WHAT IS THE PROPER COLOR SCALE FOR MEASURING AND CORRECTING COLORS ON PRESS?

There is been much discussion on which is the proper scale or measurement value to use when correcting an ink on press. For many years, or even the majority of the time that we have been printing ink on paper, pressman have reached for their densitometers to check this variable. We all know that a densitometer is basically a color blind device and is only measuring how much ink is on the substrate and not giving us very much help as to whether the ink is the right color or not.

Over the last few years there has been a tremendous push to get printers to use a scale that is more accurate for both color and intensity than just a simple density value. Many printers have begun to use L a b or L c h values instead of the traditional density value. On the surface this would appear to be a much more accurate method because the pressman would be using values that indicated more than just the intensity of the color printed. However this method also can create a problem.

 Let me discuss one of the most common real-world examples of trying the control a printed sample using L a b or L c h values. If we were to print a standard process yellow on a white paper or board, this seems like a fairly straightforward operation. However this combination of ink and substrate can be very misleading when checked just using the L value. For example, I printed a full strength process yellow and then cut the ink 50%. In measuring the L value of this 50% cut, there is only a 0.6 dL difference between the 2 samples. To make the example more dramatic I then cut the 100% process yellow ink to only 10%. There now is only a 0.8 dL difference between the 2 samples.

So for this 90% cut in the full strength yellow ink, we are only seeing a 0.8 difference in the L value. This could be very misleading to a pressman as he sees a relatively small change in L for a very large difference in the yellow ink.

The place that this change in the yellow ink strength really shows up is in the chroma value. For the sample that I cut in half the change in the chroma value is -7.27. For the ink sample cut by 90%, the change in the chroma value is -24.73. From this example I hope it is easy to see that making a change based on chroma would have much more influence than making the change based on lightness. There are other parts of color space were different behaviors are encountered and it would be nice for software to assist the printer in making the right decision based upon where they were in color space.

To help solve this problem, MeasureColor has developed ChromaPLUS technology. This technology looks at what part of color space that the inking question resides and helps predict what the right correction would be based on either the L, c, or h value. We believe that this technology will greatly assist the printer in making the right corrective action.

When we first discuss this technology with our customers, many of them are skeptical in its application. But it usually does not take very long before we are contacted and a success story is related to us. The ChromaPLUS technology is included in all levels of MeasureColor and we believe is a tremendous help in the pressroom over any other commercially available systems.

TECHKON announces the Spectrojet SpectroDensitometer

Danvers, MA – Today, TECHKON – the world leader in color and plate measurement technology and instrumentation – announces the TECHKON SpectroJet. Once again, TECHKON satisfies the rising worldwide demand for faster, easier, and more accurate color measurement tools for the press room.  Engineered and designed on industry-leading proprietary technology, the TECHKON SpectroJet is a semi-automated scanning spectrophotometer for the pressroom. This new device is equipped with a switchable polarizing filter and can scan entire ink zone control strips in seconds – all while delivering spectral and density measurement data via an industry standard USB connection to a PC running TECHKON Expresso software.

The SpectroJet reduces non-productive set-up time and enables accurate and fast press adjustments. This translates into shorter make-ready, less paper and ink waste, and exacting color control.

Key advantages of the TECHKON SpectroJet include:

•    Scan an ink zone control strips at a rate of six inches per second.
•    Easily scan extremely small color patches.
•    Use as a scanning device or as a hand-held for spot check measurements.
•    G7 functionality with recommended CMY density ink zone adjustments to obtain neutral values according to G7 specifications.
•    Ink zone control strip can be located and measured anywhere on the press sheet.
•    Polarizing filter can be switched on/off with the touch of a button.

Ulrich Krzyminski, Managing Director of TECHKON GmbH says, "The SpectroJet glides effortlessly on four wheels, allowing it to deliver a high level of repeatability and accuracy.  We've incorporated the same spectrophotometer engine – widely used with our Techkon handheld, scanning and In-line spectrophotometers – into this latest TECHKON scanning product. This strategy ensures excellent inter-instrument agreement throughout the entire TECHKON spectrophotometer product line".

