Autura Ink: Il futuro della formulazione dell'inchiostro e del controllo qualità cloud nativi L’ultima innovazione di X-Rite, Autura Ink, una soluzione cloud nativa per la formulazione dell'inchiostro e il controllo qualità, è stata di recente insignita del prestigioso PRINTING United Alliance Pinnacle Award nella categoria gestione del colore e controllo qualità. Questo riconoscimento premia prodotti innovativi che migliorano in modo significativo il sett...

Accelerate ROI, digital transformation, and sustainability with a digital textile color program. Hiccups in getting to market can be devasting for any type of business. For fashion, soft goods, apparel, and footwear brands, a major concern is missing out on the opportunity to increase sales and establish or reinforce brand credibility. Brands simply can’t afford any unnecessary slowdowns during the execution of a design due to delays in preliminary steps such as the color approval process....

Sei alla ricerca di una sede centrale per gestire i prodotti e servizi X-Rite? Dai un’occhiata a My X-Rite. Il nostro portale online gratuito è raggiungibile con pochi clic per darti tutto quello che cerchi: assistenza e informazioni sul prodotto, dettagli sui servizi e accesso alle risorse di apprendimento. Accesso 24/7: per accedere facilmente alla tua dashboard personale direttamente dal computer o dispositivo mobile, 24 ore su 24. Dashboard personalizzata: guarda que...

Starbucks ha ancora una volta dato il via alle festività natalizie con quattro nuovi design di tazze natalizie. Quest' anno ci hanno sorpreso con un accento magenta, che "solleva i tradizionali colori delle feste e rende il rosso ancora più luminoso", ha dichiarato Kristy Cameron, direttore creativo di Starbucks. Nella frenesia dello shopping natalizio, il packaging gioca un ruolo cruciale nel catturare l'attenzione dei potenziali acquirenti. Tuttavia, stare al passo con i tempi...

L’impronta ecologica della moda è fuori controllo. Stando al National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), “Gli opifici generano un quinto dell’inquinamento mondiale delle acque industriali e per produrre gli indumenti utilizzano 20.000 sostanze chimiche, molte delle quali cancerogene”. Tessuto tinto nello stabilimento. Immagine da NRDC.org.   Un problema che riguarda tutti Sapevi che occorrono circa 200 tonnellate di acqua (sufficienti a riempire svariate...

If ensuring color consistency is part of your job description, you’ll want to learn more about PantoneLIVE. Our customers report that it helps them get products to market an average of four times faster! PantoneLIVE is an end-to-end, digital color communication ecosystem that helps everyone involved in a packaging workflow visualize and communicate color. It shows which colors are achievable, and which are not, across everything from flexible packaging to corrugated board. And, since the digital...

Se una persona dice “mela”, ti viene da pensare rossa, verde o gialla? Cosa faresti se un cliente ti chiede di produrre un colore ricorrendo a descrizioni non sufficientemente specifiche? Guarda in che modo un qualcosa di apparentemente semplice come la comunicazione del colore può determinare il successo o il fallimento del tuo programma del colore. Un’immagine può raffigurare mille parole, ma le parole da sole non possono raffigurare mille colori. Ogni giorno s...

In questo periodo dell’anno, Internet riporta in abbondanza elenchi di top 10. Una tradizione accolta sin dal 1940, quando Billboard pubblicò la prima classifica dei dischi più venduti. Da allora, in molti hanno iniziato a pubblicare classifiche analoghe, per evidenziare le tendenze più popolari dell’anno precedente.   Dal 2016 pubblichiamo la classifica dei post più letti nel nostro blog, e siamo lieti di vedere che ogni anno, nelle prime posizioni...

Nelle nostre scelte alimentari, il colore ha una funzione importantissima. Molti alimenti, come il formaggio svizzero, le fragole, i broccoli e il purè di patate hanno sempre lo stesso aspetto. Quando diamo il primo morso, sappiamo cosa aspettarci. E se invece il nostro purè fosse verde? Avrebbe un gusto diverso? Avremmo il coraggio di assaggiarlo? Perché l’analisi del colore è importante nell’industria alimentare Sono state condotte moltissime ricerche...

