Densitometer vs Spectrodensitometer

  Should I Use a Densitometer or Spectrophotometer in My Pressroom – this a question we hear all the time from printers across all segments of the industry. While the densitometer has been around for many years and was widely adopted, there is no doubt that the momentum has now shifted towards using spectrophotometers in the pressroom. Today’s pressroom spectrophotometers (sometimes called “spectro-densitometers”), offer all of the capabilities of a densitometer and also have the ability to actually…

Demystifying the CIE ΔE 2000 Formula

By Carlos Stanza & Jinkai Qian Understanding the perceptual differences between colors is essential in various fields, such as printing, graphic design, branding, packaging, paint and coatings, textiles, and more! In this context, the Delta E value serves as a crucial metric. Delta E quantifies the disparity between two colors and plays a pivotal role in determining their visual discernibility. Generally, a 1 DE00  is deemed the threshold, indicating that any value below it signifies an imperceptible difference,…

Manual Color Process Control vs Closed-Loop Color Process Control

Accurate and consistent color reproduction throughout a press run is crucial for the success of any offset, flexo, or digital printing operation. To achieve this, periodic color monitoring and control of key characteristics like color, density, TVI, and G7 are essential. Traditionally, printers have relied on manual color control, a primitive and time-consuming process that often leads to costly mistakes, wasted materials, and customer dissatisfaction. In this blog post, we’ll explore the drawbacks of manual…

SpectroJet: A Closed Loop Color Solution Within Reach

Are you currently relying solely on a handheld densitometer for print quality control in your pressroom? Most have considered implementing a closed-loop color control system for their older offset press, but are discouraged by the perceived high cost. Well, we have great news for you. Techkon has a closed loop system  that falls within the mid $30,000 price range. Techkon has a complete closed-loop system equipped with the same software features as the fully automated…

What are the Advantages of Using an Automatic Scanning Color Spectrophotometer

The Power of Automation The adoption of automated print color quality control has transformed the printing industry by delivering significant improvements in color measurement accuracy, efficiency and consistency. By utilizing advanced technologies such as automatic scanning color spectrodensitometers coupled with color QC software solutions, businesses can enhance their production capabilities to meet the ever-increasing expectations of today’s customers. Here are some of those advantages go leveraging Automatic Scanning Color Spectrophotometers: Real-time Data Analysis Data plays…

PressLink: A Closed-Loop Solution for Better Printing

What is PressLink? PressLink is an advanced closed-loop color control system for sheet-fed, offset presses. It integrates hardware and software to collect real-time color data and autonomously adjusts the press’s ink keys, ensuring consistent and accurate color throughout the print run. PressLink will continuously work to optimize color quality, reducing the risk of errors and waste. Autonomous Keys PressLink provides real-time quality control feedback and automatic ink key adjustment during the print run. By automating…

Match Colors Faster on Press!

Good afternoon blog fans!  It’s been a little while since my last blog post and as I look ahead into 2023, I’ve got many great topics in mind to discuss with you regarding Techkon products and technologies that are “must-haves” for any printing environment. So, I am going to jump right in today with a close-up look at Techkon’s InkCheck technology.  This is a feature that is built right into our SpectroDens handheld instrument and…

What is Closed-Loop Color Process Control for Offset, Flexo & Digital Presses and Why it’s Time to Retrofit

Periodic color monitoring and control of aim characteristics (color, density, TVI, G7, etc.) of an offset, flexo,or digital press is extremely important for ensuring accurate and consistent color reproduction throughout the press run. These operations can either be accomplished manually, semi-automatically or automatically via color measurement hardware and color control software. Manual color control is a primitive method of quality control that uses a “trial and error” process—and it’s costing printers worldwide millions of dollars…

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…

CIE ΔE* (Color Difference) Equations

Pictured above is a combination handheld spectrophotometer and densitometer, the SpectroDens 4.  The intent of using deltaE (ΔE) is to describe the distance between two colors. The Just Noticeable Difference (JND) of deltaE is usually 1. In other words, if two colors have a deltaE less than 1 it is imperceptible and larger than 1 is perceivable. Unfortunately, due to the nature of human color perception (our eyes), the visual perception of colors is different….

What is the Process Free (or Processless) Plate and What to Consider When Switching?

