Blog sul colore

Anche se non è prevista una specifica voce di bilancio, il colore può incidere sui profitti dei brand in molti modi diversi. Capire il costo reale del colore può aiutare ad accelerare il go-to-market, a ridurre gli sprechi e a risparmiare migliaia di euro. Il colore gioca un ruolo importante nelle decisioni di acquisto, se si considera che gli acquirenti impiegano solo da 2 a 7 secondi per scegliere un articolo sullo scaffale. Per distinguersi, i brand devono introdurre desi...

Originally published May 3, 2024 from https://canmaker.com/light-touch/ Industry stakeholders came together to explore ink and proofing standards for two-piece beverage cans. Nisa Ali reports from Manchester Leading companies across canmaking industry supply chains are considering general guidance for PantoneLIVE colours in the production of two-piece beverage cans. Following a series of seminars discussing the role of PantoneLIVE colour libraries in the design, proofing and printing process ...

Perché la retrocompatibilità degli spettrofotometri è fondamentale per un colore coerente Se sei arrivato fin qui, è probabile che utilizzi uno spettrofotometro da banco per avere sempre una qualità del colore ottimale. Da tessuti e plastica a vernici, rivestimenti e altro ancora, questi strumenti di alta precisione sono fondamentali per mantenere l'uniformità nei tuoi processi. In X-Rite, progettiamo spettrofotometri per garantire prestazioni affidabili...

X-Rite Pantone is excited to exhibit at Fakuma. Like many of you, digitization and sustainability are top of mind. We invite you to stop by our booth to see how an end-to-end lifecycle that focuses on color can help you: Fulfill your customers’ color demands Ensure color consistency with varying batches of recycled raw material Accelerate material color and appearance approval Minimize color surprises at delivery Actively decrease your global footprint The Key t...

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...

I brand investono tempo e risorse considerevoli nella scelta di un nuovo colore per rappresentare i loro prodotti. Se il colore non corrisponde alle aspettative dopo la stampa, le tirature sono sprecate e tutti si chiedono cosa sia andato storto nel processo. Ecco uno scenario tipico. Un brand sceglie un colore di stagione per il packaging dei prodotti e lo comunica al designer. Il designer integra il colore nel design e lo consegna al team di pre-media per convertirlo in file pronti per la sta...

Originally published May 3, 2024 from https://canmaker.com/light-touch/ Industry stakeholders came together to explore ink and proofing standards for two-piece beverage cans. Nisa Ali reports from Manchester Leading companies across canmaking industry supply chains are considering general guidance for PantoneLIVE colours in the production of two-piece beverage cans. Following a series of seminars discussing the role of PantoneLIVE colour libraries in the design, proofing and printing process ...

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...

In the sign and display graphics business, as in many other segments of the printing industry, shorter runs and reduced cycle times can stress even the most efficient wide format printing operations. By implementing a color-managed RIP-to-roll (or RIP-to-rigid media) workflow, these operations can ensure that color is right the first time and every time to help speed work through the shop and meet color expectations. Photo by Peter Saunders Today we are share tips from our Color Experts that c...

Un recente emendamento della direttiva UE sulla restrizione all’uso di determinate sostanze pericolose nelle apparecchiature elettriche ed elettroniche eliminerà, a decorrere dal 24 febbraio 2025, l’attuale deroga all’utilizzo del mercurio in diverse tipologie di lampade fluorescenti per finalità speciali. Queste lampade sono definite alla clausola 2(b)(4)-I della direttiva UE REACH. Dopo tale data, in Europa non sarà più consentita la vendita di nuo...

Internet riporta in abbondanza elenchi di top 10. Ci piace ripensare alle nostre risorse di apprendimento e ai nostri blog più popolari per capire meglio quali argomenti interessano di più ai nostri lettori. Dal 2016 pubblichiamo la nostra classifica delle risorse di apprendimento più lette, e siamo lieti di vedere che ogni anno, nelle prime posizioni, continuano a esserci argomenti didattici come la percezione del colore, le tolleranze e gli spettrofotometri. Ecco un elen...

Per l’accuratezza del colore nel mondo della stampa e del packaging, è fondamentale disporre degli strumenti giusti. Sappiamo bene quanto possa essere stressante e difficile scegliere tra una sovrabbondanza di opzioni. Ma adesso puoi stare tranquillo, perché abbiamo semplificato il tuo processo decisionale. Ecco il nostro elenco dei migliori dispositivi per la corrispondenza dei colori, ognuno rispondente a esigenze diverse:   eXact™ 2 Spettrofotometro portat...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the colorful world of spectrophotometers? Don't worry, we've got your back! We've put together a quick list of the unique features of four of our color match devices to help you find your perfect match. Let's dive right in! Ci7860: The Precision Prodigy The Ci7800 is your go-to if you're all about precision. With its cutting-edge technology, this benchtop spectrophotometer guarantees spot-on color matches. If you're into perfection, this one's for you....

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...

Enhancing Automotive Aesthetics with Automotive Color Match In today's fast-paced automotive industry where innovation is the driving force, the demand for precision and perfection has never been higher. Automotive designers and manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to enhance vehicle aesthetics, while parts manufacturers and refinishers strive to match color and appearance between parts and across sites. The Significance of Automotive Color Matching The right automotive paint color not onl...

Working in prepress holds a unique challenge. Even if your color workflow is tight, everything can fall apart if the customer’s file isn’t color managed. We’ve all seen it. You receive a file that the customer claims is ready to print, yet when you open it on your computer, the colors don’t look right at all. You can’t send it to print without knowing for sure, because you’re the one who will take the hit for wasted time and materials if it’s wrong....

Perfetti Van Melle (PVM) è una multinazionale che produce dolciumi e gomme. Propone innovativi sapori locali per numerosi rinomati marchi internazionali e li distribuisce in 150 paesi. Gli imballaggi finali dell'azienda comportano un mix di materiali, tra cui etichette, lamine, carta, cartoncino e pellicole termoretraibili. Ogni stampatore, di conseguenza, deve ottenere un colore preciso su ogni substrato per garantire l’identità unitaria del marchio sullo scaffale... e quest...

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...

When all of final production packaging comes together on the store shelf, it’s a brand’s moment of truth. Do the stand-up pouches, overwraps, and corrugated POP displays match? How close is the color to its standard? We know you spend so much time and money designing, proofing, sampling, printing, and shipping… so where does the color go wrong? Is it an issue with accuracy, consistency, or both? Package designs come together on the shelf. Here you see pouches, labels, cartons, and corrugated wit...

Cosa succede se devi gestire più di 2.000 colori dei brand in una complessa filiera di produzione globale del packaging? Le cose si fanno complicate! Anche se al momento può sembrare più facile creare un nuovo colore che cercare nei database o nei raccoglitori di drawdown per trovare la migliore corrispondenza, il problema si ha in seguito, quando ti ritrovi con una libreria enorme, ingestibile. Uno dei nostri clienti, una nota azienda del settore FMCG (beni di largo consum...

Ci vogliono solo da 2 a 7 secondi. Proprio così, è solo questo il tempo che un consumatore dedica alla riflessione quando prende la maggior parte delle decisioni d'acquisto di un prodotto. Questo “momento della verità” è oggetto di studio e di molti dibattiti. Le soluzioni di gestione del colore di X-Rite per stampa e packaging garantiscono livelli eccellenti di controllo qualità, formulazione e automazione.     Il colore è un fatt...

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...

Does your quality control program include visual evaluation? If not, it should. Using the SpectraLight QC as part of a color evaluation workflow. No matter your industry, judging color is more than just measuring samples with a color measurement device. Just because a spectrophotometer says your color is within tolerance, doesn’t necessarily mean it will look right to the human eye. To minimize customer rejects, your color control process needs to include visual evaluation in a light boo...

Per tutti noi , la digitalizzazione e la sostenibilità sono aspetti sempre più importanti. Tuttavia, il colore viene spesso trascurato quando si tratta di sviluppare prodotti tessili. In tal senso, la digitalizzazione della supply chain tessile e l’adozione del color management in tutte le differenti fasi, potrà garantire benefici immediati in termini di colori più precisi, produzione più rapida e minor spreco di materiali. Con oltre 60 anni di innovazio...

Misurazione della qualità di stampa e controllo dei processi possono aiutarti a ottenere un colore uniforme in tutte le applicazioni di stampa e packaging. Oggi esamineremo gli strumenti essenziali per poter progettare, formulare e stampare un colore prevedibile. Ti accompagneremo inoltre lungo il processo ideale per ottenere l’uniformità cromatica sui substrati per imballaggi nelle varie tirature di stampa. Come scegliere la tecnologia giusta per misurare la qualità ...

Chiunque si occupi di stampare prodotti o imballaggi sa che alcuni colori, come l’arancione, sono troppo difficili da riprodurre con i soli inchiostri CMY. Un quarto colore, il nero (K, che sta per “Key”, ossia il nero nel mondo della stampa) è spesso aggiunto per le applicazioni di stampa a colori sottrattiva. Dato che C+M+Y in effetti crea un colore marrone fangoso a causa delle impurità presenti negli inchiostri C, M e Y, l’aggiunta di un autentico inchi...

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...

It’s important to ensure design intent is realized each time and everywhere a product appears. But with so many variables to impact print quality, how can brands utilize suppliers around the world and still achieve consistent color? Our X-Rite Pantone Packaging Color Experts have designed a series of consulting services and workshops to help you get the most from your print, packaging, plastic or textile value chain.   Offered both online and onsite, these interactive sessions i...

Con un'attenzione particolare alla sostenibilità, Walmart continua a essere leader nelle specifiche e nel controllo del colore. All'inizio di quest'anno, Walmart ha comunicato ai propri fornitori di abbigliamento e articoli per la casa un nuovo programma di certificazione per combattere lo spreco di tempo e risorse e ridurre l'impatto globale del tradizionale processo di approvazione dei colori. Da allora, la business unit Home di Walmart ha visto molti aggiornamenti e miglioramenti al processo ...

High morale can make a tangible difference in the lives of your employees. According to Fast Company, employees with high job satisfaction sleep better at night, which leads to other healthy behaviors like eating well, working out, and better focus. These benefits of high employee morale roll over as advantages for the company, too. Healthy employees come to work more often and are more dedicated, creative and innovative on the job … which all improve the business outcome. As noted by Th...

Le aziende utilizzano gli sbiancanti ottici, detti anche agenti sbiancanti fluorescenti, per conferire un aspetto più luminoso e bianco ai prodotti. Se da un lato l’aggiunta di sbiancanti determina una maggiore luminosità del prodotto, dall'altro queste sostanze chimiche alterano il modo in cui il colore viene percepito, rendendo impossibile una valutazione visiva accurata. I materiali e i tessuti che contengono sbiancanti ottici possono apparire simili sotto la luce dello s...

