Yes, yet another ‘buzz phase’ for the industry, this time in the colour management area.

 But this is an important one to understand and implement.

 Common colour appearance, as used in this instance is, in its broadest definition, defined as  images and pages will look the same across any media; print, web, mobile, broadcast etc.

Scientifically colour appearance and colour appearance models are a difference area of study, just ‘Google’ it to be amazed!

However, in our industry it is normally used to cover printing by the many methods available; Offset litho, gravure, screen process, flexographic, and the myriad digital printing technologies.

The driver for this comes from our clients. They need their images, brand colours and logos to look the same across all of these printing processes, especially if, within a promotion, many printing technologies are used.

We all have seen where this has not been achieved, and clients really hate it when it happens. The old excuses, such as they must understand that differing processes will give differing results is not accepted now.

So how can it be achieved? I guess most reading this blog will be aware of ISO 12647 and its range of standard printing conditions for sheet fed offset litho, heatset web offset, coldest web offset, gravure, flexographic and proofing.

These work well, especially in the offset area, but there are no standards for digital printing at the moment. One is in the very early stages of development by ISO at the moment, but is very complex due to the differing technologies and markets that need to be addressed.

 In practise this has resulted in Fogra 39 based CMYK colour profiles for ISO 12647/2 offset litho on coated paper being use as the ’standard’ for a common colour appearance over a multi-printing-process promotions and campaigns.

Possibly not the best option, but it is where we are in the process right now.

Matching offset litho presses using ISO 12647/2 is a proven process, used by most leading printers. Matching digital presses to the litho standard is now possible using a number of methods.

Companies such as GMG, CGS ORIS, Alwan Color Expertise, Fujifilm and Bodoni have released software designed for the purpose of achieving this ‘common colour appearance’ across these differing printing methods.

 They mostly use ICCs device link profiles,  automated in various ways, according to each vendor, to match digital presses to an offset litho ISO standard. Most results I have seen look impressive.

 Of course, it is perfectly possible that the RIP on a digital press will have the colour management controls to enable the press to correctly match a profile or press condition, without using the above methods and software. After all this is what a digital proofing RIP does, using calibration and verification software and systems

So it comes down to testing, control, measurement and your market needs in order to decide if you need to guarantee ‘common colour appearance’ and what systems and software’s you may need to maintain ‘common colour appearance’ if you decide it is needed by your clients.

 So if you’re a printer in the short run colour market using offset litho and small and/or large format digital devices this is an area you need to investigate.

 The ability to do this must be seen as a strong marketing advantage, and should be sold as such to clients.

 

 

 

 

 

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