Khoury of Alwan Color Expertise to address<= span style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>

Device Link Profile advantages at

2007 PIA/GATF Color Management Conference

Lyon, November 28, 2007 - There are many methods for targeting SWOP, GRACoL, and other standard print specifications. To streamline production control processes w= hile still reliably and easily matching these printing specifications, increasing numbers of printing companies are implementing workflows based on the use of Device Link Profiles. Yet some shy away from using this technique, either because of a lack of understanding or hesitation to make changes to customer-supplied files.

This controversial topic is on the agenda at next month's PIA/GATF Color Management Conference, where Elie Khoury, president of= Alwan Color Expertise and a world-renowned graphic ar= ts color expert, is planning to speak on the topic.

Printers Know What Is Good for Their ClientsSays Khoury of Device Link Profile advantages, "Printers who claim that they do not want to 'change clients' files' should remember that their RIPs, proofing devices, filmsetters, and platesetters are doing exactly that: changing the cli= ent files. The real question is, would printers rather match their clients' dot= s, or match the colors their clients request - more reliably, consistently and efficiently? Isn't customer satisfaction and achieving the results their customers want the most important criteria?"= ;

The 9^th Annual PIA/GATF Color Management Conference

Khoury will make these and other remarks at the upcoming 2007 PIA/GATF Color Man= agement Conference, December= 9-11, 2007 at the Point Hilton Tapatio Cliffs resort in Phoenix, Arizona= <www.gain.net>. Now in its 9th year, the PIA/GATF Color Management Conference is the only one devoted exclusively to color management technology and best practices for implementation.

A Brief Explanation of Device Link Profiles

Device Link Profiles are an ICC specified mechanism for linking individual ICC device profiles, for example= a source and a destination profile, for achieving the color space conversions required in repurposing, proofing and ultimately printing files in an autom= ated way, while preserving rendering intent to the greatest extent possible. Typ= ical device link workflows can include scanner to standard working color space, digital camera to standard working space, digital camera to printer, standa= rd working space to printer, or lithographic press to pro= ofer. Applications for using device link profiles can include converting between different printing processes, process calibration within a printing process, and even the ability to save on chromatic inks by creating special color compositions in the data to be printed (gray component replacement).=

In an industry committed to quality standards, Khoury emphasizes that anyone who do= esn't employ the most effective techniques to control and optimize color files is courting costly headaches in the long run. "It's like an automob= ile manufacturer not performing quality control on the various parts that go in= to manufacturing a car," he says. "Production problems are alm= ost guaranteed."

The use of device link profiles, available in products like Alwan's CMYK Optimiz= er, results in an ISO standardized file and print production process that perfo= rms better than a "homemade" process for meeting a standard. The resu= lt can be a 30% increase in productivity and the ability to add 5% more net pr= ofit to the printer's bottom line; thereby almost doubling the typical profit for most printers.

Combine this profit with a faster r= oute to customer happiness, and you've got a recipe whose success far outweighs = any benefit to complex, homegrown solutions.

About Alwan Color Expertise

Alwan Color Expertise was founded in Lyon, France<= /span>, in 1997= by president Elie Khoury. His vision - to demonstrate how standardizing and controlling color through= out every stage of production - has resulted in the company becoming a world le= ader in standardization and color management implementation. Today, Alwan provides software, consultancy and training to = key players throughout the graphic arts industry, from printers to publishers a= nd from software developers to hardware manufacturers.

Alwan Color Expertise offers a choice of four full-featured software solutions within the Alwan CMYK Optimizer produ= ct family. Each delivers specialized capabilities that enable all partners alo= ng the graphic production line to guarantee the color accuracy of their work, while ensuring optimum production further down the line. The different vers= ions of Alwan CMYK Optimizer can seamlessly communic= ate with each other via a Settings file that is integrated within the software. Photographers, publishers and printers can work using the same standards, in complete security.

Alwan Color Expertise has appointed specialist distributors for each of the targeted ma= rket segments. An ever-growing number of leading pre-press manufacturers are eit= her bundling Alwan software with their products or recommending it with their systems, such as Bodoni, Chromix, Dalim, Gradual a= nd PerfectProof. Visit www.alwancolor.com for inf= o.

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Contact:

America= s

Helene S= mith

HSPR

Tel +1 321 388 6511

Email: smith@helenesmith.com