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...

La tecnologia digitale sta rivoluzionando le attività di stampa. Ma se gli stampatori offset cercano metodi per migliorare la qualità, ridurre i costi e aumentare la produttività, spesso la sala inchiostri viene trascurata. Questo è un grosso errore. Infatti, se l’inchiostro non corrisponde alle specifiche, tutti gli altri sforzi di standardizzazione nella sala stampa potrebbero essere inutili. Con gli strumenti giusti, la formulazione dell’inchiostro div...

Che si stia scegliendo il colore per un brand, creando palette per una nuova linea di prodotti o progettando gli imballaggi per la nuova stagione, l'ispirazione è fondamentale nella scelta dei colori. L’ispirazione può venire dalle situazioni e luoghi più comuni, per esempio: Una festa. Il negozio di alimentari. Un evento sportivo. E naturalmente, gli splendidi ambienti esterni. Madre Natura ha un talento speciale per creare bellissime palette colori. “I colori p...

Perché è necessario calibrare lo spettrofotometro? Gli odierni strumenti per la misurazione del colore sono quasi tutti digitali al 100%. In effetti, al loro interno, fatta eccezione per le lampade vi sono pochissimi componenti analogici. Anche se vantano una stabilità maggiore rispetto ai precedenti modelli analogici, hanno tolleranze molto più ridotte e, di conseguenza, per restare entro questi limiti rigorosi necessitano di una regolare calibrazione. Stabilit&agra...

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...

Produrre substrati metallizzati come il packaging in metallo in due pezzi è costoso, e il relativo controllo del colore di stampa può essere complicato. Molti operatori del settore della decorazione dei metalli sono restii ad adottare la misurazione del colore, ma questa rappresenta il modo più rapido, accurato e conveniente per produrre colori uniformi in tutti gli stabilimenti e per realizzare iniziative di sostenibilità. Oggi esamineremo i seguenti argomenti: ...

Il color management è un processo che identifica e caratterizza ogni dispositivo nel workflow di imaging per garantire che tutti utilizzino lo stesso linguaggio. Come lo definisce l’ICC (International Color Consortium), il workflow con gestione del colore è prevedibile, uniforme e ripetibile in ogni fase, dall’acquisizione alla produzione finale.   Con il color management digitale, tutte le parti coinvolte nel workflow di stampa possono fare riferimento ai valori s...

Il color management ha generato una miriade di opportunità per inchiostri nuovi e particolari su un’ampia gamma di substrati come carta, tessuto, ceramica, materiali trasparenti e molti altri ancora. Per garantire di poter mantenere sempre accurato il colore quando si eseguono i lavori con queste nuove applicazioni, è necessario creare un profilo di stampa per ogni combinazione di stampante, inchiostro e substrato. X-Rite offre gli strumenti giusti per creare i profili in modo rapido e semplice....

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...

In this series we’ve been discussing the many factors that impact how we see color, and what we can do to ensure the color we see is accurate. Light, retinal fatigue and background effects can influence our perception of color. Today we’ll look at the limitations of the human eye and brain, and talk about how to detect these characteristics, especially for individuals responsible for evaluating and judging color. Are YOU color deficient? Read on to find out. (Spoiler alert: There’s a test at the...

There are many things that affect our ability to see color. In some cases, it doesn’t matter if the red you see is the same shade I see. A barn is a barn, right? But for those who work in an industry where color evaluation is part of the job, it IS important… VERY important. In our color perception series, we’re discussing the many factors that affect how we see color and what colorists can do to ensure that the color they see is the color they are supposed to see. Today we’ll take a closer look...

As the temperature of light changes, so does our perception of color. As I mentioned in our last post, light plays a huge role in the way we perceive color. Today we’ll look at the science of color in manufacturing and photography; specifically how an object’s reflective and absorptive properties and viewing technology can impact the colors we perceive. To reflect or not to reflect… that is the question. The colors an object absorbs and reflects is determined by its material – is it metal, plas...

Gli spettrofotometri da banco misurano in trasmissione e/o in riflettanza per acquisire e quantificare il colore su campioni opachi, trasparenti e traslucidi. Gli spettrofotometri per riflettanza misurano il colore emettendo una luce lampeggiante sulla superficie del campione e misurando la percentuale di riflettanza spettrale delle diverse lunghezze d’onda, con incrementi di 10 nanometri. Questo blog spiega il funzionamento della misurazione spettrale in riflettanza per consentirti di de...

Esistono due tipi di modelli di colore: additivo e sottrattivo. Oggi spiegheremo la miscelazione additiva, nota anche come modello di colore additivo o sistema di colore additivo. L'occhio umano mescola i tre colori primari additivi RGB - rosso, verde e blu - in varie combinazioni e intensità per simulare l'intera gamma di colori presenti in natura. La luce riflessa che contiene una miscela di rosso, verde e blu puro viene percepita come bianca. Quando non c'è luce, percepiamo il nero. Questa ...

Quante prove ed errori vi occorrono per formulare un colore? Se la risposta è più di tre, potrebbe essere il momento di ricorrere all'aiuto di una soluzione computerizzata. La formulazione del colore assistita dal computer può portare enormi vantaggi alla vostra attività. Anche i principianti possono raggiungere più rapidamente gli obiettivi cromatici, risparmiando tempo, denaro e coloranti costosi. Una volta stabilito un metodo accurato, potete aspettarvi di s...

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...

Siamo lieti di annunciare il lancio del nostro spettrofotometro eXact 2! Grazie a funzionalità innovative come, ad esempio, la videocamera interna ad alta risoluzione, le rotelle integrate per la scansione e la connettività software, questo dispositivo segnerà una svolta per stampatori, converter e fornitori di inchiostri. Ti starai domandando quale dei tre modelli di eXact 2 disponibili sia il migliore per te. Questo blog illustra le differenze tra eXact 2, eXact 2 Xp ed e...

Ti stai domandando se il nuovo eXactTM 2 è adatto alla tua attività? Oggi descriveremo le principali caratteristiche del dispositivo, del software e dell'assistenza per stampatori e converter per aiutarti a deciderlo.   Miglioramenti al dispositivo eXact 2 per stampatori e converter Per prima cosa, vediamo le principali differenze hardware tra eXact 1 e eXact 2. Schermo inclinabile più ampio del 30%, con una risoluzione doppia. Forse può sembrare un mi...

L&E International, Ltd è fornitore globale di soluzioni innovative e sostenibili per il packaging. In quanto fornitore certificato di packaging per Adidas, Verizon, Amazon (fornitore APASS in Asia), Target e molti altri brand e rivenditori, L&E applica e preserva rigorosi standard per i colori dei brand in più paesi e sedi di produzione. Lo scorso anno, L&E ha scelto le soluzioni per il workflow del colore digitale di X-Rite per mantenere alto il livello delle aspett...

Ti stai domandando se il nuovo eXactTM2 è adatto al tuo laboratorio inchiostri? Oggi descriveremo le principali caratteristiche del dispositivo, del software e dell'assistenza per fornitori di inchiostri per aiutarti a deciderlo. Miglioramenti al dispositivo eXact 2 per fornitori di inchiostri Per prima cosa, vediamo le principali differenze hardware tra eXact 1 e eXact 2. Schermo inclinabile più ampio del 30%, con una risoluzione doppia. Forse può sembrare un migliora...

Cosa misura uno spettrofotometro? Uno spettrofotometro è uno strumento che misura il colore emettendo un fascio di luce e catturando la quantità di luce che riflette o trasmette per quantificare il colore. Gli spettrofotometri possono fornire dati di colore per quasi tutti i campioni, compresi liquidi, plastica, carta, metallo, tessuto e campioni dipinti. Dove si usano gli spettrofotometri? Gli spettrofotometri sono utilizzati in ogni industria che richiede un colore accurato. Dall'imballag...

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...

As the range of substrates, inks, and printing technologies has expanded, so has the challenge of maintaining color quality for brands and printers. A workflow based on digital standards is the easiest way to achieve accuracy and consistency across shifts and sites, regardless of production requirements. Adding a quality control solution like ColorCert® to your workflow can boost your bottom line even more. What is ColorCert? ColorCert is a modular, job-based solution that streamlines color ...

Con un numero sempre maggiore di marchi di beni di consumo (CPG) che implementano programmi di controllo della qualità degli imballaggi per monitorare le tolleranze cromatiche, i trasformatori e gli stampatori di imballaggi hanno bisogno di soluzioni di misurazione del colore che si integrino direttamente con i sistemi di reporting. Le nostre soluzioni di scansione IntelliTrax2 Pro e eXact Auto-Scan Pro combinano la potenza dei nostri dispositivi di scansione automatica leader del settore con la...

Cerchi lo strumento di misurazione del colore migliore per la tua sala stampa? Per aiutarti nella decisione, dai un’occhiata ai tre livelli di controllo dei processi per valutare il colore stampato. Il livello più elementare è il confronto visivo. L’attitudine visiva ai colori, però, è soggettiva e di conseguenza la valutazione visiva può essere fuorviata da questa soggettività, soprattutto se effettuata tra vari operatori di macchina e con diverse sorgenti luminose. Se la precisione del ...

X-Rite acquired GretagMacbeth in 2006, making most GretagMacbeth handheld and benchtop spectrophotometers 20+ years old. If you're still using one of these legacy spectrophotometers and color consistency is important to your business, we encourage you to consider upgrading to a new, ISO-certified X-Rite device for the best experience. Here at X-Rite, we continue to research and improve our color measurement technology so our customers can meet tighter color control tolerances. Improved color mea...

There are many things that affect what we see. Optical illusions aren’t just fascinating; they teach us about how we visually perceive our surroundings. In our Color Perception Series, we shared some of the factors that affect how we see color and the impact it has on manufacturing. In honor of April Fools' Day, we’re taking a closer look at some of the ways our brain, eyes, and the environment can influence what we see. April Fool #1: Your Brain Let’s start with the power of t...

Quality control is an important aspect of any color workflow. While many of our customers use a handheld spectrophotometer for QC, there are times a benchtop spectrophotometer is a more appropriate choice. Today we’ll explore some of the reasons you might want to choose a benchtop for quality control and offer tips to ensure your QC workflow is the best it can be. Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Benchtop Spectrophotometer for Quality Control 1 - Your Color Tolerances are Tight While our handhel...

Are your customers rejecting shipments due to incorrect color? Are you identifying color issues during quality control? If your bottom line depends on color accuracy, you need to ensure your spectrophotometer is not the cause. Color drift is a big issue for a lot of companies. Even worse, many don’t even know it’s happening. Here are some ways to make sure your spectrophotometer is operating within specification to always capture accurate and consistent measurement data. Causes of Sp...

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...

