Bodoni pressSIGN vs X-Rite i1Profiler

Bodoni pressSIGN measures and manages colour in print production across litho, flexo, gravure, screen and digital processes. It can evaluate output against international targets such as ISO standards and GRACoL G7, or targets defined by the user. Colour tools include Dynamic Density Adjustment, dryback compensation and tonal curve adjustments using TVI, 4CX or Neutral Print Density. PANTONE libraries are included, and custom spot-colour libraries are supported. The Digital edition adjusts curves for RIPs and colour servers including Caldera, EFI, Onyx and ZePrA. Closed-loop connections include Heidelberg, KBA, Komori, Roland and Ryobi systems. Global Print Management subscriptions add multi-site synchronisation, an API, a Live Dashboard, PantoneLIVE support and scheduled email reports. The product is listed for macOS, web and Windows; pressSIGN 12 desktop requirements specify Windows 8.1 64-bit or later and macOS 10.14 or later. Pricing is paid, with a free plan and trial listed; plans include pressSIGN 12 Digital at $1,195, paid once and Professional at $3,895, paid once.

X-Rite i1Profiler creates monitor and printer profiles for creative color control on Windows and macOS. Display profiling can use a basic wizard-driven mode or an advanced user-defined mode. Monitor controls include adjustable or unlimited gamma, white point, and luminance settings, gray-balance optimization, reference profiles for workgroup matching, chromatic adaptation for visual matching, multi-display matching, and display-quality assurance workflows. Printer profiling provides high-patch-count charts, linearization, flash and ambient-light measurements, and Optical Brightener Compensation for papers with optical brighteners. Advanced profile editing includes black-separation controls and white-point editing. The software supports ICC profile export, LUT calibration, and multi-monitor calibration. PANTONE Color Manager libraries or palettes can support printer-profile spot-color optimization. Requirements include 4 GB RAM, 2 GB disk space, a powered USB port, and high-speed internet for installation, downloads, and updates. A measurement instrument or dongle is required, with a license stored on an i1Pro 2 device or HASP4 dongle. Pricing is on request.