The TECHKON SpectroJet is the latest addition to a product portfolio of powerful press room color measurement solutions. The SpectroJet extends the line of high-performance hand-held and scanning press room instruments that include:

•    TECHKON SpectroDens – a highly accurate spectrophotometer and easy-to-use densitometer.
•    TECHKON SpectroPlate – a high resolution digital microscope that measures dot percentage, screen angles, and dot gain transfer curves for traditional offset or process-less, chemistry-free printing plates.
•    TECHKON SpectroDrive – a device that scans entire ink zone control strips in seconds while simultaneously sending spectral and density measurement data wirelessly to a PC running TECHKON Expresso software.

MeasureColor advantages over the competition

1) User Interface - With our touch screen compatible interface built on Adobe Flash, we believe we have the best user experience with the greatest ease of use. This lends our product to a short learning curve and the fastest adoption by your operators. All the objects of the interface have easy to read graphs accompanied by large text to make measured values easy to read from a distance such as to a monitor across a press console. By providing a clean and organized display, your users can quickly find the information they need to make the right press corrections in the smallest amount of time.

2) Sharable Database - At the heart of MeasureColor is a sharable database that can be hosted internally on a local area network or externally on the internet. This allows for accessibility to the data from any workstation and the capability of multiple operators using the system simultaneously. This also creates a central repository for data collection and analysis as provided by our trending module. This unique architecture found only in MeasureColor greatly enhances your investment by consolidating standard and reference data to one location which keeps everyone using the correct information.

3) Web Monitoring - With the launch of your internet browser, you can instantly log into any computer running the MeasureColor software and view the exact interface that your operators use. Want to troubleshoot a press condition remotely? Simply enter your username and password to have full access to previous measurements and program functions. This unique capability, included at no extra cost, can quickly help you check measured data, print job reports, administer user rights and privileges, and modify the system database to add, change, or remove colors and tolerances from the system from anywhere with an internet connection.

4) ChromaPlus Technology - One of the hidden technologies in MeasureColor is our ChromaPlus technology. ChromaPlus analyses every aspect of a given color before we calculate a 'correction' for that color. This extended analysis of a color assures you with the best corection for that specific color by examining changes in hue and chroma, in addition to those in lightness and density as other products use. It simply takes out the last piece of spectral 'rocket science' in your print room. ChromaPlus also works in close harmony with MeasureColor's Printability test so that we can calcultate the exact color correction for any paper and ink combination, including the exact dry back of the wet printing inks.

5) Custom Color Libraries - By storing your color definitions in our Custom Color Libraries, you can now be confident that when you compare colors from your print job with the ones stored in the system that the correct pair of reference and sample colors are being analyzed. Since many similar colors can be stored in the software, this functionality is very important since comparing to the wrong reference could result in a false failure measurement result. By segregating your colors by brand, product, or your own organizational method, you can limit the colors available for comparison to only those running on that job or for that customer.

TRICOR launches non-contact image measuring spectrophotometer

ELGIN, IL. TRICOR SYSTEMS announces today the release of their new Non-Contact Color Measuring Spectrophotometer. The unit will be on display at the PRINT 09 trade show in Chicago. TRICOR will be located in the South Hall, booth #1463C.

Tom Allen, Sales Director of TRICOR said, “our new spectrophotometer will answer the age old question of accurate color measurement of a process printed image. With such a high percentage of printing being devoted to 4-color process printing, it is imperative to measure the final image and not just the color bars. Customers and Brand Owners are becoming more and more critical of work being produced by their printers and our new device gives them the tool to measure the image seen directly by the consumer, not just the color bar.”

