May 21 st 2013

1. RM-08 Color and RIPs Roadmap David Harris Product Manager May 21st 2013

2. This is a roadmap! • Not all of our roadmap is firm and committed, as we adapt to take into account changing customer and market requirements • Please take note of the status of each item as shown by the icon below 12.1

3. 12.1 Simple and accurate press profiling Better spot color proofing iPro2 and i1iO2 Color and Imaging 12.1 Dedicated FlexRip and Proof DVD FlexRip performance optimizations Simpler Equinox installation Support for Full HD Value for Maintenance !

4. 1 What is new in Color Engine 12.1 • Support for i1Pro2 and i1iO series 2 • New spot color overprint model • Removed character limitations in color object names • Profile smoothing and stabilization

5. Support for i1Pro2 and i1iO series 2 12.1 • The new series of devices from xrite have a number of new features, including support for the XRGA standard • For more information visit: www.xrite.com • They are now supported in Color Engine Pilot • We have also optimized chart formats for more reliable and accurate measurement using the i1iO table

6. New spot color overprint model 12.1 • Esko Color Engine contains a spot color overprint model • Works with gradations of the spot color (eg from a control strip) • Or print charts of individual spot inks in combination with black (or another dark ink) as below. Measure these charts to create “ink profiles” • Make a proof which uses the spot ink in combination with another ink • The Esko color engine calculates a prediction of how the proof will look on press without the need to print a chart of these two inks together • In 12.1 the spot color model has been improved, especially to give better results with flexo and other print processes

7. Removed character limitations 12.1 • CMS database: support for all possible characters • No more character limitations for ink names, ink books, color strategies, profiles and device links • Characters such as $% ./ were not allowed in ink book or ink names • Because of historical operating system file naming restrictions • Users do not expect these limitations in modern software • This is a global change that is being implemented across all Esko Suite 12.1 software

8. Profile smoothing and stabilization 12.1 • In the measurement view for profiles, an option to smooth the data • Especially useful for profiles from flexo presses for example, as they can contain random noise • Removing this noise leads to a better quality profile • Recommended when making profiles for expanded gamut (Equinox)

9. Example of smoothing effect 12.1

10. Profile smoothing and stabilization 12.1 • Apply curve to a profile • Supports PressSync and custom curves • Why? • Eliminate press variation from the profile • Prepare profile for standardised printing condition • Makes it easy to track and adjust ongoing production (using eg Curve Pilot) • Recommended for Equinox

11. Profile smoothing and stabilization 12.1 Interface to apply custom or PressSync curves

12. 2 Color roadmap: second half of 2013 • Support for eXactspectro • Improved support for XRGA and measurement standards • Quality and reliability improvements for FlexProof • Spot color refinement wizard

13. Support for eXactSpectro • New device from x•rite – more information on their website • High accuracy • Supports multiple measurement modes • M standards allow correct handling of substrate with OBA’s • More information on the xrite website • Recommended device for PantoneLIVE • USB interface

14. XRGA and measurement standards • XRGA is a standard for measurement devices • Significantly reduces error between different device models • New x•rite instruments all measure to the XRGA standard • Color Engine Pilot will convert old profile measurements to XRGA • Allows existing databases to be adapted to the new standard • Color Engine also now supports “M factor” measurement options • From ISO 13655-2009 • Allows to deal effectively with presence of optical brighteners • Applies only to xrite instruments that support this option • Color Engine records measurement conditions (standard, M factor)

15. Quality and reliability improvements for FlexProof • Updated “Check and recalibrate” function • Ensures that standard profiles can always be used • Improved diagnostics for measuring devices • Self help saves time and provides faster solution to hardware issues • Smoother separations • Better quality for spot color gradations on the proof

16. Spot color refinement wizard for FlexProof • How accurately are spot colors matched on the proof? • Profile conversion gives only a “basic” level of color accuracy • And no easy way to improve the accuracy • This allows the accuracy to be easily improved • Preserving the benefits of ink profiling and spot color overprint model

17. Automated refinement based on ∆E • Allows iterative refinement of colors, based on measured values • Iterations proceed until desired accuracy is reached

18. Refinement based on appearance • Measurement (∆E) is very useful but does not answer every question • How to handle out of gamut colors? • Color Engine allows selection of the best appearance via a variation chart

19. Refinement based on appearance (2) • Print the variation chart and simply select the patch that has the best appearance • All decisions can be saved in the central color database to use on later jobs

20. 3 Color: longer term roadmap

21. Integrated soft- and hard-copy proofing Colour for digital printing Longer term roadmap for color 2013 – 2014 - 2015 Color managed workflows Equinox: make 7 color process as easy as CMYK

22. Roadmap: color managed workflow • For digital, wide format and conventional print

23. 4 Imaging Engine • Integrated • Designed for quality • Secure roadmap

24. Adobe kernel plus Esko technology 2011 2013 2012 CTP drivers QA tools Screening Imaging Engine Proofer support Color Powered by Print tools Digital print servers+VDP Integration

25. Roadmap to unified RIP Imaging Engine • Existing FlexRip and Nexus products will migrate to Imaging Engine • Powered by Adobe APPE 2014-15 2012 2013 Parallel enhancement and maintenance Migration Pre-release program Imaging Engine Powered by

26. Differences between Imaging Engine and FlexRip • No dispatcher • Automation Engine Pilot interface only • Simplified user interface • APPE kernel • Standard PDF processing – blends, transparencies • Multi-processor and 64 bit • Scaleable performance

27. Imaging Engine – timescale and compatibility • What is the timescale for the unified RIP? • We will pre-release in the second half of 2013 • Migration will start during 2014 • Will RIPped output be identical after changing to Imaging Engine/Adobe PDF Print Engine? • The Imaging Engine will have fully Adobe-standard rendering so in some details it may differ from the output of FlexRip or NexusRip • It will be possible to keep the FlexRip or NexusRip running alongside Imaging Engine in order to make identical reruns, for a reasonable period • When using the same screening (eg Esko circular dot) the rulings and angles from Imaging Engine will be the same as FlexRip

28. Screening planned for unified RIP • Reminder: for reprints, continue to use the old RIP (FlexRip or Nexus)

29. DGC editor for unified RIP • We will use CurvePilot • Already supports PressSync and ex-IntelliCurve Pro features • Will port to Mac OS • Will be able to import Symphony Calibrator files • Timescale in line with unified RIP

30. 5 Feature demonstrations, Q&A