Color Matching Software for Retail Paint In the retail paint environment, customer service is key. When a customer brings a paint sample to the counter for a custom match, formulas must be accurate and formulation time must be fast. The faster and more accurately you can match customer paint samples, the more likely they will return with future business. With the right equipment, you can empower your paint counter associates to be true color matching experts and convert your paint department in...

The flexography method of printing uses rotary flexible plates to print directly on the substrate in a single pass. These inked plates are wrapped around cylinders on a web press and rotate at a fast speed to transfer ink. This type of printing is ideal for large quantities and long print runs with a continuous print, such as wallpaper and gift wrap. A flexographic printing press can use a variety of solvent-based, water-based, or UV curable inks. It also adapts well to different materials and ...

In un mondo ideale, dovresti poter installare gli inchiostri sulla macchina da stampa ed eseguire il lavoro. Sfortunatamente, ogni anno i laboratori di stampa rotocalco e flessografica sprecano inchiostro, substrati e tempo cercando di ottenere i colori giusti. Nonostante sia più facile ottenere colori precisi grazie ai progressi tecnologici, ci sono ancora variabili che influiscono sul colore.

In questa serie in tre parti, ti forniamo più di due dozzine di motivi per cui il colore potrebbe non essere giusto in macchina. Leggi il primo articolo dedicato agli strumenti se te lo sei perso.

Oggi vediamo come standard e inchiostri possono influire sul colore finale.

1 - Utilizzo dello standard cromatico sbagliato.

È facile selezionare lo standard cromatico sbagliato nel software. Alcuni sistemi hanno centinaia, se non migliaia, di standard cromatici. Ecco qualche consiglio:

• Assicurati che lo standard che selezioni abbia le stesse caratteristiche del lavoro che stai stampando.
• Organizza gli standard per cliente e includi informazioni come substrato, cilindro retinato, sistema di inchiostri, ecc.
• Immetti lo standard con le impostazioni corrette per lo strumento e il materiale di supporto.
• Assicurati che lo standard cromatico sia sullo stesso materiale del campione di stampa. Ad esempio, non puoi confrontare un colore Pantone non patinato su materiale bianco imbianchito con lo stesso colore su materiale ondulato bianco KLA chiazzato biancastro.

2 - Utilizzo di troppi coloranti.

Un lotto di inchiostro formulato usando troppi coloranti potrebbe non essere in grado di darti il colore o l'intensità che desideri. Questo causa in genere uno scenario del "serpente che si mangia la coda" perché i rapporti dei coloranti sono diversi uno dall'altro. Formula sempre gli inchiostri usando il minor numero di ingredienti possibile.

3 - Cambio di substrato.

Il substrato in macchina è esattamente lo stesso del substrato usato per creare lo standard? Il fornitore del substrato ha difficoltà a fornirti materiali coerenti? Il materiale è laminato con un materiale diverso da quello di ieri? Stai confrontando una struttura laminata usando poliestere opaco invece di trasparente?

Il cambio di substrato può influire molto su come il colore viene letto in macchina. È consigliabile rendere i substrati dei veri e propri standard nel workflow, proprio come i drawdown. E prima di controllare i colori, controlla il substrato per assicurarti che rientri nei limiti di tolleranza prima di eseguire il viraggio degli inchiostri o eseguire il lavoro.

4 - Trascurare la vernice per sovrastampa.

La vernice per sovrastampa (OPV) viene spesso trascurata perché è trasparente, ma non lasciarti ingannare. La vernice per sovrastampa può influire notevolmente sulla variazione del colore. In genere, la vernice per sovrastampa fa tendere il colore verso il blu. Può anche farlo apparire più scuro e intenso.

Con la maggior parte dei colori, noterai un calo del valore L quando applichi la vernice. Se non sei sicuro, esegui qualche lettura con e senza vernice per sovrastampa per vedere la differenza. Se il lavoro richiede l'applicazione di vernice per sovrastampa, è consigliabile immettere lo standard cromatico con vernice per sovrastampa poiché questo è il risultato finale che vedrà il cliente. La vernice per sovrastampa può anche causare problemi quando passa attraverso il centro di una barra colore. Poiché alcune letture includeranno la vernice mentre altre no, avrai letture irregolari.

5 - Uso di un lotto di inchiostro di scarsa qualità.

Anche al migliore tecnico degli inchiostri può capitare un lotto di inchiostro scadente. Ma se non scopri subito il problema, ti potrebbe costare sprechi in macchina e numerose ore per eseguire il viraggio dell'inchiostro. Un modo per risolvere questo problema è quello di definire un programma di controllo qualità in sala inchiostri per assicurarti che arrivino gli inchiostri corretti alla macchina. Una pratica comune è quella di allegare un certificato di analisi ai lotti inviati alla macchina per garantirne la precisione. Dovresti anche misurare e convalidare gli inchiostri prima di installarli sulla macchina.

La funzione BestMatch di eXact è uno strumento predittivo per il colore che valuta la concentrazione e lo spessore dell'inchiostro per determinare se si può ottenere il colore corretto. Aiuta anche a determinare se si può ottenere una migliora corrispondenza con un colore specifico regolando l'inchiostro in macchina. Dai un'occhiata al nostro blog Bringing Ink Back into Tolerance per saperne di più.

6 - Contaminazione.

Questo è un problema comune nelle sale stampa che lavorano a pieno regime. Gli operatori delle macchine da stampa, in particolare se si impiegano inchiostri a base solvente e base acqua, devono usare additivi quali stabilizzatori, glicole, alcohol, acqua, ecc. per mantenere le prestazioni dell'inchiostro. Troppi additivi possono tuttavia rovinare l'inchiostro. Quando tutti lavorano in fretta per portare a termine un lavoro, succede spesso di non pulire accuratamente i circuiti e le coppe della macchina da stampa quando si cambiano i colori.

Una volta che un colore è contaminato, l'unico modo per risolvere il problema è iniziare tutto da capo. Lo strumento Basic Compare di eXact 2 è in grado di confrontare l'inchiostro in macchina con l'inchiostro di un flacone nuovo per verificarne la contaminazione. Un modo meno scientifico consiste nel versare un po' di inchiostro della macchina sul coperchio del flacone originale. Se riscontri un notevole differenza tra i due, la probabilità che l'inchiostro sia contaminato è alta.

7 - Asciugatura non corretta.

Gli inchiostri che non si asciugano correttamente possono causare la riumidificazione. Ciò potrebbe influire o meno sul colore, ma è importante esserne consapevoli. In un caso limite, la coppa del giallo di quadricromia può diventare completamente arancione o persino marrone se gli altri inchiostri non si asciugano correttamente.

8 - Opacità diverse.

Colori di inchiostro diversi hanno opacità diverse. Le cose si complicano ulteriormente perché le aziende produttrici di inchiostri usano svariati sistemi di inchiostri e decine di fornitori, creando infinite possibilità in fatto di variazione dell'opacità. eXact 2 Plus di X-Rite supporta la lettura dell'opacità.

Per evitare di sprecare tempo e denaro, esegui la lettura dell'opacità. Se conosci le diverse opacità puoi definire aspettative realistiche per i clienti.

A seguire...

Come menzionato nella prima parte di questa serie, non otterrai colori uniformi se un solo operatore segue questi consigli. Devi documentare tutto e comunicarlo a tutte le persone coinvolte nel workflow.

Dai un'occhiata all'ultima parte della nostra serie " Perché il colore potrebbe non essere giusto in macchina" - Fattori ambientali e legati alla macchina da stampa.

Soluzioni di gestione del colore descritte

Per saperne di più sui prodotti descritti:

X-Rite eXact 2: con funzionalità innovative come la tecnologia brevettata di target video Mantis, unica nel suo genere, e la tecnologia zoom Digital Loupe, eXact 2 è la scelta ideale per stampatori, converter e fornitori di inchiostri.

eXact Auto-Scan Pro: soluzione di scansione integrata nella macchina da stampa che fornisce agli stampatori di piccole e medie dimensioni il feedback immediato sulle prestazioni con conformità agli standard G7 e una migliore funzionalità di creazione di report sul controllo qualità.

IntelliTrax2 Pro: soluzione di scansione integrata nella macchina da stampa che fornisce agli stampatori commerciali e su cartone pieghevole di medie e grandi dimensioni il feedback immediato sulle prestazioni con conformità agli standard G7 e una migliore funzionalità di creazione di report sul controllo qualità.

Ci64: lo spettrofotometro a sfera portatile più preciso di X-Rite, disponibile in tre modelli con misurazioni Gloss correlato, SPIN/SPEX simultanee e un'opzione UV.

InkFormulation Software: il software InkFormulation è una soluzione rapida, precisa e coerente di formulazione dell'inchiostro, nonché di creazione, archiviazione, approvazione e reperimento di formule per inchiostri di stampa offset, flessografica, rotocalco e serigrafica.

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In un mondo perfetto, si dovrebbe essere in grado di mettere l'inchiostro nella macchina da stampa, eseguire un lavoro e ottenere l'uniformità del colore. Purtroppo, ogni anno le operazioni di stampa flessografica e rotocalco sprecano inchiostro, substrato e tempo di stampa nel tentativo di ottenere il colore giusto. Sebbene i progressi della tecnologia abbiano reso più facile ottenere l'accuratezza del colore, le variabili che influiscono sul colore esistono ancora. In questa serie di tre pa...

In un mondo ideale, dovresti poter installare gli inchiostri sulla macchina da stampa ed eseguire il lavoro. Sfortunatamente, ogni anno i laboratori di stampa rotocalco e flessografica sprecano inchiostro, substrati e tempo cercando di ottenere i colori giusti. Nonostante sia più facile ottenere colori precisi grazie ai progressi tecnologici, ci sono ancora variabili che influiscono sul colore. In questa serie in tre parti, ti forniamo più di due dozzine di motivi per cui il colore...

The International Standards Organization has defined ISO 12647 as a set of Graphic Arts standards for printing. Included are eight parts: Part 1:  Print parameters and measurement methods Part 2:  Offset lithographic processes Part 3:  Coldset offset lithography on newsprint Part 4:  Gravure printing Part 5:  Screen printing Part 6:  Flexographic printing Part 7:  Proofing processes working directly from digital data Part 8:  Validation print processes wo...

Stampa con gamma estesa I converter, con l’aumento della richiesta di varianti di prodotto e di una produzione snella, sono costretti a lavorare in modo più rapido e conveniente. L’implementazione della stampa con gamma estesa, detta anche stampa a palette colore fissa, è un eccellente strumento a disposizione dei brand owner e dei designer per specificare il colore realizzabile, e dei converter per ridurre i tempi di impostazione della macchina da stampa, pr...

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...