Sostieni che il colore è importante, ma ne conosci a fondo importanza? In realtà, il colore è un elemento fondamentale nel processo di produzione. Oggi, molti produttori si rendono conto che ottenere il colore esatto è molto più complicato di quanto fosse in passato, e ricevono richieste di tolleranze più rigorose dai brand owner che supportano. Ecco perché. Se i progressi nella tecnologia del colore – p.e., packaging metallici, finiture pe...

Nel 2006, X-Rite ha acquisito la Munsell Color Company. Con l’acquisizione ci siamo assicurati un importante patrimonio di scienza del colore, standard cromatici e strumenti per l’analisi dell’attitudine visiva ai colori. Oggi riesaminiamo il contributo di Albert Munsell al mondo del colore e condividiamo i prodotti ispirati al suo lavoro che ci permettono di gestire il colore in un’ampia gamma di settori, fra cui packaging, abbigliamento, calzature, componenti elettronic...

I clienti alle prime armi in materia di gestione del colore spesso ci domandano: "Qual è la differenza tra uno spettrometro e uno spettrofotometro?". Dal punto di vista ortografico, la differenza è minima ed è, quindi, facile confondersi e ottenere la risposta sbagliata a questa domanda. E allora, qual è la differenza? Spettrometri e spettrofotometri a confronto     Cos'è uno spettrofotometro? Uno spettrofotometro è un dispositivo di misurazion...

Secondo autolist.com, al giorno d'oggi oltre l'80% delle auto prodotte è di colore bianco, nero o grigio. I colori brillanti e audaci, infatti, non sono soltanto più difficili da produrre e far corrispondere rispetto alle tonalità appartenenti della scala del grigio, ma richiedono anche più tempo durante le fasi di ispirazione e progettazione.   Che tu ci creda o no, prima che un nuovo colore per auto sia pronto per lo showroom possono volerci anche cinque a...

Asda brand packaging is printed globally across a variety of suppliers, print processes, and substrates. With a small team of print specialists, it was impossible and impractical for Asda to attend even a small percentage of press passes across all suppliers to validate print quality. Seven years ago, Asda adopted the X-Rite Pantone ColorCert Suite, a digital color program to help them streamline approvals and deliver brand presence and quality assurance on the shelf across their primary and se...

When choosing a beverage product from the store shelf, consumers not only demand superb taste, but also consistency in the way the beverage looks to the human eye. Color and transparency are essential markers for quality - any imperfection can indicate contamination, impurities in the raw materials, or process variations caused by heating and oxidation. However, drinks like fruit and vegetable juice, beer, and blended cocktails are difficult for manufacturers to control during production. Natura...

.upcoming-webinar-block { width: 100%; display: table; margin-bottom: 20px; } .upcoming-webinar-left { width: 120px; padding-right: 20px; display: table-cell; } .upcoming-webinar-left img { margin-top: 10px; } .upcoming-webinar-right { vertical-align: top; display: table-cell; } I dispositivi di misurazione del colore esistono dagli anni '40, ma da allora hanno fatto molta strada. Costruito da Jules Duboscq in Francia nel 187...

Last week Pantone announced the Pantone Color of the Year 2020 - Very Peri (PANTONE 17-3938). The Pantone Color of the Year announcement isn’t just important for designers. Since this color will set the stage for upcoming trends, brand owners should also take notice to capitalize on this trending color. Bring Very Peri to Market, Fast. Is Virtual Design the Answer? The fashion and apparel industry began embracing virtual design years ago. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, ...

Light booths provide a controlled environment for judging color under different lighting conditions. They can help visually evaluate how different types of light will affect the perception of color, evaluate the color of raw materials before and after production, and ensure different components will remain uniform once they’re assembled.   But not all light booths are the same. With NIST traceability and ISO 17025 accreditation, X-Rite offers worldwide competence in calibration, cert...

