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...

はじめに 色温度（いろおんど）は、光の色合いを表す物理的な指標であり、私たちの生活や産業活動に深く関わっています。印刷、テキスタイル、塗料、自動車、プラスチック、食品パッケージなど、色が重要な意味を持つ分野では、色温度の理解が欠かせません。 特に、色を正確に評価・管理する業務に携わる方にとって、色温度は品質やブランドイメージの維持に直結する要素です。本記事では、初心者の方にも分かりやすく、色温度の基本概念から産業における活用事例、測定方法、よくある誤解までを解説します。 1. 色温度とは何か 色温度は、黒体放射（こくたいほうしゃ）の概念に基づく指標です。黒体とは、すべての波長の光を完全に吸収し、かつ温度に応じて光を放射する理想的な物体のことです。加熱したときの色を、xy色度図上にプロットすると、下図のようになり、黒体の軌跡と呼びます。温度によって光の色が変化します。 例えば、約1,000Kでは暗い...

1. 表色系とは？ 表色系（ひょうしょくけい）とは、色を数値的に表現する方法や基準のことです。私たちは普段、色を「赤」「青」「緑」と言葉で認識しますが、機械やコンピューターは色を数値で扱います。そこで、どのように数値化するかを決めたのが 表色系 です。 具体的には、色を表すために「明るさ（輝度や反射率）」や「色味（色相、彩度）」などを数値化し、色を座標上にマッピングします。 これにより、異なる機器や環境間でも「同じ色」を再現・比較しやすくなります。 2. 表色系と色空間とは？ 初心者にとって「表色系」と「色空間」は似たように聞こえますが、実は意味が少し異なります。両者の違いと関係を理解することで、色管理の基礎知識がより明確になります。 表色系（Color System）とは？ 表色系は、色を数値で表現するための方法や原理のことを指します。つまり、色をどのよ...

はじめに 私たちが日常生活で「色」として認識しているものは、実は光の波長によるものです。その中でも、人間の目が感知できる範囲の光を可視光スペクトル（かしこうスペクトル）と呼びます。 この概念は印刷、デザイン、自動車塗装、産業用塗料など、幅広い分野で色を正しく扱うための基礎知識となります。この記事では、初めて可視光スペクトルを学ぶ方でも理解しやすいように、仕組みから応用まで解説します。 1. 可視光スペクトルの基本 光とは何か？ 光は電磁波の一種で、波長（はちょう）によって性質が異なります。電磁波には、ガンマ線、X線、紫外線、可視光線、赤外線、マイクロ波、電波などがあります。その中で、**380〜780ナノメートル（nm）**の波長を持つ電磁波が人間の目で見える光、つまり可視光線です。 可視光とは何か 可視光（かしこう）とは、人間の目で知覚できる電磁波の一種で、波長...

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...

This is the third blog in our MeasureColor in Action blog series, which introduces key features to help you achieve smarter, more efficient print production. MeasureColor: Optimize Dot Gain for Better Print Quality Achieving consistent print quality hinges on your ability to control dot gain—a critical but often overlooked variable. Dot gain plays a major role in color accuracy, image sharpness, and overall visual impact, especially in packaging and extended gamut workflows. With MeasureC...

This is the second blog in our MeasureColor in Action blog series, which introduces key features to help you achieve smarter, more efficient print production. MeasureColor: Manage Digital Color Targets with Confidence In today’s complex and fast-moving print environments, managing digital color targets and ICC profiles efficiently is essential for delivering consistent, high-quality results. Without a structured system, it's easy to lose control over your color libraries—leading to ...

This is the first blog in our MeasureColor in Action blog series, which introduces key features to help you achieve smarter, more efficient print production. MeasureColor: A User-Friendly Interface for Faster Print Decisions In today’s print industry, finding skilled press operators is more challenging than ever. At the same time, production environments are becoming increasingly complex—often combining multiple printing techniques and a wide range of press makes and models. That&rs...

What’s the Difference Between a Light Booth and a Lighting Box? When it comes to achieving consistent lighting for color evaluation, photography, or product display, two tools often come up: light booths and lighting boxes. While they may sound similar, they serve different purposes and are designed for distinct use cases. In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between the two and help you decide which one is right for your needs. What Is a Light Booth? A light booth&mdas...

Color Matching Machines for Retail Paint Solutions In the world of retail paint, precision in color matching is crucial. Having the right tools to ensure accurate color matching can make all the difference. Enter the color matching machine—a revolutionary tool that ensures your paint colors are consistent, vibrant, and true to your customer's vision. What is a Color Matching Machine? A color matching machine is a device designed to measure and match colors with high precision. These mach...

Five Important Components of a Quality Control Program Step 1: Quantify Color with a Spectrophotometer Human vision is subjective—terms like “a bit brighter” or “slightly darker” are open to interpretation. That’s why spectrophotometers are essential. These instruments measure color by analyzing how light transfers through or reflects off a surface, producing a spectral reflectance curve—essentially a color’s unique fingerprint. This data-driven ...

