Polyflex Premedia believes approved contract colour proofs should match the print results. A robust colour management system transcends mere workflow efficiency – it ensures brand integrity, cost savings and environmental responsibility.

Polyflex Premedia possesses unparalleled expertise and state-of-the-art equipment for comprehensive colour management and ensures accurate colour representation at every stage.

‘Our services encompass managing the brand and designer’s, colour intent, printing press characteristics and appropriate lighting conditions, colour measurement and tracking of any variation,’ comments Martin Stewart, managing director of Polyflex Cape.

Polyflex Premedia’s software development team has advanced this initiative by creating an artwork approval platform. According to Martin, this platform offers all role players seamless electronic artwork transfer and approval. ‘With our solution, artwork moves effortlessly between all necessary approvers, storing collaboration and annotation notes. The Project Manager dashboard ensures strict adherence to planned project timelines, enhancing efficiency and accuracy across the board.’

Polyflex Premedia begins its colour management journey with the creative agency onboarding process. ‘We’ve added a new service by involving agencies with colour advice and assistance with colour intent,’ explains operations manager Stuart Baylis.

The company’s meticulous management of spot colours and the entire Expanded Colour Gamut (ECG) process addresses critical areas such as ink savings, carbon footprint reduction, waste reduction as well as optimised set-up and wash-up times. Without comprehensive colour management, these benefits remain unattainable.

According to Stuart, brand owners and converters often grapple with challenges like consistent colour reproduction and cost reduction. Polyflex Premedia employs state-of-the-art tools that provide customised colour assurance. Stuart emphasises that this process replicates up to 95% of printing process capabilities, considering variables such as inks, substrates and plate technology.

Beyond standard profiles

The industry often relies on standard profiles like FOGRA 39, which represents the colours of a typical print made by commercial offset litho on gloss or matte coated paper. ‘The danger of that is that it’s developed for the litho industry,’ Stuart cautions. ‘It falls short in accurately representing CMYK process colours for a flexo printing press.’ Polyflex Premedia’s colour-managed solution, however, considers all variables for consistent colour, faster approvals and predictable results, even on rough substrates like corrugated paper. This comprehensive workflow is key to maintaining quality and efficiency.

Profiling is a cornerstone of Polyflex Premedia’s approach as it offers more authenticity than theoretical models, especially for flexo printing. ‘In any print process, the goal is to achieve the widest colour gamut,’ Stuart notes. ‘Effective colour management helps determine the maximum capability of a print process, whether using CMYK or extended colours like orange, green and violet. This foresight allows Polyflex to predict potential and simulate colour issues before running a job, enhancing efficiency and reliability.’

Polyflex Premedia’s suite of clever software for colour management includes approval platforms for brand owners. These platforms use simple spectrometer devices to check spot colours, ensuring consistent replication. New software tools further aid converters in accurately measuring and adjusting colours, streamlining the process.

Supply chain efficiency and sustainability

‘Efficiency is the golden thread that runs through everything,’ Stuart asserts. Polyflex Premedia is committed to improving customer approval processes with the right tools, including correctly set up lighting booths with D50 light sources for accurate proof checks. This meticulous attention to detail (process control) ensures colour consistency and reduces approval times.

One of Polyflex’s standout innovations is using the profiles to create colour-accurate prototypes on certified materials. These prototypes offer a replica of the final product, ensuring consistency for brand owners and printers alike. Stuart says this future-proofing step is crucial as it guarantees that the final product will meet expectations.

As brand owners trust the colour management process more, it will become standard to approve colours on proof rather than at the press. This shift reduces costs, lead times, waste and the associated environmental impact. It also enhances design accuracy from the onset.”

Colour spectrometers have replaced ‘eye-balling colour’ for approval purposes. It’s a science that can be measured, recorded, improved on and tracked in terms of consistency. Digital solutions offer the consistency needed in today’s competitive market. ‘With digital colour management, we can achieve consistent, reliable results that meet both brand and converter expectations,’ Stuart concludes.

His insights illuminate the critical role of advanced colour management in the packaging and print industry. As Polyflex Premedia continues to innovate, the future of colour management looks brighter – and more precise – than ever.

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