Il modo migliore per visualizzare come reagirà il colore nelle condizioni di illuminazione del mondo reale è l’uso di una cabina di illuminazione di qualità. Le cabine di illuminazione tradizionali comprendono illuminanti comuni come luce diurna, incandescente e fluorescente per riprodurre l’aspetto del colore nel punto vendita e, successivamente alla vendita, nell’abitazione e all’aperto. Oggi, il maggiore utilizzo di lampade LED negli ambienti resid...

Per misurare il colore, lo strumento invia luce su un campione, cattura la quantità di luce che viene trasmessa o riflessa nell’intervallo di lunghezza d'onda da 380 a 780 nm e la quantifica come misurazione spettrale. La misurazione del colore è necessaria per specificare, quantificare, comunicare, formulare e verificare la qualità del colore nei lavori in cui il colore è importantissimo. Dato che ogni persona percepisce il colore in un modo diverso, la misuraz...

Learn about light, reflection curves, optical brighteners, and more.     Illuminants Electro magnetic radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 730 nm is seen as light by our eyes. Low wavelengths show as blue light, then the spectrum continues from green to yellow, orange, and red. UV radiation is located in the range below 380 nm; the range above 730 nm is called infrared radiation. The visual impression of a colored body changes by the composition of the incoming light. ...

People often ask how X-Rite got its name and how we came to be a leader in the art and science of color. It’s really a great story – one that focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship and determination. What’s in a name? X-Rite was founded in 1957 by a group of engineers and business entrepreneurs who had a desire to start a business based on innovation. The members brainstormed new product ideas ranging from can openers to sheet metal tools to collapsible car cots. After buildin...

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...

The Pantone Color Institute just announced PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating as the Pantone Color of the Year 2021. According to the Pantone Color Institute, PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. Ultimate Gray is emblematic of...

The color of liquid is one of the most difficult things to control during production. But it’s important. Would you choose a bottle of juice or cleaner that is lighter in color than the other bottles on the shelf? What about cough syrup?     Liquid is hard to measure because it can range in transparency from translucent to opaque. It’s also hard to hold, and the measurement device can’t touch it or the optics and the sample will both be contaminated.   Today&rsq...

La sostenibilità è una priorità assoluta per le grandi organizzazioni di imballaggi dei prodotti di consumo. Essere sostenibili significa tener conto delle esigenze del nostro ambiente e delle generazioni future cercando modi per ridurre gli sprechi in tutte le fasi di produzione. Non si tratta solo di una pratica socialmente responsabile; i consumatori, infatti, spesso tengono conto delle prassi di sostenibilità di un brand quando devono prendere decisioni d'acquisto...

As the industrial plastics market grows increasingly competitive and demands more sustainable practices, manufacturers need new ways to formulate and produce accurate color faster, with less waste. Digital color standards are one of the most effective tools to bridge this gap. They also enable color work and communication from remote locations.   With digital color standards, brands and designers can set clear expectations with supply chains. In turn, suppliers can achieve color goals wit...

As the world reopens, retail stores are making functional changes to ensure customers and employees are safe and healthy. For starters, the notoriously social activity of shopping now requires associates and customers to maintain distance and wear masks.      Customers need to feel comfortable when they sit down at the cosmetic counter, too. While the role of the beauty consultant is not going away, demo makeup applications and cosmetic testers are. This leaves retailers seeking ...

In un mercato altamente concorrenziale, brand owner e designer di imballaggi cercano modalità per differenziare i propri prodotti sullo scaffale. E sempre più queste modalità tendono ad andare oltre il colore per includere opzioni di abbellimento come lamine, vernici speciali, finiture tattili e molto altro ancora. I designer ricorrono inoltre a colori solidi, fluorescenti e iridescenti più intensi, e non solo nella stampa convenzionale. Le soluzioni digitali permetto...

As digital printing continues to grow, many printmakers are moving beyond traditional media to create artwork on substrates like wood, acrylic, textiles, and backlit materials. While the results can be beautiful, achieving exceptional print quality on these materials can be challenging.   Enter the i1Pro 3 Plus. With its large aperture, polarization and transmissive capabilities, this new member of X-Rite’s i1Pro Family can create color profiles for substrates that are otherwise ...

