Using data flexibly and for multiple purposes is essential for survival in today’s highly competitive market. Increasing digitization of prepress operations has driven the need for automatic data conversions from an existing color space to a different, target color space. The printing process, the inks used, the reproducible color space, the individual dot gain, and the paper all play a decisive role in these color transformations. Consequently, manual conversions of data to a different color space involve a major effort. Moreover, a great deal of technical knowledge is also required. Up to now, data reuse frequently required re-creation completely from scratch, particularly in catalog and ad production.

With GMG ColorServer the processes of color conversion, scaling, sharpening, separation, and optimization of pixel and PDF data can be executed fully automatically via hotfolders.

One of the outstanding functions of GMG ColorServer is fully automatic CMYK color conversions. This is used to convert CMYK data from one standard – industry standards, such as GRACoL, PSR, ISO, and 3DAP, or in-house standards – to another industry or in-house standard. This allows incoming image data received from different sources to be “normalized” to a single, uniform standard. Similarly, it also allows outgoing data to be optimized for multiple output processes, respective of the specific printing process or conditions.

GMG ColorServer was developed by GMG in collaboration with leading printers and publishers and is based on GMG's 4D color management. The software computes the original and target values directly in CMYK – without the detour via a LAB color space. This means the properties of the black channel in the original data are retained in their exact proportions in the transformed, target CMYK color space ensuring the visual impression of the output remains identical. An ICC approach cannot lead to the desired result as the CIELab conversion color space used is three-dimensional and lacks information about the black channel generation (fourth color) required for accurate color conversions.

The increasing use of digital cameras and RGB-based workflows is driving more and more RGB data use. However, the RGB data supplied is often in unedited form, meaning the resolution has to be scaled to the final size and the file sharpened in accordance with the changed resolution. The data is then subsequently separated into the required CMYK color space. GMG ColorServer’s hot folder technology handles this procedure fully automatically. RGB data placed in a hotfolder are scaled, sharpened and separated in accordance with the parameters assigned to the hotfolder. This automatic process makes manual editing in applications like Adobe Photoshop® obsolete. The separations generated by GMG are far more accurate than separations produced using ICC, with fewer problems when printing.

RGB data can be optimized with GMG ColorServer. The following three starting and target color spaces are available, and can be combined at will: Adobe 98 RGB, sRGB and ECI RGB. This is particularly useful in standardizing RGB data in prepress as well as web and display-based applications.

In addition to the handling of pixel data, it is also possible to manipulate PDF files for both CMYK-to-CMYK and RGB-to-CMYK conversions. When converting PDF files from one color space to another, the RGB images within the PDF file can be automatically scaled, sharpened, and separated. It is no longer necessary to revert to image and layout applications during the document creation process.

In addition to unsurpassed quality, the major advantages of GMG ColorServer lie in dramatic speed improvements and automation of work processes through very accurate, high speed color transforms via hotfolder technology. This results in large, continual cost savings.

Working with standard profiles – delivered by GMG – means production can be started immediately using reference profiles extensively tested and certified by GMG. Of course, custom GMG ColorServer profiles for CMYK-to-CMYK color space transformations can also be generated by users themselves or authorized GMG resellers.

The flexibility and versatility of GMG ColorServer is demonstrated by the diverse customer base that includes agencies with their own prepress departments, repro houses and prepress businesses, printing companies of all types, as well as newspaper, periodical and book publishers.