What is a SpectroDensitometer?

Color reflection densitometers have been used for many years in the graphic communications and printing industry and are likely the most widely adopted type of color measurement instrument for process control especially when dealing with four-color process (CMYK) printing. In the 1990’s, instruments began to be utilized that, while providing densitometric information, were referred to as “SpectroDensitometers.” This has led to confusion by some and has been regarded as hyperbolic marketing by others. This stems…

CIE ΔE* (Color Difference) Equations

Pictured above is a combination handheld spectrophotometer and densitometer, the SpectroDens 4. The intent of using deltaE (ΔE) is to describe the distance between two colors. The Just Noticeable Difference (JND) of deltaE is usually 1. In other words, if two colors have a deltaE less than 1 it is imperceptible and larger than 1 is perceivable. Unfortunately, due to the nature of human color perception (our eyes), the visual perception of colors is different….

What is the Process Free (or Processless) Plate and What to Consider When Switching?

Photo Credit: Kodak Sonora Process Free Plates Offset printing plates are the foundation of offset printing and are used to transfer image information from the plate cylinder to a rubber blanket and ultimately to the printed substrate. While conventional offset printing plates require a processing step after imaging, newer technologies such as processless plates (process free plates), and chemistry-free plates eliminate or significantly reduce this additional processing. For commercial printers, packaging converters, newspaper printers, and other offset operations, selecting the right offset…

5 Advantages of Using an Automatic Scanning Color Spectrophotometer

What is a Scanning Spectrophotometer? A scanning spectrophotometer is a precision instrument used in the printing industry to measure and control color with high accuracy. In print applications, a spectrophotometer is used to detect variations in ink color, density, and spectral data to ensure consistent, high-quality results. Its main purpose is to automatically capture detailed color information across an entire press sheet so operators can make precise ink adjustments quickly. Unlike a handheld spectrophotometer, a…

May 2022

SmartInk