I nostri clienti che ora sono in smart working devo essere consapevoli del fatto che cambiando anche una minima variabile – per esempio approvare i colori da casa con una diversa sorgente luminosa oppure inviare per e-mail le specifiche invece di spedire un campione fisico – possono introdurre problematiche che rischiano di determinare un problema di colore più importante. La prima, fondamentale fase del controllo del colore è una comunicazione accurata del colore. Queste risorse ti aiuteranno ...

Gli spettrofotometri sono dispositivi di misurazione del colore utilizzati per acquisire e valutare il colore. Nell'ambito di un programma di controllo del colore, i designer e i brand owner li utilizzano per specificare e comunicare il colore, mentre i produttori se ne servono per controllare la precisione del colore in tutte le fasi della produzione. Gli spettrofotometri sono in grado di misurare praticamente tutto – liquidi, materie plastiche, carta, metalli e tessuti – e contribuiscono a man...

Gli schermi di telefoni e computer rappresentano l'accesso al mondo digitale del colore, ma se approvi i colori via e-mail o sms devi essere consapevole dei loro limiti.  Per cominciare, ogni dispositivo visualizza il colore basandosi su un diverso modello cromatico. I dispositivi di input – videocamera e monitor – ricorrono al modello additivo per visualizzare il colore. Iniziano con l’oscurità e aggiungono luce rossa, verde e blu per creare uno spettro di colori. Le stampanti, p...

Il tuo programma di controllo qualità comprende la valutazione visiva? L’illuminazione ha una funzione fondamentale nel modo in cui percepiamo i colori. Può aiutarti a verificare l’accettabilità del colore dei tuoi prodotti e a fare in modo che rimanga accurato in ogni possibile condizione d'illuminazione a cui sarà sottoposto dopo l’acquisto.     Per molti dei nostri clienti ora la valutazione visiva è ancor più importante, considerato che le analisi e le approvazioni dei colori v...

Nella percezione del colore entrano in gioco tantissimi elementi, come la luce, la genetica, l’ambiente, le caratteristiche psicologiche e persino la stanchezza. Potresti rientrare nel numero di persone (1 donna su 255 e 1 uomo su 12) che hanno un difetto di visione del colore. Il nostro online color challenge è un modo divertente per capire meglio il tuo livello di attitudine visiva ai colori.     A prescindere dal tuo livello specifico, se comunichi, valuti o approvi il co...

Il colore è sempre stato un elemento fondamentale per i nostri clienti. A causa della pandemia da COVID-19, molte persone stanno ora cercando di progettare, specificare, comunicare e infine realizzare colori accurati da postazioni remote o utilizzando meno personale e minori risorse. Ti è difficile proseguire il programma di qualità del colore in questo momento senza precedenti?  Abbiamo raccolto le nostre risorse più apprezzate – blog, video, white paper, webinar e case study – per a...

Appearance is more than just color. It’s an all-inclusive look at everything inherent to an object, including texture, gloss, transparency, translucency, and special effects like sparkle and shimmer. When viewed from different angles or under different lighting conditions, appearance effects can change our perception of color. That's why it’s important to control both color and appearance throughout design and development.  Durable goods brands use appearance effects to captur...

La stampa digitale esiste da molti anni, ma in questo momento il settore attraversa una fase di drastici cambiamenti. Tra i vantaggi, rileviamo che le tecnologie di stampa digitale utilizzano inchiostri più sostenibili e offrono una maggiore affidabilità, una durata maggiore delle stampe e un miglior livello complessivo di efficienza e convenienza economica. Questi cambiamenti, però, obbligano i laboratori di stampa a modificare le modalità operative per rimanere comp...

Managing color throughout production is always a challenge, but advances in color technology, like the metallic, shimmer, and pearlescence effects designed to capture consumer attention, are taking the frustration to a whole new level for quality control managers. This is especially true when producing parts that must match at assembly, such as the metal panels for a home appliance or the painted side mirrors for a vehicle.  Special effects are tricky to control because our perception can c...

