Opportunities For Further Research
Four EG print sequences were performed on press: KCMYOGV, KOVGCMY, KCGVMOY and KYOMGVC. The experimental press trials yielded the greatest gamut with KYOMGVC. Subsequent work with the predictive model suggested that KOYGCMV would have yielded a somewhat larger gamut. We intend to perform press trials to confirm this finding.
The research also indicates opportunities to improve 4-color process work by moving from KCMY to KYMC (a 106 percent increase). Further exploration of print sequence for KCMY also seems warranted.
We are hopeful the predictive model developed in this paper will allow printers to work from a set of drawdowns of primaries and their overprints to optimize print sequence without the expense of multiple pressruns, regardless of whether they use standardized OGV to supplement CMYK or if they adopt other spot colors into an EG strategy. Future research will explore the application of this methodology to n-color and modified process situations.
References Cited
- Chung, R., and Hsu, F., “Gravure Process Color Gamut Optimization.” Proceedings from the 58th TAGA Annual Technical Conference, March 2006.
- Furr, M., “The Effect of Press Variation on Color Stability on 7-color and 4-color Process.” Proceedings from the 67th TAGA Annual Technical Conference, March 2015.
- Gundlach, M., “The Extended Gamut Advantage for Printers.” Retrieved from the web at: www.printing.org/the-extended-gamut-advantage-for-printers. 2015.
- Patel S., “Determining the Effect of Printing Ink Sequence for Process Colors on Color Gamut and Print Quality in Flexography.” Master’s Thesis, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 2009.
- Sheth, G.D., Lovell, V., Pekarovicova, A., Fleming, P.D., “Extended Color Gamut for Flexographic Printing,” Proceedings from the 65th TAGA Annual Technical Conference, March 2013.
About the Authors: Liam O’Hara is an assistant professor at Clemson University, where he has been teaching since 2001. He teaches inks and substrates, current trends and developments in graphic communication, and is advisor to the student chapter of the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA). He also serves on the TAGA Board of Directors as executive VP. His research interests include color reproduction and roll to roll printed electronics.
Bobby Congdon is the assistant director at the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University, where he manages and teaches at industry seminars and workshops, maintains computer design labs and guest lectures on prepress workflow automation in senior level graphic communication courses.
Brad Gasque graduated in 2011 from Clemson University with a B.S. in graphic communications, and then was hired at Clemson’s Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics. During his four years at Clemson, he managed the Advanced Print Technologies lab as well as R&D projects, and taught university classes and industry seminars. Brad joined DuPont Advanced Printing in 2015 as part of the Technical Service Team. He supports sales representatives and customers with troubleshooting plate/print issues, performing audits and teaching hands on training.
The preceding article first appeared in the proceedings of the 68th TAGA Annual Technical Conference.