L’aspetto superficiale può modificare la tua percezione del colore. Pensa a una rivista patinata. Se la pagina è esposta alla luce diretta, dovrai probabilmente inclinare la rivista e cambiare l’angolo di riflessione per vedere con chiarezza i colori. Allo stesso modo, una superficie testurizzata può apparire di colore differente rispetto a una sezione liscia dello stesso oggetto. Dato che gli spettrofotometri determinano i valori spettrali di un colore inviando...

Il 2020 ha obbligato i produttori a ripensare il proprio modus operandi. In tutto il mondo, il COVID ha interrotto drasticamente i viaggi necessari per le approvazioni dei prototipi e ha ritardato la consegna dei campioni fisici. Molti brand owner hanno quindi iniziato a cercare il modo di utilizzare campioni di colori digitali per garantire la produzione ma incontravano difficoltà per l’incapacità di riprodurre l’aspetto che avrebbe avuto il campione di colore sul prot...

Il color management ICC consente di avere un workflow prevedibile, uniforme e ripetibile in ogni fase, dall'acquisizione alla produzione finale. Per ottenere un workflow con gestione del colore è necessario calibrare i dispositivi e creare un profilo ICC per ogni componente: fotocamera, monitor, proiettore, scanner e stampante.   Importanza della calibrazione e della profilazione Per ottenere i migliori risultati cromatici è necessario calibrare ogni dispositivo rientrante nel workflow, ...

X-Rite Pantone has been working with Asda for several years, supporting the implementation of ColorCert, a digital color program to achieve time and cost savings and deliver brand presence and quality assurance on shelf. We recently published a case study that explains how digital color has helped Asda improve color and consistency scores by 200%. We encourage you to download the case study to learn more. With a tried and proven color management model in its Food and Non-Edible categories, Asda ...

COVID-19 ha obbligato molte aziende a ripensare le modalità di comunicazione, approvazione e produzione del colore. Per alcune ha significato provare a continuare il “business come sempre”, ma da postazioni remote. Per altre, trovare il modo di gestire il colore senza effettuare spostamenti. Sappiamo però che i nostri clienti fanno sempre tutto quello che è in loro potere per sostenere l’attività e, allo stesso tempo, garantire la salute e la sicure...

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...

2020 has definitely been a year for the record books. As many of you looked for new and creative ways to work, we tried to support you with learning resources.  Today we’re looking back on the topics that captured the most attention this year. From the basics of color science to choosing the best color measurement instrument for your needs (and learning how to use it), here’s what captured our Learning Resource Leader Board for 2020. Top 10 Learning Resources of 2020 #1  &...

As we always say, with so many places for color to go wrong it can be hard to know how to get it right. This is especially true if you’re measuring or viewing color with a device that is out of calibration or needs service. You can spend a lot of time trying to locate a color problem that may not exist – or even worse, create a new one. One simple way to minimize color errors and inconsistencies is to calibrate, maintain, and certify your devices. At X-Rite, our goal is to make this ...

Black Friday. Not only is it the much anticipated start to holiday shopping, it’s also a day manufacturers have been preparing for all year long. Whether mass-producing holiday cards, candy canes, plastic toys, or festive clothing, accurate color is a must. Manufacturers can’t ship two of the same toy if they won’t match on the showroom floor, and holiday sweaters that are a shade off will end up at a discount store instead of a fashion boutique. Perfection is especially import...

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...

Like the additive color model, subtractive color mixes wavelengths of light to produce what we perceive as color. However, the subtractive model uses pigments or ink to block – subtract – light rather than adding it.  Combining two pure additive primaries produces a subtractive primary. The subtractive primaries of cyan, magenta, and yellow are the opposing colors to red, green, and blue. Cyan is opposite Red Magenta is opposite Green Yellow is opposi...

Recently we had the opportunity to sit down with Laura Guido-Clark, a consumer products designer of color, material, and texture. She has been dubbed an “Experience Consultant,” which reflects her interest and study of human reactions to the look and feel of new products.   Photo by Laura Flippen. We asked Guido-Clark to speak with us because we also appreciate the importance of color in our lives.   Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in color? A. When I wa...

Quanto tempo, carta e inchiostro sprechi per ristampare immagini perché il colore non è esatto? Prima di dare la colpa alla stampante, prendi in considerazione il monitor. Quando si lavora con un monitor non calibrato e non profilato, non si può fare affidamento sui colori che si vedono sullo schermo, il che rende difficile prendere buone decisioni di editing. Fortunatamente, calibrare e profilare i monitor è un gioco da ragazzi con il software i1Profiler. i1Profiler ...

Softproofing – the ability to simulate how an image will appear in print right from your monitor – can save a lot of time and effort in your printing workflow. Although many photographers already rely on it, anyone who designs, approves, prepares or prints brand and color-critical images can also benefit. With softproofing, designers can create with actual specified colors (no more trial and error!), project owners can approve layouts without physical proofs (predictable color!), and...

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...

Per definire un valido programma di controllo qualità sono necessari buoni strumenti, software validi e utenti esperti. Anche in presenza di tutti questi elementi, però, bisogna prestare attenzione ad alcune insidie piuttosto comuni quando si utilizza uno spettrofotometro per analizzare la qualità del colore. Measuring plastic parts with the X-Rite Ci7800 benchtop spectrophotometer. Le cinque principali insidie della misurazione del colore 1. Campioni e standard sbagl...

A calibrated display is not just for photographers. If you browse inspiration photos online, send color samples back and forth via e-mail, or transfer color files between suppliers and customers, you need to calibrate and profile your display to trust the colors you see on-screen.     When talking about monitor calibration, many people interchange illuminance, luminance and brightness, but they are not the same. Here are the differences you need to understand to properly calibrate and...

Che si tratti di produzione di tessuti, parti di automobili o pezzi di plastica, il colore deve rimanere coerente, altrimenti il prodotto finale verrà scartato. Sfortunatamente, durante la produzione, si possono verificare diversi errori relativi al colore in tante fasi. Creare e utilizzare standard cromatici digitali accurati è un modo per evitare questi errori. Gli standard cromatici digitali possono essere utilizzati nei software per specificare e comunicare il colore, formulare colorant...

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 ...

Whether you work with plastics, coatings or textiles, you must consistently achieve in-tolerance color or your product could be rejected before it even makes it to the shelf or showroom.     This is especially true for brands that rely on off-site suppliers and manufacturers for raw materials and parts that come together at assembly, such as the plastic dashboard, fabric seats, and coated interior panels of a car. Even if each site produces in-tolerance color, it must be monitored an...

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 ...

Il COVID-19 ha fermato molti settori, tra cui quello tessile. I divieti di viaggiare e le misure di confinamento obbligano le grandi supply chain interconnesse a ripensare il proprio modus operandi. Questa situazione potrebbe essere un’opportunità per i brand che erano già alla ricerca di nuove modalità per ottenere un colore accurato e velocizzare i tempi di immissione nel mercato. Questa pandemia a livello globale può spingere il settore dell'abbigliamento a ...

Reflective surfaces and metallic inks are very popular for printing and packaging applications. Consumers love the look; but for printers, these substrates and inks are expensive and make color control a challenge. Today we’re taking a look at the measurement options available for controlling these very marketable print and packaging applications to help printers and converters meet brand owner expectations and maintain the highest possible quality output. Sphere vs. 45°:0° - ...

Nella stampa, il controllo dei processi può essere effettuato a vari livelli. Il confronto visivo può servire per una prima, elementare valutazione della corrispondenza, ma è estremamente soggettivo e non assicura molta precisione né ripetibilità. L’impiego di un densitometro può fornire un feedback quantitativo concreto agli operatori di macchina. Le informazioni utili possono comprendere misurazioni della densità dell’inchiostro sol...

No matter the industry, our customers are all working toward the same goal: Achieve accurate color and keep production moving. Even in the best conditions, color data can be a challenge to capture and share. COVID-19-related travel bans and social distancing guidelines are making it harder than ever.    Today we’ll share three easy ways to remotely share color data so you can achieve your color goals without shipping physical samples or making onsite visits. The Benefits of Digit...

Flexible film does a lot more than protect goods on the store shelf. When done right, film packaging design can capture attention and increase product sales. But measuring color on film substrates can be challenging, even for the most sophisticated converter. Here's what you need to know to successfully control print color on flexible film. Does your film exhibit interference? When you measure flexible film with a traditional 45°:0° spectrophotometer, the way you position the instr...

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...

Come ogni altra cosa che tocchiamo, anche i dispositivi di misurazione del colore possono essere contaminati da germi e virus. Il nostro Hardware Team ha esaminato i pareri dei CDC (centri per il controllo e la prevenzione delle malattie) e ha predisposto i passaggi per disinfettare i dispositivi portatili e da banco. Avvertenze per la disinfezione Non immergere il dispositivo in un liquido e non applicare direttamente sullo strumento liquidi di qualsiasi tipo. Astenersi dallo spruzz...

G7® is a proof-to-print process control method that allows you to reliably and efficiently match the visual appearance of the output from multiple printing devices. It works by defining the gray balance and NPDC curves in conjunction with the traditional method of measuring tonal value increase (TVI/dot gain) for each color. G7 can be applied to any type of printing, regardless of the type of ink or printing method, including all types of digital, offset, flexo, gravure printing.   It&r...

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...

In my recent blog I explained why the demand for printed fabrics is increasing and the challenge this poses for the digital print industry. Today, with help from Digital Imaging Expert Scott Martin of Onsight, I will share tips and tools to help printers profile textiles for a consistent digital workflow. While smooth textures can often be measured using traditional digital tools, fabrics with texture or specular reflections (like coated canvases) can cause issues. It's a lot harder to achieve ...

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...

Quando vediamo il colore, i nostri occhi possono essere ingannati. In parte, ciò dipende dalla limitatezza del nostro cervello, che è chiamato a gestire una vasta quantità di informazioni elaborandole meglio che può. Può dipendere anche da questioni genetiche e dall’ambiente; ognuno di noi vede il colore in modo leggermente diverso. Ma soprattutto, è la LUCE ad avere il maggiore impatto sui colori che vediamo.  Senza entrare troppo nel tecnico...

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...

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...

The eXact is a handheld spectrophotometer with an intuitive touchscreen interface. Printers and packaging converters use it to control, manage, and communicate color from anywhere on the pressroom floor. It comes in a variety of models to fit every customer need, and can be upgraded as those needs change. With so many to choose from, it can be hard to know which eXact model is right for you. Today’s blog can help you decide. Explore by eXact Model eXact Basic Densitometer: If...

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...

I dispositivi di misurazione del colore servono per acquisire, comunicare e valutare il colore. Imballaggi in cartone, alimenti, detersivo, tappeti, piccoli componenti in plastica... questi dispositivi aiutano a garantire che il colore realizzato concordi con quello originariamente specificato. Sono utilizzati, dietro le quinte, praticamente in ogni settore in cui è importante il colore, per esempio materie plastiche, prodotti tessili, vernici, rivestimenti, stampa e imballaggi Gli strum...