Durable goods and consumer electronics are no longer destined to be white, gray, and black. In fact, consumers are moving towards more classic colors and special effect finishes like metallics. To capitalize on this trend, brands need to bring innovative designs in new colors faster to market than ever before.   One trending color, the PANTONE Color of the Year 2020, is sure to capture the attention of durable good and consumer electronic brands. It is a simple, timeless, elegant, and endur...

Misurazione del colore in linea per i settori carta, prodotti tessili, plastica, verniciatura in continuo e vetro Le soluzioni di misurazione del colore in linea di X-Rite permettono ai produttori di una vasta gamma di settori di valutare la precisione e l’uniformità del colore in tutte le fasi di produzione e di monitorare la conformità ISO. I sistemi in linea monitorano il colore man mano che vengono realizzati i prodotti e avvertono gli operatori non appena inizia a disc...

Provi sensazioni diverse in una stanza piena di colori caldi e naturali... ...rispetto a un ufficio completamente bianco e sterile? Un edificio ti ha mai "comunicato" qualcosa? Il colore è parte integrante del nostro mondo È un linguaggio visivo che tutti capiscono, una percezione sensoriale che influisce sulle nostre emozioni in molti modi. L’impatto del colore, anche se spesso è a livello del subconscio, svolge un ruolo fondamentale negli elementi di rivestimenti...

Virtual reality has re-imagined the art of apparel and footwear design. 3D design programs like MODO, KeyShot, CLO, Browzwear, Optitex, and Lectra augment the creativity of color and material designers to virtually construct patterns and render realistic 3D garments.  This is exciting technology for brands that want to reduce waste for a greener footprint and accelerate design to keep up with fast fashion. However, designers are notoriously tactile. They need to touch, feel, and gain a...

When choosing a food product, consumers demand consistency in both taste and appearance. While a lighter batch of oranges may still produce a delicious juice blend, a pale color can jeopardize USDA approval and leave consumers questioning the quality. Unfortunately for food and beverage manufacturers, the color of food – especially drinks like fruit juice and blended cocktails – is one of the most difficult things to control during production. Here’s why. 1. Liquid is hard to...

There’s been a lot of research around the role color plays in how we expect food to taste. The fact is, we judge flavor by the color of the food or drink, even before the first taste. We expect red foods to taste sweet like strawberries or cherries. White should taste like vanilla, and green is probably limey and tart or minty. Color cues can even determine whether we take that first bite. Most of us won’t even consider trying a food like mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie if it is ...

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 ...

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...

As we move through spring and into summer, we’re revisiting Pantone Color Institute’s Spring/Summer 2019 Fashion Color Trend Report. This season’s report features the top 12 stand out colors as well as current takes on four classic neutrals.    Images extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner Spring/Summer 2019.    According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, “This new mindset underscores a...

Hitting offset lithographic color targets isn’t always fast or easy. The manual process of measuring color bars and making ink key adjustments takes time and opens the door to operator error. Meanwhile, the press is running (and wasting) paper and ink. To achieve accurate and repeatable color, printers need to convert their printing operation to an efficient manufacturing process and drive efficiencies in all phases of their operation. For many, a closed-loop automated solution is the...

For the last few Decembers, we’ve provided you with a list of “top color measurement blogs” for that respective year. As we reviewed this year’s list, we noticed that your favorite/ the most-read blogs could be categorized into a few buckets. So, without further ado, here’s 2018’s top blog topics!  2018’s Most Popular Color Measurement Topic: Tolerancing Not to our team’s surprise, Tolerancing – what it is/what it means for your busines...

Each year, Pantone announces its highly anticipated “Color of the Year”. The selection is intended to serve as a strategic direction for design and color-conscious industries as well as a conversation piece around our culture, where it is going and what we collectively need…and it certainly gets everyone talking about color!  Color is no longer just something we see and appreciate - it enhances and influences the way we experience life. Color, as a strategic element of d...

