Why Converters Should Upgrade to eXact 2 For packaging converters, accurate color is tied directly to brand trust and customer approval. Labels, folding cartons, corrugated, flexible packaging, and mixed-substrate jobs all bring different measurement challenges, and customers still expect the final package to match the approved standard. If your team is still using first-generation eXact instruments, the upcoming end of life offers a timely reason to evaluate whether your current packaging colo...

Why It’s Time to Upgrade to eXact 2 Commercial printers are under constant pressure to deliver accurate, repeatable color while keeping presses moving, controlling waste, and meeting tighter customer expectations. If your team still relies on first-generation eXact instruments, the upcoming end of life is a practical opportunity to assess whether your current measurement tools still support the speed, consistency, and reporting needs of today’s commercial print environment. Effectiv...

5 Material Challenges You Can Finally Measure Accurately with the CiF3200 For years, color teams across industries have faced the same frustrating truth: many modern materials are simply too small, too decorated, too textured, or too complex for traditional spectrophotometers to measure reliably. When your components don’t fully cover the aperture, or include multiple colors, intricate patterns, or uneven surfaces, your options shrink quickly. Many organizations fall back on visual assess...

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...

The Challenge of Printing Whites The PANTONE Color of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer, is more than just a trend, it’s a technical challenge for packaging converters. While white may seem simple, its appearance is impacted by substrate color, ink formulation, and the presence of optical brightening agents (OBAs). For converters, the goal is to deliver consistent, accurate whites across every run, between every plant, and throughout every region. Why Whites Are Complex in Packaging Whites are ...

5 Steps to Digitize Your Press Room and Defend Your Margins Margins in print are under pressure. Rising substrate costs, labor shortages, and energy volatility are squeezing profitability. At the same time, compliance audits—ISO, G7, internal reviews—are becoming more frequent and more demanding. Digitizing your press room isn’t just about passing audits. It’s about building a lean, smart operation that protects your bottom line. Here are five steps to get there: Step 1...

Sustainability in Manufacturing Is No Longer Optional From brand mandates to government regulations, sustainability is now a core requirement in print and packaging. But for many print teams, the path to greener operations feels like a trade-off: reduce waste or maintain quality—not both. The good news? You don’t have to choose. The Hidden Waste in Traditional Workflows Manual color control and fragmented workflows create more waste than you think: Reprints due to color mi...

For print and packaging, color accuracy isn’t optional—it’s essential. Yet many teams still rely on manual color control methods that introduce variability, slow down production, and quietly erode margins. If your workflow feels more reactive than repeatable, it may be time to modernize. Here are the 10 signs to watch for: Your color targets live in email threads Operators waste time searching or guessing—costing setup time and risking errors. Operators rely...

The Hidden Cost of Color Inconsistency on Packaging Color inconsistency in print and packaging isn’t just a visual issue—it’s a margin killer. Decentralized workflows, manual setups, and tribal knowledge create inefficiencies that quietly erode profitability. From wasted substrate to delayed approvals, the hidden costs add up fast. The Operational Fallout of Color Inconsistency Longer setup times as teams hunt for historical data Inconsistent output across p...

White ink is one of the most expensive and widely used inks in packaging production—but it’s often under-optimized. In this blog, we’ll explore how MeasureColor enables printers to maximize white ink opacity, reduce waste, and boost overall print performance.  Why White Ink Matters White ink acts as the foundation layer when printing on transparent, metallic, or colored substrates. It ensures brand colors are vibrant and consistent. But due to its high-volume use and cost...