Worldwide, Agfa claims more than 7,000 installations of its Sherpa piezo inkjet proofers, three-quarters in contract proofing environments, including packaging, Cicogna says.
You get what you pay for
"It's crystal clear," says Jerry Willer, worldwide product marketing manager, thermal proofing systems, Kodak, "that thermal costs more than inkjet. In fact, inkjet is roughly 20 percent of the cost of a thermal system." You get what you pay for, Willer suggests: a thermal proof that is specifically designed to emulate the printing press in every dimension in terms of ink density, image structure, substrate, overprint trapping, correct gamut, and special plates such as metallics or white. Because the aim is to emulate the press as nearly as possible, Willer says, it is the halftone proof's ability to match the "nuances" that commands the premium price.