Like geographic coordinates – longitude, latitude, and altitude – L*a*b* color values give us a way to locate and communicate colors. What’s the history of L*a*b*? In the 1940’s, Richard Hunter introduced a tri-stimulus model, Lab, which is scaled to achieve near uniform spacing of perceived color differences. While Hunter’s Lab was adopted as the de facto model for plotting absolute color coordinates and differences between colors, it was never formally accepted as...

If you’re measuring wet and dry paints, plastics, cosmetics, or small and odd-shaped samples, you’ll want to take a look at our new MetaVue VS3200 non-contact imaging spectrophotometer. It’s the perfect choice for industrial applications in coatings, plastics, food, cosmetics and more. Today we’ll demonstrate the power of its smart spot and on-screen targeting features and explain how it can integrate seamlessly with your formulation, quality control, and performance opt...

A senior design leader at a large beverage company recently shared his thoughts on the definition of Design Thinking on LinkedIn, asking other members of the community to contribute their own thoughts alongside his. Hundreds of comments ensued. The post appears to be part of a multi-week campaign to position Design Thinking as a way to approach business problems and garner attention from business executives. And we know that this attention has been hard to capture. A survey of over 600 designers...

For over a decade omni-channel has been a term used to describe digital and physical marketing. While many have strived to achieve an omni-channel strategy, unifying the digital and physical customer experiences have been an ongoing challenge for marketers. However, that may be changing. Advances in augmented reality (AR) can help to bring these two worlds together. Over the next few years, I believe we will see significant adoption of AR technology by brands and retailers as a way to engage con...

The Pantone Color Institute just announced PANTONE® 18-3838 Ultra Violet as the Pantone Color of the Year 2018! This news is always exciting because it sets the stage for upcoming trends for everything from housewares to fashion to packaging design. In fact, we have already seen shades of Color of the Year used in packaging and graphic design by forward-looking brands in the CPG, luxury, and beauty worlds as well as by personalities and artists seeking to stand out. Part of butt...

If you work behind a paint counter, you know customers can surprise you with interesting and unique objects to color match. Many samples are relatively easy to measure, but when a customer shows up with a curved baseboard panel, a square of shag carpet, or a plush toy, things can get a little tricky. A few years ago, we learned just how challenging it was for our retail paint customers to color match unique samples. We took in a bag with textured and multi-colored items and asked the person behi...

Di recente abbiamo discusso sul blog il modo in cui l’aspetto influisce sul colore. In questo articolo esaminiamo alcune delle caratteristiche che influiscono sull’aspetto di un oggetto, come texture, lucentezza, trasparenza ed effetti speciali, e spieghiamo quanto sia importante descrivere l’aspetto sin dalle prime fasi del workflow di design. E se i programmi 3D hanno cercato per anni di affrontare le caratteristiche di aspetto, qualcosa è però sempre mancato n...

You think you’re doing everything right, but your color isn’t consistent. Why? Through the years, designers have used many tools to help them specify color. Color swatches, style guides and product prototypes have been effective, but with the advent of the digital world, these physical tools are no longer enough. To be efficient, designers need to be SPECIFIC. X-Rite Pantone President Ron Voigt recently published an article in MediaPost that explains why. To be effective, designers n...

Appearance is more than simply color. It’s a comprehensive look at everything inherent to each unique material we come in contact with, including texture, gloss, transparency, and special effects. Each of these characteristics plays a part and has an effect on overall appearance and understanding in relation to a single material. Objects may have several elements that affect appearance, such as the material’s surface texture, construction, overall geometry and micro-surface. The environ...

Color is our perception of reflected light across the visible spectrum. When light hits an object, it absorbs some rays and reflect others. The color of light that reflects back into our eyes is the color we perceive. The more light an object absorbs, the darker it appears. With black, very little light is reflected. Pure black in the presence of light wasn’t achieved until 2014 when Surrey NanoSystems announced the invention of Vantablack. This high-tech artificial substance absorbs 99....

I spent a few years working in Paris, where the Seine River has played a pivotal role in the shaping of the city’s personality. As I stayed longer and got to know the city and its people better, one of the things that became clear to me was that the Seine River physically separated two distinct cultures of the city. Image courtesy of www.aparisguide.com The left bank, including the Latin Quarter, Montparnasse, and Sorbonne, is all about creativity, design and ideation. The right bank is more sop...