L'accordo interstrumentale è una considerazione molto importante nella scelta dei dispositivi di misurazione del colore per il flusso di lavoro. Sfortunatamente, si tratta di un argomento così tecnico che genera molta confusione sul suo significato e sulla sua importanza. : Lo spettrofotometro da banco a sfera Ci7860 ha una specifica di accordo interstrumentale di 0,06 Delta E* medio, che consente ai marchi di creare gli standard cromatici master più precisi. Oggi lo rendi...

I professionisti della plastica gestiscono da molti anni i problemi del colore nel workflow di produzione, ma le dinamiche stanno cambiando ancora una volta. Sono sempre più numerosi i brand che integrano finiture ad effetti speciali nei prodotti, dai dispositivi elettronici ai componenti di automobili e agli imballaggi flessibili. Gli effetti metallizzati, perlacei e le altre finiture complesse hanno senz’altro un look affascinante e aiutano i brand a risaltare sullo scaffale, ma comportano an...

Gli spettrofotometri sono strumenti eccellenti per misurare i campioni rispetto ai loro standard di colore per confrontare le differenze, ma può essere difficile ottenere un colore preciso per prodotti di forma irregolare come liquidi, plastica, lattine e polveri. Progettiamo una varietà di accessori e componenti - chiamati anche "rigs & jigs" - per molti dei nostri strumenti per aiutare a misurare forme e dimensioni non comuni. Accessori e componenti per spettrofotometri da ba...

If you work in the print and packaging industry, standards can help you set clear expectations for clients, solve problems in your workflow, and improve productivity. They can also bring an independent perspective to production. Printers aren’t the only ones who should keep up with standards. Brands who are concerned with quality, price, and speed to market can also benefit because it allows them to compare print providers and choose the best candidate. The ISO and other standards organiz...

Spectrophotometers are color measurement devices that measure color to ensure it remains consistent from the time it’s specified until final quality check. They can be used to measure everything from liquids and plastics to paper, metal, and fabrics for just about every industry.   Here Are Our Top Spectrophotometer Picks for 2019.   Best Spectrophotometer to Create Digital Standards Using a digital standard is the most accurate way to specify and communicate color, des...

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...

Ogni colore ha uno specifico e distinto aspetto, basato su tre attributi principali – tonalità, croma (saturazione) e valore (luminosità). Quando si descrive un colore, è importante utilizzare tutti e tre questi attributi per identificare con precisione il colore e distinguerlo dagli altri colori. Cos’è la tonalità? Per tonalità si intende il modo in cui la maggior parte delle persone percepisce e denomina un colore – utilizzando i colo...

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...

Are you wasting too much time and money on incorrect color? Even if you use the best color measurement tools available, your color will still fail without quality control. Quality control (QC) means verifying the color you specify is the same color you manufacture, throughout production. Setting up a QC program can help you accurately communicate color with clients and suppliers, inspect raw materials before you begin working, and verify your color is correct before you ship.   Five Impor...

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...

Consegnare il colore sbagliato può essere molto costoso. Per correggerlo, devi riportarlo in laboratorio per effettuare una nuova formulazione, inviare personale presso la sede del cliente per riapplicare la vernice, oppure eliminarlo e cominciare da capo. In aggiunta al costo del tempo e dei materiali sprecati, come quantificheresti la perdita di un cliente insoddisfatto? Cinque passaggi per una formulazione efficiente   Con gli strumenti e i processi giusti, i lavori vengono svolt...

When you think of Albert Munsell, do you think of dirt, food and electrical wires? The United States government does. Munsell Color Standards are used for more than just design and Fine Art. They’re also used to ensure safety and reliability, and to maintain compliance with federal regulations. Today we’ll look at some of the government agencies and trade associations that rely on Munsell’s exacting standard color codes. French Fries, Anyone? From tomatoes to pumpkins, Munse...

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...

Il cliente ha scartato l'ultima spedizione a causa del colore. Hai controllato il colore prima di effettuare la spedizione e il test di tolleranza era stato superato... Anche la volta precedente avevi effettuato la stessa identica procedura, e il test di tolleranza era stato superato... Allora perché questa volta è stato scartato? I nostri clienti ci rivolgono sempre questa domanda. Il temuto “accumulo di errori” Gli scarti dovuti al colore creano sprechi e aumentano i...

Benchtop spectrophotometers measure in either transmission or reflectance mode to capture and quantify color on various opaque, transparent, and translucent samples, including glass, liquid, fabric, and plastic. Today we’ll explain the difference between transmission and reflectance measurements so you can determine which benchtop will meet your color measurement needs.  Transmission vs. Reflectance Measurements Both transmission and reflectance spectrophotometers emit all of the wav...

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...

The Gabriel-Chemie Group, a leading masterbatch manufacturer in Europe, has partnered with X-Rite Pantone to provide their customers with an innovative solution to improve daily color requests, expanding their existing product portfolio to include solutions that keep pace with the move towards digitization and industry 4.0. The Challenge As a leader in masterbatch manufacturing, Gabriel-Chemie is always looking for ways to sharpen their customers’ experiences and solve production challenge...

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...

To understand how color management works, you need a basic knowledge of the additive and subtractive systems of color reproduction. Both use a small number of primary colors that combine to produce a large number – or gamut – of colors… but the way they do that is quite different. In our Color Perception Part 1: The Effect of Light  post, we explained how the visible color spectrum (we know it as the rainbow) encompasses light wavelengths from approximately 380 to 720 nm....

Closed-loop color can mean something different to different audiences. When I first think about closed-loop color control, I may think about the pressroom, where it is really just a question of integrating measurements directly from the press, adjusting them, measuring and reporting, offering a nice closed-loop system that adjusts, controls, and allows me to report the results. But that’s really only one small aspect. You can incorporate a loop from the ink room, for instance, and bring t...

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...

Warm weather is just around the corner and spring is in the air!   Fluffy yellow chicks…   Delicate pink tulips…   Soft green sprouts poking through the ground…   And, of course, spring M&M'S®! Advertisers target our springtime emotions through pastel colors. Pastels have a calming effect, and everywhere you look companies are using them to feed our desire to feel a bit of spring. Today we’ll take a look at the psychology of color, how marke...

Per controllare il colore devi essere in grado di confrontare anche le più piccole differenze, determinarne l’impatto e comprendere il modo di trattare tale impatto. In questa serie abbiamo già esaminato la storia dell’analisi del colore e il ruolo della luce nelle tolleranze. Oggi analizzeremo la differenza tra uno spazio colore e una tolleranza colore, e presenteremo i metodi più comuni. Spazi colore Uno spazio colore ci fornisce il modo di comunicare il color...

Have you ever bought something at the store, only to return home and realize it doesn't match anything in your house? It's not the color that changed. It's the way you perceived it. To control color, you need to be able to compare very small differences, determine their impact and understand how to address that impact. In this three-part series, we're looking at the key components of tolerancing. If you missed part one, The History of Color Analysis, check it out now. Today's topic explains how ...

Per controllare il colore devi essere in grado di confrontare anche le più piccole differenze, determinarne l’impatto e comprendere il modo di trattare tale impatto. Le parole, da sole, non ci danno le informazioni sufficienti a descrivere con precisione il colore, e nemmeno le differenze tra i vari colori. In questa serie suddivisa in tre parti esamineremo la scienza del colore alla base delle tolleranze –  l’analisi del colore che ha aperto la strada, il ruolo della luce e la differ...

The two most common spectrophotometers are the 0:45 and the sphere (aka diffuse/8°). We get a lot of questions about which is the best choice. Here’s the difference in how these two devices measure color, and guidelines for when to use each. 0:45 In a “fixed geometry” or “single angle” device, the first number is the starting point of the light, and the second number is where the light ends up after the reflection off the surface of the sample. In a 0:45 ...

At the end of each year we enjoy looking back at our most popular blogs because it’s a great way for us to understand what interests you – our readers. As the years go by, we have discovered a few make the list again and again. This year the Top Ten is split down the middle between color theory and manufacturing best practices. Have you read them all? Top Five Color Theory Topics of 2017 1. Color Perception Part 1: The Effect of Light   Remember “The Dress?” Was it ...

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...

Using a light booth to visually judge color is a great start to a successful color evaluation program. It allows you predict how color will look under multiple light sources so there won’t be any color surprises when the light changes over the life of the product. Introducing a color measurement device to capture spectral data is the next logical step. For a really great color program, you need to use both a light booth AND a spectrophotometer. This dynamic duo offers benefits you can&rsqu...

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...

Whether purchasing a new car, consumer electronics, or household appliances, color consistency influences the perception of quality. If the color doesn’t match from front-to-back and side-to-side, customers will likely question the quality and move on. That’s where color measurement can help. In today’s competitive marketplace, manufacturers are going beyond color to utilize extreme effect finishes to differentiate their products. But, as manufacturers are quickly learning, me...

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....

We frequently get calls from customers who can’t figure out why their measurements vary, even when they’re using maintained devices. Why would a sample read one way one day, then slightly different another? Many times the culprit is thermochromaticity, and it becomes an even bigger problem as the seasons change. Every kind of material changes color with temperature. These changes cause the material to exhibit a shift in reflected wavelengths of light, which can alter our perception....

We at X-Rite Pantone are excited to express our enthusiasm toward this year’s ArtPrize Nine competition. Beginning on September 20th, this event will cover downtown Grand Rapids with art, bringing color to the forefront of so many minds. As a proud, Grand Rapids-based company, we are looking forward to contributing to this creative and inspiring global competition. By expanding the range of X-Rite Pantone activity from the ever-popular Pantone® Pathways to activities like entering our ver...

Have you ever sent out a job that passed your inspection, only to have the customer reject it for out-of-tolerance color? You recheck the data and the instrument says the color passed the agreed tolerance… why is the customer saying it doesn’t? We get a LOT of these conflicting measurement calls in technical support. The solution is simple – document a color control program that clearly defines how to assess color, then make sure everyone (including your customer) follow...

If you’re reluctant to buy clothing and home decorating products online or in the store because you’re not sure how the color will look when you get home, you’ll love X-Rite’s newest color-matching solution. Color-Eye® uses a calibration card and smartphone app to help consumers shop for items that match or complement things they already have at home, like a paint color that looks great with the curtains, a handbag and shoes that coordinate with a special occasion dress, or a jacket that will ma...

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...

If you recently invested in a spectrophotometer or colorimeter, you know there’s a lot more to learn about color measurement than just how to use your new device. To help you begin exploring the exciting world of color, we’ve compiled seven blogs that explain how to set up your color measurement device, care for it, and use it to its maximum potential. 5 Tips for Setting Up Your Spectrophotometer Using a spectrophotometer (“spectro” for short) to measure color doesn...

