Colour matching is critically important in all lines of print, especially in projects featuring famous brands. Here, we look at how the latest developments with colour management software can help improve overall accuracy
Rob Fletcher
January 13, 2025
When thinking about iconic colours, minds may be drawn to the famous red of Coca-Cola, the yellow arches of McDonald’s, or even the red, white, and blue of Tesco. Those creating printed work for such brands are constantly under pressure to make sure they match these colours in print, as eagle-eyed consumers will almost certainly notice if these famous colours are not on point.
While this is not an easy task for small-format work, it can be even more challenging for wide-format print companies, with larger applications often being harder to colour match than smaller-format print work. For this reason, using quality colour management software is key if you are to keep on brand with iconic colours and deliver print in line with the customer’s wider image.
Print Monthly speaks with several suppliers and developers within the colour management sector to find out more about the latest software launches and updates in this space, analysing how this can help print companies hit accurate colour on each job, no matter the size of the piece they are working on.
Cost Efficiency
Up first to comment is Four Pees, which is an integrator of software solutions, offering a range of colour management products that can be integrated within production setups. Among its portfolio of solutions is CoPra, billed as the “control centre” for all colour profiling tasks, delivering profiles with just a few clicks and user-friendly tools.
Also from Four Pees is ColorAnt, a total solution for measuring, analysing, and processing colour management, for the optimisation of the creation of ICC colour profiles. In addition, Four Pees offer ZePrA, a colour server for direct colour analysis and fast, error-free, and cost-effective creation of Device Links profiles.
Tom Peire, chief executive of Four Pees and chief evangelist of its Atomyx print production management platform, says investment in new and quality colour management software should be seen as key to print businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Tom Peire, chief executive of Four Pees, says up-to-date colour management systems offer users a competitive advantage
“Good quality, up-to-date colour management systems ensure cost efficiency, quality consistency, and a competitive advantage,” Peire explains, continuing: “Features such as colour standardisation, design monitor calibration, colour analysis, preparation, and adaptation to a specific printing process, and ink savings, can help to ensure you get the same print quality and colour on every surface and every printer in line with a customer’s requirements.
“Due to the increasing implementation of web-to-print and the ongoing development of platform-based systems enhancing workflow automation, almost anyone can set up an online storefront and start selling printed products online.
Colour management systems should include features such as colour standardisation, design monitor calibration, and colour analysis
“In addition, due to a decline in the number of skilled workers brought on by an ageing workforce, the number of print service providers without technical knowledge or understanding of colour management is growing. As a result, this crucial stage of production is becoming even more important.”
With this, Peire adds that the risks of using outdated software can include incompatibility with other software and systems, inaccuracies, and inconsistencies with print qualities, resulting in time-consuming and costly reprints. This is why, as with any software or hardware, he says failure to keep your technology up to date can mean costly mistakes and inefficiencies, as well as damage to your reputation if print qualities are not up to standard.
“In addition to cost savings, with a good quality colour management system, printers can improve their sustainability by reducing their ink consumption through features such as automatic grey component replacement (GCR) and automatic under colour removal (UCR).”
Certified Quality
Demonstrating to your customers that you can offer quality colour management could help you win more work in the long term. Joe Marin, senior vice president for member services at PRINTING United Alliance, is a strong advocate of this, saying that getting certified in colour management shows you and your company know how to keep colours consistent and accurate across output devices and substrates. “These certifications help prove to clients that they will get high-quality, reliable results. It also reduces mistakes during printing and shows that your company meets industry standards,” Marin says.
PRINTING United Alliance’s iLEARNING+ has a selection of industry-recognised courses for colour management. Marin says these serve as a starting point in learning how to properly implement colour management in print production workflow, which can be of great value to print businesses.
“The Colour Management Professional course list has doubled in the past year, expanding to cover additional print segments including flexo, wide-format, direct-to-garment, while also being updated for the latest in prepress and creative workflows, supporting all members of print production from conceptualisation to production,” he says.
Moving on from this, Marin says the next logical step is to earn a G7+ Expert Certification, which demonstrates a professional’s ability to implement and maintain G7+ methodology in a printing environment.
Good quality, up-to-date colour management systems ensure cost efficiency, quality consistency, and a competitive advantage
“G7+ Experts can also train others and help organisations achieve G7 Master Qualification, reinforcing a company’s reputation and competitiveness in the market. Leading brands look for printers who have achieved G7+ Expert Certification and G7 Master Qualification.”