FUSE 2017 provided a wealth of valuable industry insight by showcasing how today’s brands are not only surviving, but thriving. While each scenario presented unique challenges and obstacles, one constant seemed abundantly clear:  brands must create a human connection between themselves and their consumers. Humanizing brands reinvigorates (or, in some cases, generates) a level of trust from consumers that is currently eroding. Speakers at FUSE highlighted a few specific examples of ways companie...

In an effort to better understand YOU, YOUR business, and YOUR color challenges, we’re inviting you to be a part of the new X-RITE LAB. Our research and design teams are asking for YOUR input as we look for new and exciting challenges to solve. The X-RITE LAB is a group of professionals who are interested in voicing their color challenges and emerging as thought leaders. Regardless of industry, role, or years of color knowledge, we’re looking for individuals whose professional goals resonate wit...

Have you seen the Academy Award-Winning La La Land, where the stars dance through the cosmos and experience alternate realities? Or the commercial, where a famous freestyle dancer slides down the street, up the walls, over the marquee and beyond, transported by his next-gen earphones? Maybe you’ve seen this Russian packaging that superimposes conflicting scales. Surrealism is bleeding into our reality, and I kind of think it’s a zeitgeist. Simply defined, surrealism strives to reconcile our dre...

At X-Rite Pantone, we pride ourselves on our ability to help customers specify, communicate, formulate, and produce consistent color. You’re probably familiar with our major markets, like plastics, industrial coatings, and print & packaging. You may also be aware of the more “common” things we measure, like paint, printed surfaces, and textiles. But, as you look for the emergency exit on a plane, watch a butterfly float by, or choose the freshest package of cheese from the ...

At X-Rite Pantone, we love color, and we’re passionate about helping you get yours right. That’s why we offer a full-service training program, staffed with Color Experts from many of the industries we serve. From beginner to advanced, lowest investment to highest return, we offer a variety of options to teach you everything you need to know to be successful. Are you new to color, wondering where it fits in your business objectives? Do you already have a color workflow, but ...

If you didn’t catch my Industry 4.0: What Commercial Printers Need to Know article, you’ll want to check it out now. Today’s blog is a continuation, touching on the most interesting print color management tie-ins: PQX, iccMAX, mobile control and new materials. Here’s what on the horizon for color-managed workflows. Image courtesy of Esko.com. Print Quality eXchange PQX was a global effort developed by Idealliance, and is now moving to ISO to be issued as a standard. It ...

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...

Looking forward to the X Games? Kicking off next week in Aspen, the annual sporting competition draws thrill seekers from around the world to participate in Xtreme events, such as skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. Image courtesy of www.bleacherreport.com. Of course, this living-on-the-edge lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Luckily, with X-Rite you don’t have to be a daredevil to enjoy Xtreme color! Here’s a list of our most innovative solutions to help you achieve the greatest possible results...

Earlier this week my colleague, Shoshana Burgett wrote about six manufacturing trends to watch for in 2017. It’s now time to look into my crystal ball and see what trends converters, commercial printers and graphic designers should be following in the next 12 – 18 months. Extended/Expanded Gamut 2017 could be the year where extended gamut printing really breaks out. This year both industry professionals and standards organizations have been taking a look at printing beyond traditional 126...

As we close out 2016, it’s time to look ahead to 2017 and the upcoming manufacturing trends that will influence how we do business in the New Year. With rapidly changing technology, it’s difficult to know exactly what’s coming next, but we can definitely make some predictions. Over the past year, I have interviewed many customers across a variety of manufacturing industries to learn more about their industry concerns, the design and manufacturing challenges they face, and the t...

