Absolute color measurement on-press, on-demand from AVT
Hod-Hasharon Israel – August 2011. For the first time, the highest quality ISO compliant color and density measurements are available on-press, and on-demand, with SpectraLab, the new spectrophotometer from Advanced Vision Technology (AVT). It is particularly suited for the printing of flexible packaging, especially for the flexo and gravure processes where consistent color quality in repetitive packaging images is critical.
SpectraLab is a robust, innovative device that employs the latest technology in color measurement, and is fully ISO compliant with true spectrophotometric measurement of the printed colors on virtually all flexible substrates. It is the only spectrophotometer on the market for the on press inline measurement of absolute color and density values of color critical packaging, and is an optional add-on module to the PrintVision/Jupiter and PrintVision/Argus models.
The measured colors are reported during run-time by the Jupiter system on press-side displays. SpectraLab comprises a Spectral Measurement Unit (SMU) that measures conformance with the recognized ISO standards for graphic arts color measurement devices, including ISO 13655 and ISO 5.3.
A key benefit of SpectraLab is that it responds to today’s increasing quality requirements. Today’s consumer product companies sell and package similar products worldwide, so they require consistent color quality from all printing plants, wherever the product is sold and packaged. This quality capability is critical for proper branding by consumer product companies, whose end users are globally mobile.
Press operators value SpectraLab because they can ‘print to the numbers’ supplied by the system, instead of making subjective judgments on quality. The system is completely intuitive for production personnel, and the ready access to a wealth of accurate run-time color measurements raises the bar for process and quality control.
SpectraLab eliminates inefficient multiple press stops and starts for offline color measurements, and using its automated measurements, printers can satisfy their customers’ increasing demands for more detailed and accurate color quality monitoring.
The unit performs absolute color measurement online that correlates closely with color measurements made offline by prepress departments and print buyers. It allows accurate color measurements to be made anywhere on the printed web, and throughout the entire production run. These comprehensive measurements document color quality and provide valuable feedback on press performance, which supports process improvement by reducing press interruptions and downtime.
SpectraLab measures by sampling user selected points anywhere on the web. These can be changed by the operator, who can also adjust target color values and customize other key parameters, even while the press is in production. It measures up to 15 ink colors at up to three locations per color, and areas as small as six millimeters in diameter on clear and opaque substrates, and on both sides of the web.
The AVT PrintVision/Jupiter platform is an Automatic Defect Detection Solution for web printing applications in the packaging industry. PrintVision/Argus is a combined solution of process control and quality assurance, delivering 100% inspection alongside a process control capability to ensure perfect printing. AVT has a large installed base within the packaging market, and is seeing growing demand for inspection solutions on both traditional and digital presses. It was announced recently that AVT was selected to join the HP Partner Program for the Indigo division.