What is a SpectroDensitometer?

By: Bruce Leigh Myers, Ph.D. Color reflection densitometers have been used for many years in the graphic communications and printing industry and are likely the most widely adopted type of color measurement instrument for process control especially when dealing with four-color process (CMYK) printing. In the 1990’s, instruments began to be utilized that, while providing densitometric information, were referred to as “SpectroDensitometers.” This has led to confusion by some and has been regarded as hyperbolic…

26

May 2022

By Josh KatowitzDensitometers and Spectrophotometers, Industry StandardsComments Off

Why all the fuss over SCTV anyway?

You can call it “SCTV” or “Spot Color Tone Value” or “ISO 20654”. But regardless of what you call it, this is a topic that has created a lot of buzz in our industry over the last few months. However, despite all of the buzz and media coverage, there still seems to be a lot of questions about what is it and how it can benefit printers. So here’s a quick explanation that will hopefully…

13

Feb 2018

By Josh KatowitzIndustry Standards, Process ControlsComments Off

Wide Gamut Printing with CMYK Inks

Sheet-fed print quality has improved over the last decade for many reasons. Not only has equipment improved, but standards and specifications have provided printers with tools to improve quality. Print specifications and standards such as GRACoL and ISO are designed to provide quality printing results that are sustainable in production through the use of best practices. Simply moving to a print specification such as GRACoL often increases the gamut for ‘uncalibrated’ printers through proper ink…

08

Jun 2016

By Josh KatowitzIndustry StandardsComments Off

Press Calibration to Standards. Is it a Return on Investment?

It is great to be able to match a proof on press, but what is the real financial benefit? It depends on the type of printing that you are doing. For some types of printing, it really is just ink on paper and the proof is just a rough guide. The return on investment is less obvious for this type of printing. When the customer expects you to match the proof, however, being able to…

26

May 2016

By Josh KatowitzIndustry StandardsComments Off

Consistent Color Measurement

Color measurement devices work by measuring the amount of light reflected at different wavelengths. Measurement consistency is affected by factors such as ambient temperature, calibration, paper opacity, optical/sensor design of measurement device. An understanding of these factors can help ensure more reliable print color control by measurement. Software settings are another practical issue in achieving consistent results. Spectral measurements are mathematically converted to color and density values. These conversions depend on settings and options selected…

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May 2015

By Josh KatowitzDevice How To's, Industry Standards1 Comment

7 Considerations in Aperture Size for Print Measurement

Print color and density measurement can be done with different aperture sizes on a spectrophotometer. Here are 7 things to consider when pondering aperture size for color measurement of prints: What size are the color patches on the color control bar? Typically small aperture is used where smaller color patches need to be measured. This is often the case for presses with many printing units and where extra patches are being used for each ink…

20

Mar 2015

By Josh KatowitzDevice How To's, Industry StandardsComments Off

Pre-Launch of Newest SpectroDens | Densitometer and Spectrophotometer

Customer feedback has always driven our product development and innovation; and the latest updates to our SpectroDens are no exception. As a member of our Techkon community, you are the first to hear about and be able to PRE-ORDER at no additional cost the newest SpectroDens to be unveiled in January. Here is a sneak preview of some of the new features: SCCA Reference value correction The practice of following print standards like ISO 12647…

10

Dec 2013

By Josh KatowitzColor Technology, Industry StandardsComments Off

8 Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Your Next Handheld Densitometer

The purchase of a handheld densitometer is a capital expenditure that requires due diligence and a proven path to ROI for most commercial and packaging printers today. Before making the final purchase decision, be sure to ask the following 8 questions: Is the densitometer equipped with functionality to scan color bars? The ability to scan color bars with a handheld densitometer should be a top consideration when evaluating your purchase decision. This feature is essential…

22

Oct 2013

By Josh KatowitzIndustry Standards, TrendsComments Off

LED versus Incandescent Lighting

As the debate over LED versus incandescent lighting continues throughout a variety of industries, it seems there is less to deliberate within the color measurement industry; namely for use in densitometers and spectrophotometers. There are 5 compelling reasons for choosing a densitometer or spectrophotometer that uses an LED light source. LEDs last longer. In fact, LED’s can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light; which translates into an average incandescent lamp life of…

02

Oct 2013

By Josh KatowitzColor Technology, Industry StandardsComments Off

Accurately Communicating Color from Design to Press

Accurately reproducing color from the digital artwork created by designers is an essential component to the success of any commercial or packaging print company. Within the print production process there are typically 3 different methods of communicating color. The first is the monitor as it is the medium by which designers create the original artwork. The second is the inkjet printer as it is typically used to produce proofs that represent the colors to be…

26

Aug 2013

By Josh KatowitzIndustry Standards, Process ControlsComments Off

Dispelling the Myth of Hand Scanning Densitometers

Does the scanning speed of the spectrodensitometer affect the accuracy of its measurements? A highly inaccurate supposition of some handheld scanning spectrodensitometers for the print industry today is the notion that if you vary the speed with which you manually move the instrument than the accuracy of the measurements will be compromised. In reality, handheld scanning spectrodensitometers offer the exact same accuracy as the high-end automated scanning systems and are often times the perfect solution…

22

Jul 2013

By Josh KatowitzIndustry Standards, TrendsComments Off

Color Relevant ISO Standards

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards. International Standards give state of the art specifications for products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient and effective. Developed through global consensus, they help to break down barriers to international trade. Below is a comprehensive list of the most important color-related ISO standards relevant to the print community. ISO 5 Measuring geometry/filter curves for densitometers ISO 105-B02…

20

Mar 2013

By Josh KatowitzIndustry StandardsComments Off