How Does Color Matching in Printing Work

The thing that pumps life into printed visual content is color. They must retain their signature tones which the brand uses. Signature branded colors as an essential element of print and packaging tools. The colors used must be the exact shade and tone of the respective brand to eradicate any doubts related to counterfeit products. However, color matching and achieving the same shade is not an easy take. For some brands, color is a brand that clicks with the target demographic to become its identity. The packaging companies realize their responsibility towards achieving precision and accuracy with color management. But their job does not end there. Consistency is the key to winning this game, which will also protect the brand’s integrity. This consistency ought to reflect in all forms of packaging boxes, irrespective of their sizes and shapes, to win the confidence of the potential target audience. Whether packaging features an individual SKU or bundle items, the printed visual content must always reflect the brand's true identity.

So, How is Color Matching Explained?

The method of color matching is obtaining a precise equal of color on the cardboard-based packaging tools, i.e., the boxes as it seems on the monitor screen is the course of color matching. Easy as it may sound, it is a difficult task and has challenged professionals in the printing sector for a long time. The clients are often unaware that on-screen colors defer drastically from the final tangible print. Sometimes, despite meticulous efforts and selection of colors, the result may not appear as expected when printed. Through this process, the professionals from the printing and other color relying upon industries can identify tones and hues that are the best match or equivalent on-screen and off-screen. The different aspects considered during this process include;

• Color saturation
• Brightness and shadows
• Hues, etc.

How is Color Matching Done?

Whichever sector uses colors is aware of the Pantone matching system, which allows professionals to benefit from the global catalog of colors for identification through a system. It reduces risks related to mixing up the shades as each is a unique identity recognized worldwide. This system also abbreviates PMS in screen and digital printing techniques, and PMS needs to be matched with a computer-based CMYK system for precision in real-time. Almost all colors discovered are named under this system, which was difficult due to infinite variations, the difference in tone and depth of hues, and the different display settings of monitors. But, due to the PMS-Pantone matching system, printers can now avoid these errors for hassle-free designing and printing. As mentioned before, the method relies on color-coding. Another crucial element of color matching is the CMYK system. This abbreviation stands for the cyan, magenta, yellow and black computer-based color system. To avoid miscommunication resulting in significant losses, clients and printing companies need to stand together about color systems during the commercial printing process. Clients are constantly questioned about the color system they provide or prefer as an obligatory question. Printers have made the mistake of printing without investigating this answer, only to find that the equivalent of the selected CMYK shade is not the same in PMS or vice versa. So, to save time, money, and effort, it is essential to distinguish between the color system used.

Color Correctness in Printed Packaging

1. Soft Proofing

Soft-proofing helps save time, money, and effort. Using a calibrated monitor, the professionals offer a prototype for their clients to see what their actual colored visual content will appear after printing. It allows printers and clients to make any changes before the actual process of printing starts till satisfaction is achieved.

2. Digital Artwork

Clients can ask for digitally printed artwork, which helps identify the problem areas. It also helps the printers foretell the problems that might occur during the printing process.

3. Open communication with the printer

Whenever possible, the clients must provide their printer company with;

1. Color matching samples
2. Reference prints
3. Color mixing references

for accuracy, lesser wastage, and corrections.

4. Cylinder Proofing

Some clients ask for cylinder proofing, thinking it is practical for evaluating the ordered print job. But in reality, it too can differ from the required or actual results. Therefore, the clients must keep tolerance for variation in mind when asking for cylinder proofs. Also, this proofing type has restrictions like;

1. The manufacturer must use the same film and inks for matching
2. Proofing requires higher viscosity inks than printing, where low viscosity inks are used
3. Proofing is slower than printing, causing a difference in dot transfer, which again causes variations.

5. Color Library

Clients can refer to a Pantone or CMYK equivalent color library for uncommon color profiles to access the color gamut for references. It will ease maintaining color accuracy and represent the signature brand color they desire in print. They can even ask for Extended Color Gamut Printing (ECG). Which factors affect color matching accuracy? Multiple factors can affect color matching in the absence of CMYK or PMS. Some of them include;

1. Color perception (that depends upon; lighting, environment, printer settings, eye, screen settings, etc.).
2. Screen (in screen printing) includes screen mesh count, mesh type, squeegee sharpness, angle and pressure, curing process, etc.
3. The material selected for printing also affects the final color.
4. Coatings (gloss, matte) also cause a variation in colors.
5. CMYK is a four-color-dependent system that may restrict the printing of brighter colors.

Conclusion

Every seasoned printing company realizes that success is possible only when professionals understand and train to achieve color precision and consistency. It may require following stringent rules for printing the daily colored visual content. Printers must set the variation for these colors according to the standard tolerance capacity of the industry every time the result needs evaluation. These stringent rules are the strength of colored printing quality control. Colored content printed according to the color matching systems reduces risks associated with variations and confusion and helps identify the exact tones required.