Real-Time Inline Color Control: How to Minimize Delta-E Drift During Live Print Runs

colorIn today’s fast-paced flexo printing environment, color accuracy isn’t just a desirable trait—it’s a non-negotiable necessity. Modern brands rely heavily on specific colors to communicate identity, ensure consistency across platforms, and build recognition with consumers. When it comes to print production, particularly at scale, even the smallest deviation in color can have outsized consequences. That’s where real-time inline color control for flexo steps in to revolutionize the color management process. Color management in printing is…

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Automated Color Systems in Offset Press Environments

When automated color control systems are introduced into offset press environments, several challenges can arise, impacting performance and print quality. Common issues include inaccurate ink density readings, misalignment between measurement devices and press settings, and communication errors between hardware and software components. Techkon addresses these concerns with advanced solutions like PressLink which features closed-loop feedback, real-time ink key adjustments, and user-friendly interfaces that integrate seamlessly with most offset presses. For more specific information about closed…

Designing Effective Feedback Loops for Real-Time Inline Color Correction

In the fast-paced world of print production, maintaining consistent color quality is paramount. Techkon USA offers advanced solutions that ensure color accuracy and consistency throughout the production process. These solutions utilize sophisticated non-contact spectrophotometer technology combined with powerful software to deliver reliable results across a variety of paper substrates. Inline Color Measurement and Control Inline color measurement solutions offer a type of control that other spectrophotometers don’t have. These systems provide real-time color data from…

How to Leverage Print Run Analytics from Automated Color Systems for Process Improvement

Using analytics for offset color control empowers printers to enhance process efficiency and color consistency. Techkon’s SpectroDrive delivers real-time measurements, allowing operators to make timely adjustments and maintain tight color tolerances throughout production. Complementing this, ChromaQA 6 with SmartInk provides intuitive dashboards and automated ink recipe corrections, streamlining the color matching process and reducing make-ready times. Together, these tools facilitate data-driven decision-making, minimize waste, and support continuous improvement initiatives in the pressroom. Introduction to Color…

Inline Color Adjustment Speed: Balancing Accuracy and Responsiveness on Fast Presses

Techkon USA’s advanced inline color control solutions, such as the SpectroVision, are engineered to meet the demands of today’s high-performance printing presses by delivering fast and reliable color control. These spectrophotometers assist in achieving precise color control during rapid inline adjustments, allowing operators to identify and correct color deviations instantly without slowing down production. Unlike traditional spot-checking methods, Techkon’s technology scans entire color bars at full press speeds, ensuring on-color accuracy from the start of…

How to improve your print color quality program as a brand or private label

Print Color Quality Programs can be a challenge for global brands or private labels. The process is often very manual and labor intensive, and as such can be a high financial burden for all involved. Existing programs also typically focus primarily on print preparations (pre-press) and leave quality control during the actual production run to the print provider. This creates a major QA/QC gap in many print control programs at a critical step in the…

Color Process Control – Manual vs Closed-Loop

Accurate and consistent color reproduction throughout a press run is crucial for the success of any offset, flexo, or digital printing operation. To achieve this, periodic color monitoring and control of key characteristics like color, density, TVI, and G7 are essential. Traditionally, printers have relied on manual color control, a primitive and time-consuming process that often leads to costly mistakes, wasted materials, and customer dissatisfaction. In this blog post, we’ll explore the drawbacks of manual…

Match Colors Faster on Press!

