The digital chips allow printers and designers to view Pantone colours before they go to press.

The new development is the first version designed specifically for digital presses and is an extension of Pantone's library of fan guides and books.

Pantone's colours are presented in a tear-out chip format on coated stock that can be attached to artwork. "When you look at how the industry is developing, more and more customers are moving into digital print," said Pantone president Richard Herbert.

"They need to know they are printing the correct Pantone colour. This system helps them to produce a more faithful output."

The product will be launched at Drupa and the digital chips include 1,089 colours. Each chip book has a page of three sets.

The printed chips can be used with Xerox presses using its own DocuSP workflow, but not the Creo and EFI workflows. Herbert said the system would be available for other digital machines in the future.

No details of prices have been revealed but it is understood the new product will not significantly affect the cost of a DocuColor. The system will be available for all 6060s.

"We went with Xerox because it has one of the more significant market shares in the industry," added Pantone vice-president of electronic colour systems Andy Hatkoff.

Story by Philip Chadwick