The Pantone Color of the Year announcement is always exciting. Not only does it set the stage for upcoming trends, it also provides brand owners and designers critical guidance for marketing and product development. However, those who are charged with manufacturing products and packaging with trending colors (like 2021's Ultimate Gray and Illuminating) know it doesn’t “just happen.” It takes time and effort to incorporate new colors. Whether you work in paints, plasti...
December 14, 2020 by X-Rite Color
As brand owners compete to make packaging stand out, commercial and flexible packaging converters and label printers are charged with achieving accurate color – on unique substrates – with shorter print runs. Many spend a lot of time mixing ink, then end up throwing it away when the color isn’t right. Others mix ink, store it, and spend way too much time trying to reuse it for future print runs. If you’re stuck in this cycle, you’re essentially paying for ink...
August 13, 2020 by Rich Knapp
Over the last few years, we have heard a lot about the circular economy and omnichannel marketing. While each is a trend in their own right, they are quickly converging on the print industry. To be successful in 2020, commercial printers will need to offer a wide range of print capabilities while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and reducing waste. The Importance of Circular Economy and Omnichannel In a circular economy, the goal is to eliminate waste and maximize the con...
December 19, 2019 by Ray Cheydleur
Controlling color on cylindrical-shaped items like cups, cans, and tubes is a challenge because it’s hard to properly align the measurement device with the sample. Many printers and manufacturers cut a piece from the finished product and lay it flat to take a measurement. While this method works, each sample takes time to cut, wastes product, and risks the safety of the employees who are cutting the samples. A Faster, Safer Solution X-Rite’s Cup and Cylinder Fixture works ...
July 17, 2019 by Bob Binder
With so many requests for innovative bases, transparency, and special effects, formulating color for paint, coating, and plastic applications can be a challenge. To keep up, formulation software needs to be innovative, too. We recently launched version 10 of our Color iMatch formulation software, and it is our smartest version yet. It allows you to select cost-reducing parameters, such as lowest cost or fewest colorants, and will determine the best formula for your application. It work...
July 10, 2019 by Rich Knapp
Farbfehler sind kostspielig. Zur Korrektur müssen Sie die Farbe im Labor neu rezeptieren lassen, einen Mitarbeiter zur Ermittlung des richtigen Farbtons beim Kunden abstellen oder die rezeptierte Farbe entsorgen und von vorne anfangen. Wie quantifizieren Sie den Verlust eines unzufriedenen Kunden – einmal abgesehen von den Kosten für den Zeit- und Materialaufwand? Fünf Schritte zur effizienten Farbrezeptierung Mit den richtigen Tools und Verfahren ist die präzis...
May 29, 2019 by Rich Knapp
If you’re a commercial printer who wants to improve color quality and consistency and stay current on industry trends, you need to be aware of Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 can mean different things to different people, but it generally refers to the fourth industrial revolution, which incorporates trends in automation, data exchange, smart systems, and the Internet of Things. Image courtesy of Christoph Roser at AllAboutLean.com. Today I’ll explain what Industry 4.0 means for co...
January 24, 2017 by Ray Cheydleur
