Software & Controls
Figure 2. Colour management software enables precise control of quality parameters
2. Set accountability standards A key objective of a print specification is to clearly define the results you expect. Every spec should therefore include a plain description of the criteria for accepting, comparing and evaluating products. If the spec is ambiguous about these points, production teams are likely to fall back on their own internal practices. This can cause conflicts if there are significant differences between their default standards and the brand’s expectations.
Your document should precisely consider all specifics associated with a particular printing method, including overprinted materials and post-print operations such as varnishing. The more detailed it is, the fewer questions (and potential disputes) will pop up during the production cycle.
In addition to target colour values, your spec should include measurement conditions, an acceptance form and instrument quality assessment methodology. This minimises coordination time and production losses, which could lead to higher costs and/or missed deadlines.
3. Leverage your specs to find the right printers
It’s easy to overlook one of the most useful functions of print specs: They help you pre-
qualify vendors. Stating your criteria and timeline in writing will immediately tell any shop that considers the job whether they can satisfy your requirements. Weeding vendors who aren’t a good fit out early can save you a lot of time and effort.
Once you have a short list of production partners, resist the urge to think of them as commodities. If every printer could produce at the highest level, it would simply be a matter of choosing the lowest bidder. In reality, each shop is unique — even if it’s offset printing process standard (PSO), process standard digital (PSD) or G7 certified — and it’s worth getting to know their strengths and weaknesses. Do they specialise in packaging? What instruments do they use for colour matching and how often do they calibrate them? Can they formulate high- quality spot colour inks in-house or do they need to source them from outside vendors? Are they known for delivering high-quality work on time?
No matter how tight your budget is, the lowest price often masks the lowest value as well. This can end up costing you more, especially if your vendor is cutting corners on colour management. Just as with accountability, your print spec can help you avoid costly mistakes by clearly defi ning the type of partner you need to get the job done right.
DIGITAL COLOUR TOOLS STREAMLINE SPECIFICATION COMPLIANCE With a clear and detailed specifi cation in hand, the production team can set many important technical tasks in motion. The end goal of most of these are to ensure consistency across the entire print run. In addition, your team should be able to match the same stable and predictable results in the future.
Achieving the highest levels of colour accuracy requires high-quality measuring equipment, such as spectrophotometers, and dedicated colour management software. These tools make it easier for printers to check, correct and monitor results according to specifi cations.
Colour-management software, such as the Colibri platform (Figure 2), allows production teams to specify colours according to digital brand standards. It can also assist the creation of colour recipes for dedicated ink series, as well as monitoring and assessing quality during the production cycle.
Digital colour management can also help create trust between brands and their production partners by enabling full transparency. Production partners can seek accreditation through annual review and assessment programs. Accredited shops can provide brand owners with third-party confi rmation of their commitment to high-quality standards and compliance with specifi cations.
www.convertermag.com
November 2025
33
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