For commercial printers with an older offset press, it can be difficult to deliver the same color results as commercial printers with a new press with automated color controls. Adding a closed loop solution offers affordable automation so commercial print shops and folding carton converters can continue to compete in today's market.
Print work is driven by specifications that require manual spot checks and ink key adjustments throughout production. Many printers struggle to quickly hit offset lithographic color targets on a sheet-fed press.
A closed loop solution that includes an X-Rite scanning system and integrated third party software is an affordable way to maximize performance and extend the value of an older press by monitoring color and alerting operators to any deviation. The solution can be customized based on press size – the eXact AutoScan is ideal for print shops running 29”/74cm or 40”/102cm sheet-fed presses, while the IntelliTrax2 Pro offers highly automated, non-contact scanning of 2mm color bars for 40”/102cm or larger presses – to capture process colors, spot colors, PANTONE® colors, paper color, tone value increase, gray balance, and ink density in less than 10 seconds. If color starts to shift, the software notifies the operator to update the ink keys to return to an acceptable tolerance with minimal intervention. This closed loop solution can address any client standards and print to most global graphic arts standards, including M1 for optical brighteners, M3 for measuring wet ink, and full support for G7, GRACoL, SWOP 2013, PSO, and FOGRA 51 and 52.
A closed loop solution pays for itself in just 6-9 months by reducing make ready by 30%, reducing ink, paper, and labor waste by 50%, and allowing for additional jobs each day. Try our ROI calculator to see how much you can save.
The eXact Auto-Scan Pro is a game changer in our print shop. Our press operator can put the sheet on the eXact Auto-Scan Pro console and hit measure – no lining up, no fiddling or moving the head back and forth to get the laser on. This saves us time and helps us reduce any errors. The eXact Auto-Scan Pro is a must-have device for any print shop with a multi-color press.
~ Rick Fougere, General Manager, J&R Graphics
Ideal for print shops running 29”/74cm or 40”/102cm sheet-fed presses, eXact Auto-Scan Pro is a versatile press side scanning device provides flexibility for measuring color with spot, manual, and automated scanning capabilities.
Ideal for high-end, high-speed printing/converting operations, IntelliTrax2 Pro offers highly automated, non-contact scanning of 2mm color bars for 40”/102cm or larger presses to capture process colors, spot colors, PANTONE® colors, paper color, tone value increase, gray balance, and ink density in less than 10 seconds.
A closed loop solution addresses a lot of pain points and frustrations in small to mid-size commercial and folding carton print shops through faster make ready, less waste, and process standardization for consistent and accurate color and a more sustainable process.