When your reputation relies on your print quality, accurate, repeatable color control isn’t optional— it’s a necessity. The combination of the eXact 2 Portable Spectrophotometer and MeasureColor Software delivers a robust, integrated solution that empowers print and packaging professionals to achieve precise, repeatable color across jobs, substrates, and devices. eXact 2: Precision Hardware for Next-Level Color Control The eXact 2 is X-Rite’s latest handhe...

X-Rite Video Gallery- Your Ultimate Resource for Color Education Welcome to the X-Rite Video Gallery Whether you're a novice or an experienced professional, the X-Rite Video Gallery offers in-depth color education and practical training to enhance your color management skills. Our carefully curated collection of videos provides valuable insights and expert tips designed to help you master color accuracy and optimize your workflow. In this blog, we'll highlight five must-watch videos that sho...

  Ensuring color consistency is not just a matter of aesthetics; it's a critical component of brand identity and consumer trust. Imagine a world where Coca-Cola's iconic red varies from can-to-can, or where the blue labels of Alcon eye drops don’t match on the shelf. Such inconsistencies can confuse customers and dilute brand recognition. For big brands, maintaining brand color consistency across all platforms and materials is paramount. This guide will introduce the essential s...

Ensuring color consistency in commercial printing and packaging is critical for maintaining brand integrity and meeting customer expectations. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by leveraging quality control software that utilizes precise color tolerancing methods. In this blog, we will explore different tolerancing techniques and how QC software enhances accuracy in color control. The Challenge of Visual Color Assessment Many assume that visual inspection alone is sufficient for...

In the fast-paced world of print and packaging, achieving precise color accuracy is a critical challenge. Whether you're matching brand colors, controlling ink density, or ensuring quality consistency, selecting the right color measurement instrument can make all the difference. Understanding Color Measurement Instruments Selecting the right instrument for your print operation depends on factors such as production environment, measurement requirements, and industry standards. There are several ...

When it comes to achieving precise and consistent color measurement, investing in a high-quality spectrophotometer is essential. Spectrophotometers are critical to color quality because they provide repeatable and reliable data that ensure products meet strict color standards. Whether you're in the business of manufacturing durable goods, apparel, cosmetics, or building materials, the right spectrophotometer can make all the difference by detecting even the slightest variations in color. These ...

Color is a powerful tool in print and packaging, influencing consumer decisions and defining brand identity. Whether you’re designing luxury goods or everyday products, accurate color ensures your materials stand out while maintaining brand consistency. However, achieving accurate color can be challenging, especially for those who rely solely on visual evaluation. Let’s explore how controlled lighting improves color perception and why it’s essential for effective visual color ...

In the world of consumer packaged goods (CPG), color plays a crucial role in attracting customers and conveying brand identity. Whether it's the vibrant red of a soda can or the calming blue of a skincare product, color consistency is key to maintaining brand recognition and trust.  In this blog, we'll explore the significance of color in packaging design and how X-Rite Pantone can help brands achieve excellent color consistency in packaging design and execution.  Why Color Consiste...

Brands may not have a line item in their budget for color, but it can impact the bottom line in different ways. Understanding the true cost of color can help accelerate go-to-market, reduce waste, and save thousands. Color plays a big role in purchase decisions when you consider it only takes shoppers 2 to 7 seconds to select an item from the shelf. To stand out, brands must introduce interesting designs to launch new varieties and seasonal specials, while considering the impact new packaging wi...

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 ...

Autura Ink: The Future of Cloud-Native Ink Formulation and Quality Control X-Rite’s latest innovation, Autura Ink, a cloud-native ink formulation and quality control solution, recently won the prestigious PRINTING United Alliance Pinnacle Award in the color management and quality control category. This award recognizes innovative new products that significantly enhance the printing industry through exceptional quality, capability, and productivity. We sat down with Ming-Pong Liu, Software...

Brands invest a great deal of time and resources when selecting a new color to represent their products. If the color doesn't match expectations after printing, runs are wasted, and everyone is left wondering where the color went wrong. Here's a typical scenario. A brand selects a season color for product packaging and communicates that color to the designer. The designer integrates the color into the design and hands it off to the premedia team to convert it into print-ready files. The files a...

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 ...

Looking for a centralized location to manage your X-Rite products and services? Check out My X-Rite. Whether you need product information or support, service details, or access to learning resources, our free online portal is just a few clicks away. 24/7 Access: Easily access your personal dashboard from your computer or mobile device around the clock. Personalized Dashboard: See what matters most to you in one convenient location. Effortless Service & Support: Submit and track...

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...

When it comes to color accuracy in the world of print and packaging, having the right tools at your disposal is crucial. We understand how overwhelming it can be to choose from a plethora of options. Fear not, for we’ve simplified your decision-making process. Here’s our list of top color match devices, each catering to different needs:   eXact™ 2 Handheld Spectrophotometer for Paper, Corrugated & Carton Boards Ideal for professionals working with paper, corr...