Opaltone opens up spot colour matching system to Pantone

Opaltone has made it easier for customers to use its proprietary system, which allows for proofing and printing of spot colours using process inks.

The vendor, which is based on the Gold Coast, has created a system that allows users to combine cyan, magenta and yellow with a red, green or blue ink (CMY+RGB) to "digitally simulate 100% of spot colours".

For proofing, Opaltone supplies the VK RIP software, which integrates with the Epson Stylus Pro range of printers, as well as inks and media. For litho or flexo printing, the vendor supplies colour separation software CX.

In the past, customers had to pay a licence fee and the system would only work with the vendor's proprietary Opaltone Matching System, forcing user to convert colours from the Pantone Matching System (PMS) to OMS.

Opaltone modified the licence fee in 2010, and now hopes to make the system more accessible by opening it for use with PMS colours.

Business development manager John Feeney said pre-press houses or printers that wanted to switch to the proofing system would receive their discounted RIP along with Opaltone’s consumables package

"We sell the ink and media a lot cheaper than Epson ink and media," he claimed, adding that Opaltone inks cost 54c per mL, compared with an average price of 75c per mL for rival inks.

For litho and flexo printing, the CX software is provided as a standalone purchase for less than $3,000, and will work with any press with at least six colours.

Click here to read our feature on certified colour.