Wide-Format Color Management

In the world of commercial print, device-to-device color matching is fairly straightforward. Inks and substrates are standardized, target densities and Lab values, as well as paper white tolerances, are defined. Even with UV offset, where media such as plastics can present some challenges, it is still pretty much standardized.

But in the world of wide-format output, it’s a different story, with device-to-device color matching a struggle, with some unique issues. To begin with, in the attempt to color match from one device to another, there are many more variables to be controlled.

There are over 20 different printer brands, as well as a host of media types and ink systems— solvent, UV curable, latex, dye sublimation and aqueous.

Each type of ink also presents its own unique imaging characteristics. The different inks may also image at distinctly different resolutions and may not target a common output condition, like offset print processes.

There is also no standard on ink colors. Depending on the manufacturer, inks might be strong or weak in specific primary colors.

The most difficult challenge of matching across the wide format production process has to do with substrates, the issue is both the consistency of substrates themselves, as well as difference in color between many substrates. Designers are often designing using common print specifications such as GRACoL or SWOP. These print specs are what they are seeing on the screen as they design – and each of these print specifications contains a paper color as well. Most fast wide-format devices can easily achieve G7, but often do not have the full gamut to exactly match these specs, and when the paper color is different than the print spec the designer has in mind it can cause color issues.

The customer and printer need to communicate regarding the targeted print condition.

Monitor-to-output matching issues require that both monitors and output devices are properly profiled and calibrated.