Good afternoon blog fans! It’s been a little while since my last blog post and as I look ahead into 2023, I’ve got many great topics in mind to discuss with you regarding Techkon products and technologies that are “must-haves” for any printing environment. So, I am going to jump right in today with a close-up look at Techkon’s InkCheck technology. This is a feature that is built right into our SpectroDens handheld instrument and…

What is Closed Loop Color Process Control for Offset Presses and Why it’s Time to Retrofit

Periodic color monitoring and control of aim characteristics (color, density, TVI, G7, etc.) of an offset press is extremely important for ensuring accurate and consistent color reproduction throughout the press run. These operations can either be accomplished manually, semi-automatically or automatically via color measurement hardware and color control software. Manual color control is a primitive method of quality control that uses a “trial and error” process—and it’s costing printers worldwide millions of dollars in wasted…

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…

A simple review of CIE ΔE* (Color Difference) Equations

PHOTO: Techkon SpectroDens 4 all-in-one-color densitometer and spectrophotometer. If you work in the color industry, either you are a brand owner, merchandise designer, printing professional, paint department staff in Home Depot or Lowe’s, or just a complete color geek like me who likes words like CIE CMC color, you will likely hear the term “ΔE”, pronounced “delta-E”. Since I work in the color industry, I spend most of my time talking to all of the…

The Beauty of Color Transformation in Fall Foliage

This blog is inspired by John Seymour, also known as John the Math Guy (http://johnthemathguy.com/). Last year in 2016, John wrote a blog about his burning bush, the euonymus alaus, and the fact that it was starting chromatic transmogrification in September ( http://johnthemathguy.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-color-of-leaves.html). In his article, he picked several leaves and plotted the CIE a* & b* graph, as well as a spectral curve for each. Due to the fact that maple trees are quite…

Pre-Launch of Newest SpectroDens | Densitometer and Spectrophotometer

Customer feedback has always driven our product development and innovation; and the latest updates to our SpectroDens are no exception. As a member of our Techkon community, you are the first to hear about and be able to PRE-ORDER at no additional cost the newest SpectroDens to be unveiled in January. Here is a sneak preview of some of the new features: SCCA Reference value correction The practice of following print standards like ISO 12647…

LED versus Incandescent Lighting

As the debate over LED versus incandescent lighting continues throughout a variety of industries, it seems there is less to deliberate within the color measurement industry; namely for use in densitometers and spectrophotometers. There are 5 compelling reasons for choosing a densitometer or spectrophotometer that uses an LED light source. LEDs last longer. In fact, LED’s can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light; which translates into an average incandescent lamp life of…

Do you have a unique color challenge?

Measuring, monitoring, and maintaining the strict color tolerances being demanded by brand owners is an increasingly complex component of your print production process. Issues unique to you and your customer base compound the challenge of maintaining reliable, continuous color quality. That’s why an out of the box system won’t fully satisfy your needs. The only way to solve your specific issues is with a customized solution designed specifically to address your needs. The dynamic state…

Expanded Color Gamut: Seminar and Open House

See Techkon equipment on display at the Expanded Color Gamut Seminar and Open House! June 18: Hilton Indian Lakes, Bloomingdale, IL Presenters: Mark Samworth, Esko & Catherine Haynes, All Printing Resources APR and Esko jointly present an informative industry seminar focused on the trending topic of Expanded Color Gamut (ECG), followed by an APR Open House. “Expanded gamut has increased from less than 1% to roughly 14% of industry printers in the last 5 years….

Index of Natural and Artifical Light

Tn [Kelvin] 1000000/Tn [Mired] Illuminant, nature Source, simulation > 5300 K: “Daylight white” natural lighting 13 500 to 27 000 Approx. 74 to 37 North blue sky – 9 300 107 – Original white point of CRT screens 9 000 to 12 000 111 to 83 “The blue hour” Only perceptible with eyes used to warm white 8 500 125 Lighting in fog – 7504 (“7500”) 133 D75 – North sky daylight Predefined in just…

Top 5 Reasons to Consider “Closed Loop” for Digital Presses

The traditional method of color calibration of a digital press is a manual operation, which falls into two logical categories. The first is a one-time task during the make-ready operation and the second is on going during the press run. With an automated process, color make-ready and run time press calibration fold into one continuous operation from press startup to print run completion. A high-speed color measurement instrument (in-line spectrophotometer) mounted on the press will…