ChromaQA 7.5 is now available, bringing 18 new features and enhancements across SPEC, PRESS, STANDARDS, ADMIN, and SmartINK. Highlights include the ability to specify measurement locations within artwork, import color standards from an ICC profile, customize drawdown reports, and create multiple ScoreCards. Across the ChromaQA suite, version 7.5 gives users more control over how color standards are created, measured, evaluated, and reported. The release also expands support for PantoneLIVE, Colibri colorant sets, SmartINK corrections, and…

XRGA and Open Standards: What You Need to Know Understanding XRGA XRGA (X-Rite Graphic Arts) was introduced by X-Rite in 2010 as an internal reference model to align the measurement behavior of its legacy GretagMacbeth and X-Rite instruments. Following the merger of the two companies, XRGA helped harmonize their differing calibration methods to ensure consistency within the X-Rite product family. It’s important to understand that XRGA is not an international standard. It is not governed…

A White Paper for Print and Packaging Professionals  Executive Summary  As print and packaging workflows become increasingly complex—spanning multiple presses, substrates, inks, locations, and stakeholders—maintaining color consistency has grown more challenging. Cloud‑based color management software has emerged as a practical solution, enabling centralized color standards, objective quality control, and real‑time collaboration across the print production ecosystem. This white paper introduces cloud-based color management software, who it is designed for, how it works, why it is…

In this article we’ll walk you through open loop vs closed loop: What “open loop” and “closed loop” control really mean in a print environment The key advantages and disadvantages of open loop vs closed loop How a closed‐loop system is built and why it pays off Guidance for when your shop should move from open loop toward closed loop (and how to do that). What is “Open Loop” and “Closed Loop” in Print Color…

What Is a Spot Color? A spot color is a single, premixed ink designed to produce a specific hue. Unlike process colors that are created on press, spot colors are mixed before printing according to standardized color systems — most commonly the Pantone Matching System (PMS).  Example of a Spot Color  Imagine a brand that uses a deep, vibrant blue as its signature brand color — but it can’t be accurately reproduced with standard CMYK inks. When printed using process colors, this blue often appears duller…

In the world of professional printing, precision is everything. Whether producing packaging, marketing materials, or high-end publications, the colors you see on the press sheet must match the intended design—every time. This is where color measurement comes into play. By using specialized color measurement instruments, printers can achieve consistent, accurate results, reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction. In this guide, we’ll cover the essentials of color measurement, explore the tools used in the printing industry,…

In the world of printing and color management, precision isn’t just a goal—it’s a requirement. When you’re producing packaging, the ability to reproduce colors accurately and consistently is vital for brand integrity and client satisfaction. One of the most powerful tools for achieving this is the LAB color space, sometimes referred to as the CIE LAB color space or color space LAB. In this article, we’ll break down what LAB color space is, why it’s…

Color Spectrophotometers: Applications in the Printing Industry Color spectrophotometers are indispensable tools in the modern printing industry. As the demand for high-quality, consistent color in printed materials continues to grow, ensuring that every print job meets customer expectations has become a top priority for print service providers. Whether printing packaging, labels, signage, or promotional materials, maintaining accurate and consistent color is crucial. This is where color spectrophotometers come in. These precision instruments help print professionals…

Color consistency is crucial in the printing industry. It ensures that every print job matches the intended color and design. This consistency is vital for maintaining brand integrity. Achieving color consistency can be challenging. Different devices and substrates can alter color perception. This makes color management a complex task. Print shop owners often struggle with maintaining color accuracy. Inconsistent colors can lead to customer dissatisfaction. This can ultimately affect a business’s reputation and profitability, as…

What is a Color Management System (CMS)? A Color Management System (CMS) is a technology framework essential for the graphics arts and printing industries. It ensures that colors are consistent from digital conception to final print. This system enables various devices such as monitors, printers, and presses to produce uniform colors. At its core, a CMS uses ICC profiles to manage how colors are represented. Color profiles describe the color attributes of each device involved in…

In the world of printing, color accuracy is crucial. Extended color gamut printing offers a solution to achieve vibrant and precise colors. This advanced technique expands the range of colors beyond the traditional CMYK process. Print shop owners face challenges in maintaining consistent print quality. Extended gamut printing addresses these issues by providing more accurate color reproduction. It reduces the need for costly spot colors, leading to significant cost savings. Understanding the benefits of extended…

In the world of print production, color accuracy is paramount. Challenges can arise, however, as achieving consistent color across various print jobs can be difficult. This is where spectrophotometers in print production come in. These instruments are vital for ensuring precise color measurement and quality control. For printers looking to enhance customer satisfaction, selecting the right spectrophotometer is crucial. It can significantly impact productivity and cost-effectiveness. Understanding the different types and their applications is key…

Color matching is crucial in the printing industry, however, achieving precise color consistency can be challenging. This is where spectrophotometers come into play. Using a spectrophotometer helps maintain brand consistency. These color measurement devices ensure colors are reproduced accurately across different print batches. If a job does not match what a brand desired, printers may have to re-print the entire job, which costs a lot of money and requires a lot of wasted materials In…

Most have considered implementing a closed-loop color control system for their older offset press,but are discouraged by the perceived high cost. Well, we have great news for you. Techkon has a closed loop system  that falls within the mid $30,000 price range. Techkon has a complete closed-loop system equipped with the same software features as the fully automated system. The difference is that this system utilizes a highly reliable hand scanning instrument – The SpectroJet….

The Power of Automation The adoption of automated print color quality control has transformed the printing industry by delivering significant improvements in color measurement accuracy, efficiency and consistency. By utilizing advanced technologies such as automatic scanning spectrophotometers coupled with color QC software solutions, businesses can enhance their production capabilities to meet the ever-increasing expectations of today’s customers. Here are some of those advantages to leveraging Automatic Scanning Color Spectrophotometers: Real-time Data Analysis Data plays a…

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….

Improve Pressroom Efficiencies – Part 3 Two weeks ago, we kicked off our 3-part blog series looking at “Good”, “Better”, and “Best” upgrade options for packaging printers to reduce their make-readies, improve their color matching process, and attain more consistent color throughout their pressruns. In part 1, we examined the benefits of switching from densitometers to handheld spectrophotometers in flexographic pressrooms. In part 2, we looked at the benefits of adding press-side color quality software solutions…

Improve Pressroom Efficiencies – Part 2 Last week, we kicked off our 3-part “Beyond the Densitometer” blog series looking at “Good”, “Better”, and “Best” upgrade options for packaging printers to reduce their make-readies, improve their color matching process, and attain more consistent color throughout their pressruns. In part 1, we examined the benefits of switching from densitometers to handheld spectrophotometers in flexographic pressrooms. As discussed, this is a relatively easy upgrade because these instruments still measure…