Cromalin is a proof printing process introduced by DuPont in the 1970s. Cromalin proofs are produced by successive exposures in layers on film, which is then laminated onto special paper. Cromalin was particularly widespread in the printing industry in the 1980s and 1990s.
Utilisation:
Cromalin was used to ensure that the colours and design of a printed work matched expectations in the final result – just as with today’s digital proof. With the Cromalin, colour deviations or unwanted design errors could be detected and corrected before actual production.
With the increasing digitisation of prepress, especially since the late 1990s, the Cromalin has been largely replaced by the digital proof. The digital proof works directly from the digital print data and offers a more accurate and flexible way of simulating the printing process. Unlike the Cromalin, which was created on photopolymer-based films and requires a physical output, the digital proof can be easily created in different formats and on different media. Another advantage of the digital proof is its high accuracy in terms of colour reproduction and adaptability.
Why the digital proof replaced the cromalin:
- Costs: The production of a Cromalin proof was expensive and time-consuming, as special materials and exposure processes were required.
- Flexibility: The digital proof can be reprinted quickly and cost-effectively, which is particularly advantageous for changes or short-term adjustments to designs.
- Precision: Digital proofs offer a more accurate simulation of the end product, as they are generated directly from the digital print data and therefore offer very good colour accuracy and attention to detail.
- Sustainability: As digital proofing does not require the use of chemicals or special films, it is considered more environmentally friendly.
- Costs: The digital proof is produced using conventional pigment printing inkjet systems and is therefore considerably cheaper than the costly cromalin proofs.
Due to these advantages, digital proofing has become the standard in modern pre-press and has completely replaced the Cromalin process since the early 2000s.