FDBusiness.com

Recently launched packaging design graphics studio, Studio404 has said that it is the first business in the UK to invest in a new technology that revolutionises digital colour management for the packaging industry.

Bristol-based Studio404 said that the GMG OpenColor software allows for colour-accurate reproductions of print processes that use spot colours and multi-colour separations with more than the traditional four process colours.

Until now, the overprinting behaviour and colour interplay between CMYK and spot colours could only be reproduced by combining a CMYK profile with spot colour libraries, according to the firm.

In a statement, Studio404 added: “The major drawback of this method was the inaccurate simulation of spot colour overprints, meaning that expensive and time consuming press fingerprinting was always required to depict all possible combinations of spots and process colours as accurately as possible. This effectively makes this process untenable for most clients or brands.”

“Traditional colour management techniques have very successfully controlled the four-colour process but the print world increasingly wants to be able to control more than four colours to build flexibility into the supply chain,” said Studio404 studio manager Tony Lawrence.

He added: “GMG OpenColor is a brand new technology which enables us to measure the colours spectrally, rather than taking traditional colour measurements.

“This is a huge step forward, as it takes into consideration the level of transparency or opacity associated with any given ink.

“We assessed a couple of other solutions for multicolour profiling on the market, and came to the conclusion that they are simply not effective to the level that the market demands, we have been working closely with GMG since the early summer and are proud to be early adopters of this technology.

“We’d be delighted to demonstrate the technology to packaging designers, printers and brand owners who’d like to see for themselves how it revolutionises this crucial component of the packaging manufacturing process.”