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...

Spectrophotometers are color measurement devices used to specify and communicate color and monitor accuracy throughout production. There are spectrophotometers to measure just about anything, from liquids and plastics to paper, metal and fabrics. Brand owners, designers, lab techs and quality control professionals rely on them to ensure color remains consistent, from the time it’s specified until final quality check, in just about every industry. This Ci7800 benchtop spectrophotometer is measuri...

Did you read our blog: Are You Using The Right Tolerancing Method? If not, check it out. Today we’re taking the topic one step further to investigate how tolerances are chosen in different industries. A pass-fail tolerance is the amount of color variation that is considered commercially acceptable. In part, tolerances are driven by customer expectations. While color tolerances are very tight in the automotive, plastics, and paint & coatings worlds, they can be much less strict in other...

With today’s complex cross-media campaigns, accurate profiling is even more important for managing customer expectations across the color supply chain. Our i1Pro 2 solutions help photographers, videographers, prepress and digital printers create profiles for the best color on monitors, scanners, projectors, printers, and online web-to-print submission tools. But with so many to choose from, how do you know which is the right tool for your color workflow? Whether you’re looking to add a new comp...

It’s been said that everything you need to know you learned in kindergarten. Does this phrase ring true for print and packaging designers? In the spirit of spring, we attempted to use a simple childhood activity—dyeing eggs—to solve some of the most perplexing color issues facing the packaging designer/printer relationship.                 Here are three lessons to learn about color in print and packaging from our annual egg dyeing ...

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...

Consistent color is a journey. A few weeks ago I blogged about the most common pitfalls people run into when starting a color program… Wrong lighting Less-than-perfect color vision Inaccurate physical standards Inconsistent device color measurement …And introduced some inexpensive color tools to help overcome them.   But the journey doesn’t stop there. Even if you’ve been successfully managing color for years, advances in inks, dyes, and substrates are introducing new challen...

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 color measurement devices are used by designers, brand owners, formulators, printers, and manufacturers around the world. Ranging from portable handheld devices, to large benchtop instruments, to spectrophotometers mounted inline, they can measure just about anything to help formulate and maintain a perfect color match. Many of our customers, especially those in the paint industry, are asked to color match some pretty interesting things, and we love to hear about them. We recently asked 40 p...

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 ...

When you walk into a salon for a manicure or visit your favorite beauty products store, are you overwhelmed by the number of nail polish colors to choose from, but can’t actually find the color you want? This is a problem Ashley Morgan set out to solve. Morgan, who has a fine arts degree, has spent the last 15 years designing video games. She’s both creative and tech savvy. “I’m a nail polish advocate, and I don’t mind spending the time choosing a nail polish color,” she says. “But the availabl...

When judging color, background can be a major distraction for the human eye. In fact, surrounding colors and patterns can actually change the perception of the color you’re trying to focus on. One of the wonderful things about color measurement instruments like colorimeters and spectrophotometers is that they can’t be distracted. They aren’t susceptible to variables such as fatigue, age or color vision deficiency. They aren’t even aware that a surround exists – they...

Le tue letture della misurazione del colore sono diverse da quelle dei fornitori? Se è così, sei in buona compagnia. È un aspetto importante che devi risolvere. Se le tue misurazioni non corrispondono con quelle dei fornitori, ti potresti trovare nella condizione di rifiutare materiali che invece dovresti accettare, di NON rifiutare materiali che invece DOVRESTI scartare, e naturalmente sprecare molto tempo, energie e denaro per produrre un colore che, in definitiva, &egrav...

If you’re a commercial printer who wants to improve color quality and consistency, this blog is for you. X-Rite color management solutions for print and packaging deliver excellence in quality control, formulation and automation. Ray Cheydleur is a printing industry veteran of more than 20 years, a standards guru, and our Portfolio Manager for Printing and Imaging Products. Passionate and very knowledgeable about color, he has a talent for helping printers improve their color quality and c...

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...

We’re intrigued by color, and that’s no surprise. From starting conversations to subconsciously moving people to make decisions, color inspires and motivates people on a daily basis. As a company, we want to help our customers understand this impact. Through our work with artists, designers, brand owners, and manufacturers, we define and control color, and this event was a great opportunity to showcase this passion. That’s part of the reason we get so involved in ArtPrize as sponsors, volunteer...

In color production, mistakes can happen anytime, anywhere… during specification, formulation, manufacturing, assembly, quality control, or (unfortunately) all of the above. Every mistake adds up to wasted time and materials, and stacking errors across a production workflow can get expensive very quickly. How can you stop this error stack from happening? If your job requires you to get color right, spectral data should be your best friend. One of our favorite eLearning courses to help customers...

Passionate about color? We are too. As a company that prides itself on its color knowledge and enthusiasm, X-Rite Pantone is excited about the various ways ArtPrize showcases the power of color. Each fall, ArtPrize installs over 1000 works of art in downtown Grand Rapids, attracting thousands of visitors. By using consistent colors in its guides, signs, banners, flags, and merchandise, ArtPrize creates a colorful map that helps both visitors and locals see the city through a different perspectiv...

ArtPrize®, the nation’s largest art competition, begins today. As a leadership sponsor and a proud Grand Rapids-based company, we are honored to contribute to this creative and inspiring community event. ArtPrize attracts artists from around the world who use a mix of colors, textures, and substrates to express themselves in unique ways. Their creations, often demonstrating the color challenges that color professionals have in their plants or print shops, are installed indoors and outdoors throu...

Each year Printing News asks their readers which new products made the most difference in their productivity. We’re excited to announce that our very own i1iSis 2 and i1iSis 2 XL are among the winners! These two automated chart readers are the latest members of the popular i1iSis solutions family for pre-press, pre-media, photo, and pressroom color management and profiling. In high production environments such as photo processing, large format, fine art and high-speed digital printing, frequen...

Spectrophotometers are instruments that measure color. Manufacturers use them in every industry where accurate color is important, from paint and plastics to textiles, packaging, and even food. The data captured by spectros allow designers, brand owners, manufacturers, and quality control professionals to precisely communicate color and ensure it stays accurate throughout production. Sometimes I’m asked which color is the hardest to measure and control. Can you guess what it is? Overly s...

Walking through the streets of Los Angeles, it’s no secret that graffiti is a huge problem. According to LA Weekly, graffiti-removal requests have increased by 64 percent in the last five years. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana says that by June the Board of Public Works had already recorded 141,000 requests for the 2015-16 fiscal year, compared to 86,000 in 2010-11. Image courtesy of http://typo-graphical.com/ Graffiti a big problem that is continuing to grow, but color measurement so...

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...

Whether it’s using Munsell Color Standards or one of our many color measurement devices, X-Rite helps manufacturers around the world achieve accurate color. We talked to our support team to learn about some of the most interesting ways people have used our equipment to measure and control color. From archeologists to fur traders and gastroenterologists, here are a few of our favorites. In 2014, the city of Los Angeles used one of our handheld spectrophotometers to help remove more than 37 millio...

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...

If so, we’d like you to know there’s an easier way. An upgrade from the original IntelliTrax, IntelliTrax2 is an automated, non-contact scanning system that makes it easy for busy pressrooms to measure color bars and press sheets without the risk of human error. Adding press-side quality control into your color workflow can shorten your makeready, reduce waste, and help you get to optimum color quality fast. IntelliTrax2 is an ideal color management solution for high-end, high-speed commercial ...

drupa 2016 was such a success! It’s not often we get to spend so much time talking one-on-one with our customers from around the world, and we enjoyed every minute! We met so many wonderful people and learned so many things. Although it’s hard to pick, here are a few of our favorite experiences from drupa 2016. 1 – THE SYNERGY! This time at drupa, we decided to join forces with Esko, Enfocus and Pantone to showcase our end-to–end color management solutions. Although the drupa orga...

When visually evaluating color, everyone accepts or rejects color matches based on their color perception skills. In manufacturing, this subjectivity can lead to confusion and frustration between customers, suppliers, vendors, production, and management. Are these acceptable color differences? This is why color measurement devices are important in so many industries. By measuring colors using a spectrophotometer, you can communicate and compare spectral data for exact results. To aid in color...

Nel tentativo di ridurre i costi e di stare al passo della domanda, molte aziende statunitensi di prodotti tessili e abbigliamento si rivolgono ai mercati internazionali per l’approvvigionamento delle materie prime necessarie. Stando a un recente studio  della University of North Carolina a Greensboro, questa tendenza è stata stimolata dagli accordi commerciali e sta determinando grandi pressioni sui produttori che cercano fornitori con materie prime di alta qualità e ...

A partire dagli anni '30, le regole della moda imponevano di non usare il bianco prima del Memorial Day, ovvero il giorno di commemorazione dei soldati americani caduti in guerra, che in genere cade nell’ultimo lunedì di maggio. Era uno status symbol quando i ricchi si lasciavano alle spalle gli indumenti invernali e si recavano in spiaggia per l'estate con abiti leggeri e informali. Sebbene la regola sia ancora vagamente valida, la moda moderna è più attenta alla lumi...

Drupa starts tomorrow, and we couldn’t be more excited! This year X-Rite Pantone is teaming up with our partners Esko, Enfocus, and MediaBeacon to showcase a number of innovations around digital color communication. The move to digital can make a big impact on a company’s bottom line… read our recent blog to learn how. Covering 900-square meters in Hall 8b, stand A23, our booth includes six print and packaging inspiration zones that walk visitors through an ideal color workflow, from color inspi...

X-Rite Pantone® brings together the art and science of color to empower brands and packaging converters to deliver on design and color intent for their packaging. Last week we were in Atlanta at HOW Design LIVE 2016, introducing a few new tools that can help designers achieve color fidelity. HOW is a more than just a conference for designers and brands – it’s an inspiration-packed, global creative gathering of the industry’s best. This made it the best place for us to showcase Panton...

We’ve all done it. Snapped a picture on a digital camera or smart phone, sent it to the computer, made a few adjustments, then sent it off to print…. only to be disappointed. The sky looks green. Grandma’s hair is purple. The contrast is so far off you can’t even see that cute little puppy. Stupid camera. The struggle is real for so many people, from hobbyist to professional photographers, graphic designers, and professional printers. Let’s look into this all-too-common mystery of the off-color ...

From May 31 to June 10, nineteen exhibition halls in Düsseldorf, Germany will come to life for the print industry’s leading global trade fair – drupa. Those who are lucky enough to attend will get to see and experience new color technologies and innovative concepts. X-Rite Pantone will be among the exhibitors, showcasing our latest print and packaging solutions. Since we know not everyone will be able to attend this event, we’ll keep you updated on what’s happening here, on the blog. Digital mod...