Taking part in the courses will ensure professionals keep up to date with new developments in the wider market, with Marin adding that investment in new and updated software is key to companies seeking to bolster overall colour management across the print production process.
“Upgrading output devices, hardware, and software will give printers the most up-to-date colour management tools that help printers maintain accuracy across different jobs and media types,” Marin says, adding: “Older equipment can often produce inconsistent results, especially with different processes, inks, and substrates.
“Current solutions will have more automation that will automatically adjust and correct colours, making it easier to get a consistent look across all printed materials, even when printed on different devices.”
Proof is in the Pudding
Tuning now to a company that has felt the full benefits of colour management. Venture Banners is a trade specialist, providing a range of wide-format print services to the trade sector. Director Scott Conway says being a trade-only wide-format printer means it is crucial Venture delivers consistent quality across everything it produces, and this includes colour management.
“We manage all colour profiling in-house across all machinery and devices to ensure we provide consistent and accurate colours, every time,” Conway says, adding: “We can also colour match Pantones should a client request this.
“Beyond the hardware itself, understanding different signage materials and the way they react to print is also a crucial factor as each substrate requires a different profile. As a trade printer, we produce a huge variety of large-format signage products meaning we have a strong grasp on the nuances of colour management, and we are always happy to advise our customers on any queries they may have.”
Venture Banners director Scott Conway says being a trade-only wide-format printer means it is crucial the company delivers consistent quality
For those hesitant about upgrading existing systems, Conway says this should be seen as an absolute necessity if they are to keep up with developments and evolving demands in the wider market. If they do not invest properly or not pay enough attention, they risk being left in the dust of those companies that can deliver more accurate and visually pleasing printed work.
“As with other areas of print, colour management is continuously evolving, and your colour management capabilities should be monitored and upgraded just as you would with any other area of production to avoid the risk of inaccurate colour reproduction,” Conway says, continuing: “It’s simply not enough to invest in a large-format printer and rely on pre-set colour profiles. The investment extends far beyond the hardware and overlooking this area of production could prove to be a costly mistake, both financially and to your reputation.”
Conway also echoes the word of Marin and the Printing UNITED Alliance in advocating for training to help ensure staff are aware of new advancements and technologies. He says: “Investing in good quality colour management software and training also means that should any repairs or replacements be needed for large-format print or signage situated out in the elements, you can easily reproduce any section without having to completely reprint the entire graphic.”
Building for the Future
Clearly, there is plenty going on in colour management. Software developers are bringing to market new and updated solutions on a regular basis to ensure customers are achieving the best quality in all printed work. At the same time, manufacturers are introducing new and innovative colour management capabilities to their printing hardware, again with the aim of supporting users and their own accuracy targets.
Given the recent advancements in this sector, we can certainly look forward to more developments and new solutions to make life even easier for print companies working across all manner of markets. This could be boosted further with more collaboration between developers and equipment manufacturers.
Screen Graphic Solutions took this a step further in April 2024, adding Germany’s CGS ORIS to its own group of companies. CGS is primarily engaged in the development and sales of colour technology products, working on colour management and digital proofing solutions since its establishment in 1985.
Factoid: Four Pees is the company behind Atomyx, a new cloud-based print production management platform that launched in 2024
Screen, then Dainippon Screen, began to build a business partnership with CGS in 1991 when the two companies cooperated on the development of colour technologies for scanner and recorder systems. Acquiring CGS takes this to the next level and could open doors to new advancements with colour management technologies.
Kunio Muraji, who has led the development of various flagship products created by Screen, including its Truepress JET 520HD printing system, has now assumed the role of chief operating officer to further enhance the business synergy already shared by the two companies.
“Going forward, the partners will work to integrate CGS’s colour technologies with the core colour management systems used in Screen’s Truepress series of digital inkjet presses and workflow products,” Screen says, adding: “This is expected to drive significant new innovations in intuitive, high-function printing technologies.
“The companies will also focus on fine-tuning the integration of CGS’s products with Screen’s workflow solutions, including EQUIOS, with a view to delivering even more advanced colour management solutions. These applications will target a variety of workflows, including analogue and digital environments as well as hybrid operations that combine both.”
It’s clear that achieving accurate colours and working with trusted developers to ensure your systems are up to date will help you to achieve the best quality, and accurate, printed work. Doing this will help you secure repeat business from valuable customers and even win new work from clients seeking high levels of accuracy in their printed projects.
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