Diamond Color Navigator, Mitsubishi's new color adjustment interface, represents the future of color matching and basic press operation without the need for manual manipulation of ink keys and other console-based controls.
Diamond Colour Navigator greatly simplifies the skill-intensive task of color adjustments. It also simplifies remote-controlled operations related to adjustments, such as register, water fountain and ink fountain rotation speed and ductor roller on/off timing.
Reduced dependence on press operators' skill:
Until now, accurate adjustments to match the proof or satisfy a customer's color perception have relied heavily upon press operators' knowledge of color separations and skill at judging individual color manipulations. Diamond Color Navigator ensures fast, accurate fine-tuning of colors without complicated ink key moves. Compared with manual adjustments, Diamond Color Navigator cuts color adjustment time in half and increases reproduction accuracy by nearly one-third.
Diamond Color Navigator consists of easy-to-use upper and lower touch monitors. The upper monitor displays the print image as it appears on the press sheet. The print image is created from job and color data transmitted from pre-press via the Mitsubishi Pre-press CIP4 Control server. Operators simply run a finger across the image to highlight ink key zones needing adjustment.
The lower monitor contains a color adjustment "compass" (or color wheel) similar to color pickers found in desktop design software. Using the color wheel, operators move the overall color of the selected area the direction it needs to go to match the proof. Diamond Color Navigator automatically adjusts the appropriate keys on each printing unit the correct amount for all colors in the targeted area. This saves operators from performing repeated manual adjustments on all printing units.
A hand-held spectro-densitometer enables color matching of specific spots on the sheet. Diamond Color Navigator works with the Mitsubishi Color Control System V for precise reproduction of images across the entire sheet.
Demonstrable improvements:
Data collected over a seven-month period at printer sites currently employing Diamond Color Navigator showed:
- Fifty percent drop in time required for ink key changes per pull: Based on a four-color job with a 12-key operation, the average adjustment time using Diamond Color Navigator was 31 seconds. The average time to manually apply ink key changes was 62 seconds.
- Less time for a color OK: The overall amount of time needed to receive a color OK declined from seven minutes, four seconds to four minutes, 54 seconds, based on a 500-sheet run with new CTP plates.
- Fewer ink key moves: The number of ink key moves without Diamond Color Navigator was 137. By contrast, Diamond Color Navigator cut the number of ink key moves to 29. Results were based on a four-color job and a 300-sheet makeready.
Other chief advantages of Diamond Color Navigator are reduced operator workload, easing of skill requirements, improved work environment and increased print quality.
Basic press functions:
Within Diamond Color Navigator's monitors are automatic controls for registration (plate cocking adjustment), ink fountain roller rotation speed, water fountain roller rotation speed and ink ductor on/off function. Touch screen adjustments substitute for manual controls and do away with the need for keys (much like ink keys) on the remote control desk.