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...

You’re at the grocery store, trying to choose a new snack. With so many brands on the shelf, how will you decide? If you’re like most consumers, you’ll probably reach for the most attractive package. Color and packaging play a leading role in brand success, and metallized substrates are more popular than ever. Consumers love them because they convey quality and offer additional strength and protection, but for printers, metallized substrates are expensive and make print color ...

Ti è mai capitato di uscire di casa pensando di indossare due calzettoni neri per poi arrivare al lavoro e accorgerti che uno dei due era blu scuro? Sì? Allora sei stato vittima del metamerismo. Il metamerismo è un fenomeno che si verifica quando due colori sembrano corrispondere con una condizione di illuminazione, ma non quando la luce cambia. Le concordanze metameriche sono abbastanza comuni, soprattutto con colori quasi neutri, come i grigi, con i bianchi e con i colori ...

No matter what you’re manufacturing, taking spectral measurements will help ensure your color remains accurate and consistent throughout your production run. When choosing the best spectro for your needs, your first consideration should be the type of surface you’ll be measuring. Measuring reflective surfaces poses a challenge because the effect of gloss can actually change the color appearance of a sample. The surface reflection of light is what causes the gloss effec...

Today is Earth Day. You know the buzz phrase – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – but do you know what it means for your manufacturing process? Designed by Freepik Here are the top three places in a color workflow that can sabotage a company’s sustainability efforts. Not monitoring color throughout production, which leads to expensive rework and wasted raw materials. Incorrect colorant formulation. Are you using too much? Are you wasting the leftovers? Sending color samples back and forth and long approv...

Physical standards are one of the most precise ways to communicate color in many industries, including textiles, print, automotive, paints, food, chemicals, packaging, and plastics. Many brand owners and designers communicate color expectations using physical standards, and suppliers and manufacturers rely on them to capture spectral data for formulation. While physical standards can be a great help, they can also hurt business if they’re not cared for properly. Today we’ll look at five tips to...

You’ve probably heard of popular detectives like Sherlock Holmes and high school sleuth Nancy Drew, who have gained notoriety by solving the toughest crimes. With so many color mysteries out there, we thought it was time to do some investigating of our own in the mysterious realm of color. In our Color Detective blog series, we’ll be tackling some of the biggest mysteries in color, starting with this red ball… Which isn’t actually red. The ball on the left is not green...

Did you know that many of the products you use every day contain optical brighteners? Optical brightening agents are chemicals that manufacturers add to products like paper, plastics, and textiles to make them appear whiter and brighter, and to lessen the natural yellowing process that happens over time. They also add these chemicals to cleaning agents to enhance the appearance of materials – primarily textiles – after cleaning. Often unacknowledged by the typical consumer, OBAs trick our eyes i...

Sharing a strong passion for how color can transform a face, mood or even an attitude, Pantone® has once again partnered with Sephora, the leading beauty specialty retailer, to create another extraordinary PANTONE Color of the Year cosmetic collection. Launched on December 26th, the SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE collection includes a 24-color eyes palette, a matte lipstick in each color, and a 5-piece lip gloss set. The first SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE collection was released in 2011 with Tangerine...

Which of these swatches would you call bright red? PANTONE FASHION, HOME + INTERIORS Color Specifier pages Speaking the language of color isn’t like giving someone your phone number and expecting they’ll remember it. Our minds just don’t process color like that. While vague color descriptions are sufficient for many people – “Turn left at the blue house” or “choose the reddest strawberries” – if you work in an industry where color is important, you need to know how to speak a much more spe...

In the world of retail paint, getting to the best color match quickly is key to keeping your customers happy and coming back for more. Today we’ll review ways to get the most from your color measurement tools and how to match paint so your associates can be color experts, and you can enjoy fewer corrections and improved profitability. Do any of these swatches match the customer’s quilt? Not really. Gain customer’s trust by creating a perfectly matched paint color. Color...

Green is green, right? Maybe if you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, but not when your bottom line is impacted by color accuracy. In the color industry, a tolerance is the acceptable amount of difference between a standard (the color you’re trying to match) and a sample (the color you are producing). To determine whether a color is within tolerance, many manufacturers use a color measurement device called a spectrophotometer to measure both colors and compare the difference be...

If you work in an industry where color accuracy is important, you know that lighting plays a huge role in how you perceive color. A light booth is a crucial part of any visual evaluation program. It can help you verify whether the color of your product is acceptable, plus ensure it will remain accurate in every lighting condition after purchase. When parts are manufactured at different factories, a light booth should also be used to make sure they continue to match under any lighting condition o...

It’s no secret that if you can hit your color the first time, you’re going to save a lot of time and money. But with printing becoming an increasingly global function, achieving accurate color is more difficult than ever. Many companies have distributed printing plants or operate in partnership with other printers around the world. A job might start with a brand manager in Los Angeles, move to a designer in Paris, and be sent to three different states to be printed on different substrates. Ever...

Julie Shaffer is Vice President of Education and Marketing Strategies at Printing Industries of America. Each year the PIA organizes a color management conference to bring industry professionals together to learn the latest trends and technologies, network with fellow attendees, and discover how to communicate color effectively. We were lucky enough to sit down with Julie at Color ’15 to learn more about the conference and some of the color challenges printers face today. Listen in as she shares...

Using a blend of art and color science, Pantone and X-Rite are making it easier for women around the world to choose the best foundation for their skin type. Back in December we blogged about how the CAPSURE Cosmetic spectrocolorimeter and the CAPSUREme mobile app are revolutionizing the way women buy makeup. Today we’ll visit the X-Rite Cosmetics Lab for a behind-the-scenes look at how we build these custom skin tone product databases so manufacturers can take advantage of CAPSURE Cosmetic and ...

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...

Dear Manufacturers, Valentine’s Day is a kind-hearted holiday, with everyone from spouses to grandparents to co-workers sharing their love and appreciation for each other. We’re happy to report that it might be extra profitable for you this year. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are opening their wallets a little wider than they did in 2015. A Consumer Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics predicts 54.8 percent of consumers will celebrate Valentine’s D...

The Color Management Group is a blend of certified consultants and resellers who provide products and services to many industries around the world, including graphic arts, photography, textile, and printing and packaging. CMG members have years of experience and a long list of industry certifications. They also have a reputation for providing fast and effective solutions to help businesses of any size implement color management, process control, and standardization. The Color Management Group wa...

In a perfect world, you should be able to put ink in the press and run a job.  Unfortunately, there are so many variables that affect color that printing operations often waste thousands of pounds of substrate, and thousands of dollars in press time, making adjustments. Advancements in technology have made it easier to measure color, but the variables still exist. To help you over come them, we’ll be featuring a series that points out many of the reasons your color could go wrong at press side....

We’re The Global Leader in Color Science and Technology. X-Rite Pantone has more than 150 collective years of experience in defining, specifying, measuring and managing accurate color — right the first time, right all the time. Together under the X-Rite umbrella, Pantone® and Munsell Color deliver an integrated set of products and services designed to ensure the ultimate in accuracy and reliability in color specification, communication, measurement and management. We’re Color Collabo...

No matter the industry, consistency and exacting data are essential to every color quality control program. Whether you’re communicating color, making color decisions, or conducting diagnostics testing based on color, you can rely on Munsell Color standards. These honey, syrup, and molasses standards help the USDA determine which products pass inspection. Along with its huge library of color standards, Munsell Color can also produce custom physical standards to help you validate you...

Le soluzioni di misurazione del colore in linea di X-Rite controllano la precisione del colore durante tutte le fasi di produzione. Se il colore inizia a discostarsi dalle specifiche, il sistema avverte gli operatori di effettuare le rettifiche prima di essere costretti a scartare il prodotto. La misurazione del colore in linea è molto efficace nella verniciatura in continuo e consente di ottenere i massimi vantaggi economici. Il processo di verniciatura in continuo esiste da oltre 30...

The Fundamentals of Color and Appearance – FOCA for short – is a very popular one-day seminar for anyone who deals with color. From the best way to communicate color so everyone is speaking the same language, to tips for judging the smallest color differences, you’ll learn everything you need to know to measure, view, and understand color data in any industry. Whether you’re dealing with plastics, textiles or paints, or using dyes, inks or other colorants, the basics of color are very similar. B...

January is a popular time for “Top” lists. The Top 100 Songs. The Top 20 News Stories. The Top 50 Travel Destinations. We’re looking back too, and blog readership is one area we find very interesting. Today we’ll share the Top 5 Posts of 2015, what we think they say about you – our blog readers – and how we plan to continue these popular conversations in 2016. New in 2015: The X-Rite Pantone Customer Center at our corporate headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan is a great place to see our produ...

Mark Gundlach is a Solutions Architect with X-Rite Pantone. He visits facilities to assess their current workflow and help them come up with solutions – whether it be training, software or hardware – to improve their productivity and lower their costs. He is also an expert in the Pantone Certified Printer Program. Recently we sat down with him to learn more about the program, and what it takes to become Pantone Certified. Mark, can you tell us about the Pantone Certified Printer Program and wh...

Many print shops use more than one color measurement instrument, especially for cross-media color reproduction. But if you’ve ever measured the same color with different instruments, you’ve probably noticed that the numbers don’t always match. Why is that? Spectrophotometers measure color by capturing the ratio of reflected or transmitted light from the surface of the sample and comparing it to a known reference standard. The result is a spectral fingerprint for that color. But since calibration...

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...

Using a spectrophotometer to measure color doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to capture accurate data. The most common reason for incorrect measurements and inconsistent readings among instruments is using the wrong device settings. Today we’ll look at five things you must consider when setting up your device and taking measurements. Illuminant and Observer angle The illuminant describes the color of the light under which you’re judging colors. To accurately determine how the color will...

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...

The trick to color success isn’t just selecting the right tools. You need to know how to use them. Even the most expensive spectrophotometer won’t be helpful if you don’t know which aperture size to choose during setup or which tolerancing model to follow. Since color workflows are specific to industry, products, and color needs, it’s not possible to establish one single process that works for everyone. That’s where X-Rite Color Experts come in. Whether you need hel...

If you use eXact with BestMatch™, the answer might be yes. BestMatch helps you determine if you can achieve a closer match to a specified color by adjusting ink on press. Formulating ink for a press run can be tricky because there are many things that go into it. The vehicle, colorants, and solvents are just a few of the things that impact ink quality, and whether it comes from your ink supplier or you mix it yourself, ink can vary in thickness or concentration. With BestMatch, you can confirm t...

As an Applications Engineer and Technical Support Specialist at X-Rite, I get a lot of calls from frustrated customers who don’t understand why they can’t get their color right. They’re tired of the trial and error, rework, and wasted materials that are impacting their bottom line and credibility with customers. They just want their color workflow to WORK and FLOW. Why is it so hard? Today we’ll walk through the top 8 reasons color control programs fail, so you can evalua...

