Color: It’s All in the Process

The need for faster makeready, on-time delivery, and reductions in cost and waste places a premium on predictable results and comparable quality, independent of location, substrate, or printing process. However, because it is now possible—and often necessary—to print the same brand colors on everything from paper and plastic to corrugated and shrink-wrap film, the level of technical expertise needed to produce consistent, saleable results from press to press, process to process, and job to job is considerable. Design specifications also may leave printers struggling with color that is difficult to reproduce on presses. When it comes to color, proof, plate, and print must deliver identical results. More specifically, this means that the proof must simulate as closely as possible the color from the press and hence, the product, as it will appear on the shelf in all its irresistible, eye-catching glory.