Pagevision adopted by Leading Newspapers
by Caj Södergård
Pagevision is a tool for inspecting newspaper pages both before and
during the printing run which is in daily use at several European newspapers.
The Pagevision system has been developed at VTT Information Technology
as result of several years of research in image processing and management
and was brought to market in co-operation with DATA Engineering Ltd.
The system solves some of the problems arising from the increasing use
of colours in the newspapers. The colours make reading newspapers more
fun, but they also complicate the task of achieving high printing quality
under tight time schedules. Printing presses need new means of inspecting
and controlling the colour quality factors. The Pagevision system consists
of a network of PCs. The system provides a means to view the pages on the
monitor at the different stages of the production process. The page data
is fed into the system from the editorial system, the page transmission
receiver, or the printing plate scanner. The pages are held in a database
of the server, from where they are called up to the viewing stations. The
proofs are available on the monitor for checking after page make-up, during
page transmission and platemaking. The displayed proof is especially important
in the fast production of colour pages where physical proofs are not available.
Especially in satellite printing plants it is laborious to deal with unusual
colour combinations or spot colours such as those in company logos. If
there is no proof available, it is almost impossible for the press crew
to know if some process colours are missing or wrong.
The Pagevision system in use.
The system includes spectrophotometric measurement devices and a mathematical
model of the colour responses of the monitor and of the printing process,
and so the colour tones on the monitor closely match the colours of the
printed product. The system shows the progress of the page production,
indicating the colour separations that have been completed on eacg page.
Major quality defects, such as striping and transmission errors as well
as missing or interchanged colour separations, can be detected early in
the process. Pagevision also helps the pressmen to control the colours
that come out on the printed pages.
Pagevision gives an easy-to-understand overview of the current production
situation. Different printing products editions, inserts and special
sections can be overviewed separately. The pages are laid out in
a mosaic pattern on the screen and they can be enlarged and studied in
detail.
Pagevision is used by the largest newspapers in Finland (Helsingin Sanomat,
Ilta Sanomat and Savon Sanomat), Sweden (Aftonbladet, Eskilstuna-Kuriren,
Sydsvenskan Tryck Ab, Dagens Nyheter, Expressen and Östgötakorrespondenten),
Norway (Oslo Dagbladet), France (L'Indépendant), Germany (Berliner
Verlag) and the Netherlands (De Telegraaf).
Please contact:
Caj Södergård - VTT Information Technolgy
Tel: +358 9 456 5963
E-mail: caj.sodergard@vtt.fi