As ArtPrize Seven comes to a close, I wanted to thank everyone involved in this year’s event, including the artists, visitors, venues, volunteers, sponsors and event organizers, for making this such a colorful and engaging art experience. It brought excitement to our community, and inspired visitors from around the world. As a leadership sponsor and Grand Rapids-based company, X-Rite Pantone was honored to be such a big part of ArtPrize Seven, an art event like no other. Much of the X-Rite Pant...

What happens to products when color goes wrong? It’s wrong color that keeps discount stores in business. Copy paper that isn’t quite bright enough, a label with the wrong color red, or a pillowcase that’s a shade off from the rest of the sheets, and the product is rejected. A discounter can buy the whole lot for a fraction of the cost and sell it for profit. This, of course, is not good for manufacturers, and it is the real reason color control in manufacturing is so important. From color speci...

Over the past few weeks, X-Rite Pantone has profiled some of this year’s ArtPrize Seven artists who use color as a way to express their creativity and encourage viewers to think about art differently. If you are not from the Grand Rapids area, ArtPrize is an international art competition that spans 10 miles and includes over 1,500 artists. As a leadership sponsor, X-Rite is using this event to highlight the intersection of the art and science of color in our everyday lives. Our last artist profi...

As a sponsor of ArtPrize, X-Rite Pantone has been taking the opportunity to explore color – how it affects us emotionally, and how it impacts the decisions we make. So far we have profiled two artists – Anne Lemanski, who uses color to portray the imagery of science and nature, and Ruben Ubiera, whose creative use of metallic paint and light gives the impression of movement in his outdoor murals. Today we’re showcasing the work of artist Michael Peoples, who has been experimenting with colorful ...

ArtPrize hired Grand Rapid’s own Conduit Studio to design theme ideas for this year’s event. Together, they selected Celebration of Color to highlight the importance of color in our everyday lives, and to inspire visitors to explore and discuss the creativity of the event. Last week, X-Rite Pantone contributed a guest blog for ArtPrize that walked through the process to select the color palettes  that would define each neighborhood and give the event a unified feel. Today we’ll link art and scie...

X-Rite Pantone is excited to sponsor ArtPrize Seven. Not only is it an inspiring event held right here in our hometown of Grand Rapids, but it gives us a chance to help people think about color differently. One way we’re accomplishing our goal is by letting the artists explain how they use color to create an impression with their artwork. We’ve already talked with Anne Lemanski,who created colorful collages for her ArtPrize 2015 exhibition at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Today we’ll explore the ...

Artist Anne Lemanski was pleased to be accepted into ArtPrize Seven. Her 12 painting series titled Blue Go-Go is a beautiful piece, full of the imagery of science and nature. At 42 inches wide and 54 inches tall, it draws the viewer deep into a deliberately frenetic space that uses color and photos to explore the relationships between man, nature, and the world we inhabit today. Anne created her masterpiece during a ten week residency at McColl Center for Art + Innovation in Charlotte, North Car...

X-Rite Pantone is excited to announce that we are a leadership sponsor of this year’s ArtPrize®. ArtPrize is an international art competition that fills three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids with inspiring creations each fall. It’s a show like no other – art is displayed both indoors and out, anyone can enter, and it’s free and open to the public. The science of color Our partnership with ArtPrize is a natural fit for X-Rite Pantone. The event, which takes place September 23 – Octo...

FLEXO Magazine just published a study conducted by Clemson University, Sun Chemical, and X-Rite that verifies that PantoneLIVE Dependent Standard Targets can be achieved with 98% accuracy. This is big news for the many brand owners, designers, prepress professionals, printers and converters around the world who rely on PantoneLIVE to communicate and accurately produce their color. The focus of PantoneLIVE is to protect brand colors and ensure production consistency across everything from flexibl...

The X-Rite eXactTM is a portable spectrophotometer designed for pressroom use. Two big reasons for its success are it’s cordless operation and innovative color touch screen, which it make it very easy for printers and packaging converters to understand, control, manage, and communicate color from anywhere on the pressroom floor. Today we’ll take a look at the top five features that make the eXact an invaluable tool for offset litho, flexo, and digital printers. Wireless operation, plus unteth...

The spectral reflectance curve provided by a spectrophotometer is commonly known as the color’s “fingerprint”. Spectrophotometers are color measurement devices used to capture and evaluate color. As part of a color control program, brand owners and designers use them to specify and communicate color, and manufacturers use them to monitor color accuracy throughout production. Spectrophotometers can measure just about anything, including liquids, plastics, paper, metal and fabr...

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...

Each year the Printing Industries of America selects the most innovative graphics arts solutions to receive the 2015 InterTech™ Technology Awards. This year, the X-Rite eXactTM spectrophotometer with Scan Option was among the recipients of this prestigious award. Today we’ll take a look at the top features that make the eXact with Scan Option a star with offset litho, flexo, and digital printers. X-Rite eXact is the only device that measures for optical brighteners for both inks and substrate...

Molte aziende investono denaro e tempo in abbondanza negli strumenti e nei software di misurazione del colore ma dimenticano quanto sia importante l’illuminazione al momento di approvare i prodotti che dovranno essere spediti. Se utilizzati correttamente, gli spettrofotometri e i software per la gestione del colore possono confermarti se i colori realizzati rientrano nei limiti di tolleranza, e anche gestire lucidità e metamerismo (v. a seguire la spiegazione di metamerismo). Tuttav...

From laundry soap to paper to socks, it seems that manufacturers everywhere are trying to achieve the brightest whites, and consumers are certainly buying in. These companies use chemical dyes called OBAs to make their whites “whiter” and stay ahead of the competition. OBA stands for optical brightening agent. You may also have heard it called FWA (Fluorescent Whitening Agent), optical brightener, fluorescent dye, or even just whitener. An optical brightening agent is a special type of dye that ...

To achieve predictable, repeatable color on a flexographic press, you need good color management and solid process control. Otherwise, hitting your colors is really just luck. Although it may take a little effort to set up, it’s worth it. Your customers will be more satisfied, and you’ll save time and money through faster make-ready time and fewer reprints. Today we’ll take a look at what’s involved in setting up flexo process control. The X-Rite eXact takes the guesswor...

Our friends at Pantone show the Pantone colors present in the image. We love when color perception questions like this, and #TheDress, pop up. Color matching is something we deal with every day. We understand the challenges, and we love to explain them! Today we’ll look at why our eyes are confused by the shoe and polish, how the experts would choose the color that matches best, and which color she should choose. Why the confusion? Lighting The visible color spectrum, what we know as the rainbo...

As we’ve talked about in previous posts, proper lighting conditions are crucial for evaluating color. The best way to know you’re seeing color accurately is to evaluate your samples in a quality light booth. But what if you don’t have a light booth available? Pantone has solved this problem with its LIGHTING INDICATOR Stickers. They’re economical, easy to use, and the second best way to find out if your viewing conditions are right for color evaluation. Here’...

Whether you’re printing on press or replicating a brand’s colors on the web, PANTONE’s Color Systems are the gold standard for communicating color specification and quality control. They provide a common language for color so specifiers and manufacturers can be sure they understand the customer’s expectations and reproduce those colors, even if they’re a world away. The PANTONE PLUS SERIES COLOR BRIDGE Set provides process color simulations of all solid PANTONE Colors as a side-by-side compariso...

Density only tells us one thing about a color – how light or dark it is. To compare and communicate accurate color in print and packaging, you also need to measure hue and saturation. Today we’ll take a look at the two most commonly used color models:  CIELAB and L*C*h°, and the tolerancing methods that help us describe color difference. The concept behind CIELAB and L*C*h° is similar to longitude, latitude and altitude … with three coordinates, you can describe the exact location of any place o...

Accurate color is important to brand owners and print shops alike. Brand owners want to know their specified colors can be reliably produced each and every time, and printers need a fail-proof workflow to consistently achieve those colors without rework and waste. The PANTONE® Certified Printer™ Program makes it all possible. PANTONE Certification helps printers establish and maintain effective SOPs and implement benchmark processes, from the ink kitchen through prepress and production. It’s a ...

X-Rite manufactures and supports color measurement solutions for global markets where color and appearance matter. We build and service each product in an environment that adheres to the highest standards and strictest tolerances. Our lean manufacturing process, Six Sigma mentality, and ISO 9001 and 17025 certifications provide confidence that every device you receive from X-Rite will work exactly as designed. Today we’ll take a look at what you need to do to protect your investment, from regula...

An X-Rite eXact spectrophotometer reading color patches on a press sheet. Your brand is your image, and accurately reproducing each color is crucial to brand integrity. But as color moves through the supply chain, among machines, printers and sites, a color can quickly shift away from its original intent. Nobody wants rework. It’s expensive! So how do manufacturers know they’re on track? Spectrophotometers allow brand owners to measure and specify color using a universal language—spectral values...

Warm weather is just around the corner and spring is in the air!   Fluffy yellow chicks…   Delicate pink tulips…   Soft green sprouts poking through the ground…   And, of course, spring M&M'S®! Advertisers target our springtime emotions through pastel colors. Pastels have a calming effect, and everywhere you look companies are using them to feed our desire to feel a bit of spring. Today we’ll take a look at the psychology of color, how marke...

Win an iPad! NPE 2015, The International Plastics Showcase, will be held in Orlando, Florida from March 23 through the 27th. It’s a great opportunity to learn about current trends and see live demonstrations of the latest technologies from every sector of the plastics industry. With more than 400 exhibits, it’s expected to be the biggest plastics showcase ever and a great chance to get up-close and personal with product experts in your field. X-Rite and Pantone are thrilled to once again be part...

Color mistakes are expensive, and can happen anywhere in the process – during specification, formulation, manufacturing, assembly or – worst case – all of the above. Colors easily drift from raw materials to parts assembly and production – one loose screw in a projection molder and the color will shift. When productions and parts are created in various locations, things get further complicated. Who has time for rework? And who wants to explain the wasted time and materials? Every mistake is expensive. Adding mistakes to mistakes across the entire process is very expensive.

In addressing these issues, data is your friend. Measuring color, across the supply chain and during manufacturing and assembly is the only true way to ensure that color remains consistent. This is foundational to creating a color-managed workflow, and X-Rite’s new Ci7x00 series of benchtops sets a new benchmark for the industry. With up to five aperture sizes and three automated UV filters, the Ci7x00 devices can measure pretty much any surface, size and texture, including opaque, transparent and translucent, wet or dry, with or without gloss. Couple this with customer-friendly service and on-site maintenance for many issues, and you will be the color hero in your department.

So how do you know the color you measured is the color you want?