Photo Credit: Kodak Sonora Process Free Plates Since the introduction of the CTP (Computer-to-plate) plate from AGFA in 1993, it only took 2 years for more than 50 CTP systems to be brought to the DRUPA exhibition held in 1995. Nowadays, if you walk into a litho offset shop, you will definitely find a CTP system somewhere, usually in a separate CTP room or sharing space within the prepress department. Just like any equipment you…

5 Advantages of Using an Automatic Scanning Color Spectrophotometer

Automate your color control process An automatic scanning color spectrophotometer like the SpectroDrive is a perfect tool to aid in the task of automating your color control process. It is designed to scan entire press sheet color bars in a matter of seconds thus eliminating the need for manual measurements via a handheld device. These devices are fast, accurate, and can also scan color bars anywhere on the press sheet. Collect & distribute data The…

Should I Use a Color Densitometer or Color Spectrophotometer in My Pressroom?

Should I Use a Densitometer or Spectrophotometer in My Pressroom – this a question we hear all the time from printers across all segments of the industry. While the densitometer has been around for many years and has been widely adopted, there is no doubt that the momentum has now shifted towards using spectrophotometers in the pressroom. Today’s pressroom spectrophotometers (sometimes called “spectro-densitometers”), offer all of the capabilities of a densitometer and also have the…

What are M0, M1, M2, M3 Measuring Mode Settings

In accordance with the ISO 13655 standard, the “M” series of measuring mode settings were defined in order to standardize illumination conditions where optical brightening agents are utilized in substrates. The following is designed as a quick reference chart of the 4 different measuring mode settings within the “M” series. M0 “Color measuring mode A” spectral luminance factor without polarization filter under a light source that simulates standard illuminant A (gas lamps or LEDs, 2856…

Beyond the Densitometer – Part 3

Improve Pressroom Efficiencies – Part 3 Two weeks ago, we kicked off our 3-part blog series looking at “Good”, “Better”, and “Best” upgrade options for packaging printers to reduce their make-readies, improve their color matching process, and attain more consistent color throughout their pressruns. In part 1, we examined the benefits of switching from densitometers to handheld spectrophotometers in flexographic pressrooms. In part 2, we looked at the benefits of adding press-side color quality software solutions…

Beyond the Densitometer – Part 2

Improve Pressroom Efficiencies – Part 2 Last week, we kicked off our 3-part blog series looking at “Good”, “Better”, and “Best” upgrade options for packaging printers to reduce their make-readies, improve their color matching process, and attain more consistent color throughout their pressruns. In part 1, we examined the benefits of switching from densitometers to handheld spectrophotometers in flexographic pressrooms. As discussed, this is a relatively easy upgrade because these instruments still measure the familiar process…

Beyond the Densitometer

Improve Pressroom Efficiencies – Part I While handheld densitometers have already been adopted in many flexographic pressrooms, it’s important to remember that these devices do not actually measure color and are therefore incapable of reporting the accuracy of brand or spot colors on press.  The best that desitometers can do is to measure and report the densities (ink film thickness) of solid color patches and the tone value increase (TVI) of halftone dot areas.  While these…

Sheetfed Closed-Loop Color Control

“It’s Easier Than You Think!” Is your closed-loop color control system showing it’s age or require expensive repairs? Any chance it was made by that “X” company? Upgrading to a new Techkon SpectroDrive can improve your productivity enough to cover the cost. Find out why KBA, Heidelberg, Manroland, Komori, RMGT, Sakurai, Goss, Akiyama and more are retrofitting their presses with Techkon press-side color measurement solutions. After reading about the advantages for sheet-fed offset presses, use…

Victor Envelope Implements the SpectroVision Inline Color Quality Control Solution

We sat down with some of the staff at Victor Envelope to learn more about their operation, facility, and why they chose to implement Techkon color control solutions.  A billion envelopes is no small feat and we are proud to be an integral part of making that happen! Interview Participants: John Horgan – Quality Control Specialist Kent Gundlach – President Dariusz Kogut – Technical Training & Production Development Manager We asked John to comment on…

A New Appreciation for Inline Color Measurements

It goes by many names.  Some call it “pressroom color QC”, “pressroom color QA”, or even “pressroom color quality control”.  However, regardless of the name, packaging printers are recognizing the value and are investing in color quality solutions for their pressrooms with the ultimate goal of getting up to color faster, lowering their make-ready costs, and achieving more consistent color across long press runs. Most typically, these solutions feature new software (such as Techkon’s ChromaQA)…