Our society loves customizing its surroundings. Personalized merchandise preserves memories, and when given as a gift, shows the recipient that you put a lot of thought into the choice. It also creates an emotional bond, and (if done right) encourages brand loyalty.  Image courtesy zazzle.com While the personalized merchandise market used to be dominated by photo books and calendars, advances in technology have opened the door to personalizing a wide range of materials like wood, ceramics,...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! A time to reminisce… to celebrate our successes, and to explore areas that may need a little more attention in 2017. If color accuracy is on your list of things to improve, this article is for you. We’ve compiled a list of the blogs our readers found most helpful and interesting in 2016, so you can start working toward your goal of more accurate color in the New Year. Did your favorite blog make the list? Top 10 X-Rite Blogs of 2016 ...

K 2016 begins today in Düsseldorf and runs through October 26th. As the #1 trade fair for the plastics and rubber industries, it’s a huge event featuring industry news, product demos, and networking. We’ll be in Hall 8b / Stand H65 showcasing our end-to-end X-Rite Pantone workflow solutions to help rubber manufacturers, compounders, masterbatchers, and converters get consistent color in a plastics workflow. Don’t miss your chance to speak with our color experts! (Here...

Tim Mouw is our Manager of Applications Engineering & Technical Support for the Americas. Tim is so knowledgeable about the impact of color in many industries, and his stories always intrigue us. Tim has authored many X-Rite Pantone blogs, including: What is metamerism, and why should you care? Effective ways to measure reflective surfaces What’s sabotaging your sustainability efforts? 5 color evaluation pitfalls to avoid Why is controlling color so hard? We recently sat down with him to...

For many of us, fun in the sun can lead to a summertime tan. The science behind this sun + skin interaction is melanin, a skin pigment our body releases to block the UV rays found in sunlight. The more time we spend in the sun, the more melanin is released, and the darker (or more freckled) our skin becomes. This shift in skin tone doesn’t matter for most people, but for prosthetic wearers even a slight change can be a big deal. Here’s how Royal Preston hospital in the United Kingdom is using co...

Real or fake? When it comes to medicating children, consumers need to know the products they choose are genuine. When you hear the word counterfeiting, do you automatically think of counterfeit money? Unfortunately counterfeiting goes much farther than that. It’s impacting just about every industry worldwide. It is a huge problem for product integrity and results in financial loss. Estimates put counterfeited and pirated goods at some 2 to 2.5% of world trade, with a value of $600 billion or mor...

Extended gamut printing is becoming more and more popular in the printing industry. With Pantone’s new EXTENDED GAMUT Guide, printers and designers have a visual guide to help predict how close of a match is possible when they use 7-color process in place of spot inks.   Ron Voigt, President of X-Rite Pantone, was recently interviewed on the topic by Cary Sherburne, senior editor at WhatTheyThink.  According to Voigt, the EXTENDED GAMUT Guide helps printers visualize how well Pantone...

Color is a critical factor when selecting cosmetics and skin tone products. Women everywhere venture into stores, compare sample after sample trying to find the closest match, and hope for the best. With hundreds of different options, product lines and color palettes, buying makeup can be an expensive and frustrating process. Color technology to the rescue. Today we’ll look at how the CAPSURE Cosmetic spectrocolorimeter and the CAPSUREme mobile app are revolutionizing the way women buy makeup. ...

Pantone®, an X-Rite company, recently announced a pair of complementary shades as its 2016 Color of the Year:  PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz. The PANTONE Color of the Year announcement is always exciting because it sets the stage for upcoming trends. The Color of the Year selection process is very thoughtful and a lot of consideration is given to the color choices. To arrive at the selection each year, Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institut...

If accurate color is a must in your world, then you know the importance of color measurement instrumentation. Spectrophotometers are used in many industries to identify, formulate, measure and communicate color. They can compare samples and standards to identify even the smallest differences. From concept through formulation and production, spectrophotometers are an invaluable part of any color-managed workflow. But have you ever stopped to think how these devices were developed? Today we’ll tak...

Would you choose a beverage off the store shelf if the same brand sitting next to it was a different color? The Bacardi Bottling Corporation knows the answer is probably no, which is why the company incorporates strict color standards into its Bacardi Mojito production process. Bacardi Mojito is a mix of premium rum, flavorings and special natural ingredients. Since the color of these ingredients can vary, Bacardi bottlers need to continually adjust their recipe to maintain consistent flavor an...