pressSIGN software measures and controls the printing process.

pressSIGN makes it easy to run to all the international printing standards - ISO 12647-2, ISO 12647-3, GRACol G7, SWOP.

Input any CMYK ICC profile and make the profile the press target, read the actual paper colour and adjust the profile. Export the new profile for use in pre-press

What's new in pressSIGN version 3

• All readings saved to a database
• PC version offers the ability to have one database with many users
• Add a comment to any job or reading
• Auto generation of colour bar as pdf or eps file.
• Advanced search features included. Search by job name, press, operator, customer, score, standard, date, time and comment
• Sort jobs by name, customer, time, press, run length, job duration etc.
• Save searches for future use

pressSIGN-Pro offers further features including, full sheet view showing how to adjust each ink key across the sheet, the capture of make-ready times, full trend analysis, multiple pressSIGNs feeding one database (PC only), the ability to use pressSIGN-Trends, importing and analysis of multiple jobs. There is more info on pressSIGN-Pro on our web page.

pressSIGN works with the X-Rite Eye-One and is available as a bundle with the Eye-One. See our page pressSIGN suite.

pressSIGN - Five easy steps to accurate colour
• add the pressSIGN control strip to one of your jobs
• read the control strip with your Eye-One and adjust the densities as recommended by pressSIGN
• read the control strip when dry and update the dry back calculations
• adjust the plate curve as recommended by pressSIGN
• run the next job with the pressSIGN settings and you'll have consistently accurate colour

pressSIGN main features

pressSIGN main window

• uniquely predicts the correct density for each of the CMYK solids based on the press target  selected

• export the data to adjust the plate curve to achieve the correct dot gain

• built-in standards include ISO 12647-2, 12647-3, 12647-4, 12647-6, GRACol G7.
• use any CMYK ICC profile as your press target.
• measure the paper white and adjust ICC profile. Export the adjusted profile back to the pre-press workflow for use in proofing and program set-up.
• measure wet or dry - pressSIGN compensates for the colour shift as the ink dries
• measure the color bar across the whole width of the press sheet in seconds with the Eye-One (requires the Eye-One extended ruler)
• generate a colour bar to match the press target you have selected
• receive a detailed pdf report and/or label print output
• traffic light scoring system with default settings fully user configurable 
• make individual readings anywhere on the press sheet for density, dot area, Lab, deltaE comparisons
• create averaged dot gain curves from multiple readings. Allows two presses to be set up with the same plate queue
• average readings from a job to get an overall score.
• generate your own standards based on previous jobs or typing in your own values.
• add a comment to any job or measurement.
• search the database by job name, press, operator, client, score, standard, comment, date, time etc.
• sort jobs by name, press, operator, client, score, standard, date.

pressSIGN meets all your measurement needs
• CIE L*a*b* values for CMYK & spot colours
• Density values for CMYK & spot colours
• Dot Gain (Tonal Value Increase - TVI) for CMYK & spot colours
• Grey Balance
• Overprint values
• Ink Trapping
• Paper Colour

pressSIGN 3 - full press width color bar
Generate a color bar for the full width of the press sheet (see screen shot)) or as a single set of patches for placement on the press sheet. Use the full width color bar to replace your current color bar or use the single color bar as an additional bar on the sheet. See pressSIGN-Pro for details on how to adjust each ink-key.

pressSIGN generates the color bar based on the press target you have chosen. For example, you may have selected an ICC profile as your press target but your customer wants to print on a different paper color. Read the new paper color with the Eye-One, re-calculate the grey balance, select the measure points for the tints and save the settings. Now generate a new color bar based on your customers needs.

pressSIGN 3 predicts the correct density
All international printing standards set target L*a*b* color values for the primaries (CMYK). pressSIGN converts these target colors into density settings that the press operator can use. See the pressSIGN main window above where pressSIGN tells the operator that for the best results the magenta density needs to be increased by 5% , the yellow density needs 2% more but the cyan and black are as close to the standard as that ink, paper and press combination will allow.

pressSIGN has generated ideal target densities for this press sheet. These densities need to be applied across the width of the press sheet by the operator.

For a more sophisticated report see pressSIGN-Pro which tells the operator how to adjust the density of every ink key across the press to meet the L*a*b* value targets.

pressSIGN 3 adjust the plate curve.
To match the customer's proof or meet any ISO 12647 standard the dot gain on press must be controlled. pressSIGN reads the dot gain from the color bar and generates an adjustment curve. This plate adjustment curve is then exported to the plate or imagesetter RIP. Average several readings to get a smooth curve. Import readings from another press to create average plate adjustment curve to apply to two or more presses.

pressSIGN 3 compensates for dry-back
Use pressSIGN both to evaluate the press sheets and adjust the press during the press run. Because pressSIGN compensates for any color shift that occurs as the ink dries, use pressSIGN to adjust the press-on-the-fly. Adjust the densities as suggested by pressSIGN and find the colours will dry back to hit the required targets. Each control strip reading takes only a few seconds and you have a objective measure of the colour, grey balance, trapping and overprint.

