Prepress Epson, Accuracy Proofing For CTP (computer to plate)

Jim, you were talking about the Epson 10600 and accuracy. We have same proofer and are curious to know what paper you are running? Our proofs are very accurate up to 3/4 tones but the density of solid colors throws out the shadows as going light. It is just too soft and light in many areas as compared to the press output. We are using Epson Photo Semigloss. A Consultant recommended changing papers to get the solid ink density up, then recal. to that. Please advise and TIA

Hey Samuel, we run epson semimatte #so41659 for all of our prepress proofs. We run 10-14 pubs per month with different stocks some have 48lb guts and 60lb cvr, some have 38 lb text and 50 lb cvr, and some have 45 lb guts and 60 lb cvr. Some sheetfed and some heatset web, we will be moving to all sheetfed soon. It did take a little getting used to the softness of the epson's,they aren't as sharp as final print,in fact they cant be. My shadows look good and deep on our proofs and match print very well. But I do it the old school way as far as how I do my color,the numbers tell the story of density. In deep dark black cat shadow detail it's all about the black plate,the other 3 colors are useless. My black plates determine the final result. I see people with shadows like 75-80% in yellow and magenta and black in the 50's and 60's and wonder why the shadows look weak and washed out,or have a hue shift. As an old school stripper who. . .
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