Allen went on to say, “our new equipment measures each and every pixel for color and in practice, we are calculating Lab color data for over 1.2 million independent reflectance curves for each and every measurement. The equipment stores standards and then calculates accurate Delta E values that are comparable to a standard spectrophotometer under a number of different illuminants. The equipment can also be used to measure reflected light, radiated sources, and transmittance.”

TRICOR is a 33-year-old company that is FDA registered and ISO certified design facility as well as being a Boeing Silver Certified Supplier. TRICOR’s customer base includes all thee branches of the military services, Lockheed Martin, General Motors, Motorola, Texas Instruments as well as many other fortune 500 companies.

They are a manufacturer of stock and custom instrumentation products including image photometers, chocolate temper meters, switch keypad testers, life cycle testers, light measurement and inspection systems, gloss and surface analysis systems, custom illumination systems, simulators and image processing software. Expertise includes electronic contract manufacturing and engineering of electronic systems, circuit cards, SMT, cables, electro-optical and electro-mechanical devices for many applications

TECHKON® Announces SpectroEdge® In-Line Spectrophotometer

Enabling Closed Loop Calibration and Industry-Best Measurement Speeds

PRINT 09
Booth No. 7356
DANVERS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, TECHKON – the world leader in color and plate measurement technology and instrumentation – announced the SpectroEdge® in-line spectrophotometer. Engineered and designed on industry-leading proprietary technology, the SpectroEdge in-line spectrophotometer is designed for on the fly closed loop color calibration of the printing press, industry best measurement speeds and precise color accuracy. With the press running, this new device measures appropriate color control bar patterns to provide spectrophotometric, density or color information. The result is real-time spectral data to the press operator and more accurate color on press.

With measurement speeds in excess of 1,000 feet per minute, the TECHKON SpectroEdge spectrophotometer dramatically reduces set-up time and enables accurate and rapid press adjustments. This translates into shorter make-ready, less paper and ink waste and exacting color control of the press – all without a single sheet pull.

Key advantages of the TECHKON SpectroEdge® spectrophotometer include:

Faster make-ready and less waste.
Automatic ink adjustment recommendations.
Precise color matching of CMYK and spot colors via spectral in-line measurement.
Real-time press measurements at 1,000 feet per minute.
Simultaneous measurement of L*a*b*, LCH and status T&E densities with the press at full speed.
Less press downtime.

George Adam, President of TECHKON USA, explains, ”The advent of closed loop color control and continuous color monitoring during the print job ensures the best possible prediction of what to expect on press. TECHKON engineers designed the SpectroEdge® spectrophotometer to ensure the highest press productivity while maintaining accurate color.”

The TECHKON SpectroEdge® spectrophotometer represents a significant advance for printers looking to substantially increase productivity while lowering production costs. It is also the ideal extension to TECHKON hand held and scanning instruments that include:

TECHKON SpectroDens® – a highly accurate spectrophotometer and easy-to-use densitometer.

TECHKON SpectroPlate® – a high resolution digital microscope that measures dot percentage, screen angles, and dot gain transfer curves for traditional offset or process-less, chemistry-free printing plates.

TECHKON SpectroDrive® – a device that scans entire ink zone control strips in seconds while simultaneously sending spectral and density measurement data wirelessly to a PC running TECHKON Expresso® software.

George Adam adds, ”All TECHKON products use the same spectrophotometer engine. This proven technology ensures the TECHKON hand held SpectroDens and the TECHKON scanning SpectroDrive® and TECHKON RS800 produce the same reliable readings as the in-line SpectroEdge® spectrophotometer. Our customers can depend on our products to demonstrate excellent inter-instrument agreement.”

About TECHKON

TECHKON GmbH is a leading manufacturer of densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the graphic arts industry with more than 27 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of color measurement systems. Due to their easy handling, accuracy and reliability, TECHKON devices are used worldwide in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON is located in Königstein, Germany and has offices in Japan and the US.

Visit Techkon in Booth #7356 at Print 09 to see the new TECHKON SpectroEdge® spectrophotometer.