NT September 1997 Beta offers color system to newspapers By Mike Tartar Managing Editor While newspapers don't have nearly the need of commercial printers when it comes to color, they will need systems as color increases in their product. One system that is currently in use at several newspapers is Beta Industries color system. The system is made up of Beta's custom gray balance color bar, beta color densitometers and a beta color viewer. It features yellow, magenta, cyan , black and three-color gray balance targets in every ink zone. "Any CMYK environment could use this system," Michael Seibig, vice president of sales and marketing, said. "And most of your large newspapers are four color." The color system offers newspapers a chance to keep their color quality high and consistent. The individual components of the system are designed to work together. "Quality control is an issue," Seibig said. "If today it is garbage, tomorrow will be garbage, too." And the use of four color could further problems. "When you go to four-color work, you multiply any problems," he said. The color bar can be placed in the cutoff section of the newspaper so pressmen have access to the information right away. The color densitometers feature a gray balance mode, plus density, dot gain, trapping and other automatic functions. The viewer is used to examine color proofs and press sheets for slur, doubling, ink/water imbalance, register, mottle, picking and other potential problems. It has a tungsten halogen light source and rechargeable batteries. Quality color is an issue that could potentially affect the newspaper in a number of ways, including newsprint waste. But newspapers have traditionally used other methods to deal with color. "They produce a newspaper on a daily basis and for the most part they rely on employees to get color quality," Seibig said. A quality color system relies on measured results instead of eyeballing the color, which allows for consistency of color. "It might not be something that the newspapers go crazy for, but it could save them money over a year in terms of waste," Seibig said. Beta's system runs between $2,000 to $4,000. Additionally, the color bar can be digitized for integration into a digital work flow. Beta has worked primarily in the commercial environment where the demand for consistent color is more prevalent. For more information call Beta Industries at 201-939-2400. September 1997 NT Contents Top of Page | Front Page | Contact Us | Subscribe | Advertise