter called Stylus Pro WT7900. What sets this plotter apart from all other proofing plotters in the market is that the Stylus Pro WT7900 can print white ink. A white ink capable plotter has been coveted by the packaging world for a long time. The new Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 can print on flexible film, paper and metallic media, this allows this plotter to deliver proofs that closely resemble what the final product will be like.

When the printer becomes available earlier next year, our Star Proof will be ready for it. Star Proof is the perfect proofing software to drive this new printer from Epson. Star Proof currently delivers superb spot color matching. Plus Star Proof can simulate, dot per dot, screens up to 220 lpi. Add white ink to this, and you have a very powerful, very accurate proofing system for the packaging world.

Please e-mail or call me for further information.