FORUM 2023 Session Spotlight
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Color Throughout the Workflow
Session Chairs: Kevin Bourquin, Cyber Graphics and Jessica Harrell, SGS & Co
The Slate of Presenters:
- Kai Lankinen, Dr. Lankinen Graphic Innovations Ltd/Marvaco Oy
- Aileen Chiu, Sun Chemical
- James Summers, JUST Normlicht
- Charles Spontelli, Bowling Green State University
- Bill Birkett, Doppelganger LLC
Evaluating and working to accurately predict color is a very valuable component in the print production process.
In FORUM 2023’s “Color Throughout the Workflow” session, we will cover a variety of topics that impact the visual appearance of packaging. Many of these topics reflect that changing technology should be considered when working through the production process.
Presentations in our session may challenge in-use best practices or SOPs. Why? It’s understood that developing and implementing procedures takes time and resources. From the foundation to the building blocks and environment—All are impacted by advancements in industry technologies and methodologies. We hope it’s worth considering these unique approaches that may influence how color is reproduced and viewed in the marketplace.
Vivid Graphics
If our goal is to create vivid graphics made from the fewest number of print stations, the base must first be evaluated. The ability to achieve a desired color begins with the white point of the substrate itself or the white ink on the substrate. The largest color gamut will be achievable with a pure, opaque, uncontaminated white.
If starting with a base that already has a color cast or a reduced lightness factor, then the potential gamut will be immediately reduced. Often this is accepted with the understanding of other benefits such as utilizing board or films with a high percentage of recycled content, or a foil for visual impact or product protection.
Can the use of high-pigment/high-density inks push past some of the limitations of a substrate with reduced lightness? Aileen Chiu, senior color engineer with Sun Chemical Corp, will discuss white points and the relationship of solid ink density and opacity to the overall gamut.
Once the fingerprint/profile charts have been printed, we need to turn the results into data. The methods for accurately capturing color information have improved dramatically over the past 10 years with tools and software products to assist in measuring and analyzing the data.
Communicating Color
Presenters Charles Spontelli, associate professor emeritus at Bowling Green State University and William Birkett, engineer at Doppelganger LLC, will discuss The Optimal Method, a print calibration technique using tone curves to match an ICC profile. The duo will explain how this process works with flexography and how it can be implemented into the workflow process.
Many printers have considered or adopted an expanded gamut (EG) process for at least a portion of their work. When these programs are successful, it’s often a result of communicating the end result and expectations upfront. Implementing an expanded gamut process is a big endeavor.
Kai Lankinen, managing director at Dr. Lankinen Graphic Innovations Ltd will present information on the efficiency, economy and ecology of using EG in flexography. Utilizing an EG process in flexography has many benefits but also requires upfront planning, communication and acceptance regarding design limitations and technical execution.
Is there color without light? Does the major shift to LED lighting require a change to the viewing conditions in a way that needs to be addressed or compensated? James Summers, VP at JUST Normlicht will explain how LEDs impact color appearance and recommendations for adjusting the color workflows to best predict the viewer’s experience.
These five industry leaders will share an invaluable amount of detail and expertise on how various components of any color workflows can advance to be more efficient, more predictable and help to reproduce vivid graphics with the latest technologies.
In addition, we will also have a number of special guests via video to explain complex color theory through easy-to-understand interviews. Join us Tuesday morning bright and early. We look forward to seeing you in Columbus!
Learn more about all FORUM 2023’s sessions and register to attend the conference at forum.flexography.org.