Measure the control strip in one sweep or individual patches

pressSIGN step by step guide to accurate printing

Setting the right dot gain curve can be difficult. pressSIGN provides you with the tools to set the correct dot gain curve quickly and easily. Read one sheet or multiple sheets and within seconds you'll have the plate adjustment curve to add to your plate or imagesetter. Import this data directly into the most popular RIPs.

Measure & compare dot gain for process and spot color

Complete set of measurements in seconds
pressSIGN works in conjunction with the X-Rite Eye-One spectrophotometer and reads the pressSIGN control strip in seconds. Choose the control strip to suit the job or press. Read a strip that runs right across the press sheet up to B1/1000 mm wide (with the Bodoni extended ruler) or place a single set 23 patches anywhere on the press sheet. Read either the strip with one swipe . Alternatively measure the patches individually. When you have read the strip you'll receive an instant report on all aspects of the press sheet (see the main window above).The speed with which pressSIGN operates allows you to monitor your press run constantly. You can therefore ensure the complete run conforms to the standard selected

Choose the right press target
Select different international printing standards according to the type of press you are running, the type of paper, the appropriate dot gain curve and your customers needs.

Select the standard or create your own

All standards include the choice of appropriate paper types:

• ISO 12647-2 for sheet and web offset
• ISO 12647-3 for newsprint
• ISO12647-4 for gravure
• ISO 12647-6 for flexographic
• GRACol 2006 (G7)
• Already measured press sheet: - Capture the way the press is printing now so that you can reproduce the same condition when you need to re-run the job. Ideal for reproducing work that is outside any standard or for customers who want to conduct a press pass.
• CMYK ICC Profile - import a profile and then adjust the profile see below
• Custom target - type in the target L*a*b values for the primary colors (CMYK) plus the dot gain etc.

Import an ICC Profile as your press target

It is often easier to match press and proof using a common ICC profile. An ICC profile is used throughout the pre-press workflow and for color accuracy it is often better to use the same profile as the press target. presssIGN makes matching the ICC profile easy but also adds further features to help color matching on press.

Import an ICC profile, with options to change paper color & grey balance

• Import any CMYK ICC profile
• Measure or type in the paper color that will be used to print the job. This will adjust the Lab value targets of the primaries and amend the dot gain. You can then re-calculate the grey balance.
• Export the adjsuted ICC profile back out of pressSIGN for use in the pre-press workflow.
• Save this new standard and then generate a new color bar to match the new target. 

Use the current readings as a new standard

Some print buyers still  want to be at the factory in order to pass the job on press. pressSIGN allows you to capture how the job as it is printed, so that it can be replicated for the rest of the run and  for any re-runs.

Just read the press sheets as they come off the press. Select the readings that pass the print buyers standards and average those readings in pressSIGN. Save these average readings as a new standard. You can then return to this saved standard at any time and reproduce the job exactly.

pressSIGN  also allows you to customise a standard by typing in target values for the primaries and dot gain etc.

Compare colours, density and CIELAB Delta E anywhere on the sheet

Once the standard has been set select the default tolerances or adjust the tolerances to suit. For example you can add or remove tolerances for grey balance, overprint and trapping.

pressSIGN turns the Eye-One into complete press measurement tool.
Measure the Lab value, density and dot area and compare it with other readings either from the press sheet or your Pantone book, a proof or ink drawn down. Set pressSIGN to automatically check the DeltaE or Dot Area of the CMYK primaries or compare the Lab values/Dot area of secondary colours or spot colours. You can even type in a target Lab value from Adobe PhotoShop, and compare this with the colour on the press sheet.

pressSIGN 3 - Database design
Every pressSIGN 3 reading is stored in the pressSIGN database. Search, sort and select jobs by

• Job name
• Client
• Press
• Operator
• Comment
• Date
• Time
• Standard
• Score

The pressSIGN database design helps production managers understand the performance of their press(es). For example, select jobs by the press or operator and review the score for all the jobs printed on any day or shift. Searching the database for previously entered comments helps identify performance changes due to alterations in consumable use. Save searches for repeated use.  

pressSIGN traffic light system
Each reading in pressSIGN is given a score. Select multiple readings for an average score. pressSIGN comes with a default scoring system but users can adjust the scoring to suit their needs. The default percentage for an acceptable print (solid green) is 80%, the production controller can set this percentage to any value required. The other scores will be adjusted to compensate.

Download a single pressSIGN control strip