106 | Pulse Roll Label ProductsStandardizing color Ink mixing and matching are one of the most time-consuming processes on the production foor. If not done correctly, it leads to waste of materials, makeready time and, most importantly, press time. But what if the ink and color matching process could be standardized to hit the right color on the frst attempt? Akanksha Meena reportst is always a useful exercise to see how “The database is so a new technology works in practice Isome years after it was launched – accurate, anybody whether it matched the marketing claims made at the time. In this article we look could use it. I could at Pulse Roll Label Products’ PureTone fexo system, launched on the frst day teach you to color of Labelexpo Europe 2015 with the claim it would revolutionize color matching on match – even if you fexo presses. How has this worked out have not touched in practice?PureTone is a high strength, ink in your life – in mono-pigmented fexo ink mixing system, which comprises nine base colors with about 15 minutes”Label produced by Berkshire Labels using PureTone inksthe addition of a special Royal blue plus extender. The single pigment formulation of the nine mixing bases makes it easier converter chooses the anilox, assesses its converters in the UK who have switched to to color match due to the reduced total availability, mixes and matches the ink PureTone inks. number of pigments used in the mixed and runs print tests to get the right color ink. This enables optimized color strength and consistency. Refex Labels and cleaner colors to be achieved and also PureTone was developed to take human The Refex Group claims to be the UK’s reduces the potential for metamerism, says judgment out of ink color matching. Pulse largest label converter. The company has the manufacturer. developed a database of 11 base colors that several production sites across the UK and The high strength formulation allows the system would use to create the right is in the process of setting up new sites for lower flm weights of ink resulting in color automatically. Seward claims that overseas. In December 2021 the converter reduced inventory and lower ink volume on average 30 percent less ink is used with added Macfarlane Labels of Kilmarnock, and consumption for narrow web printers and PureTone than with a standard 18-base its subsidiary companies, Macfarlane Group provides greater fexibility for printing Pantone mixing system. Ireland and Macfarlane Group Sweden, to half-tones and full-tones using one ‘The database is so accurate, anybody the group.printing plate. could use it. I could teach you to color Ian Kendall, CEO, says Refex Labels Gary Seward, founder of Pulse Roll match – even if you have not touched ink was already using Pulse products when Label Products, frst came across ink in your life – in about 15 minutes,’ he says. PureTone was being developed. standardization issues when working as a The second key element was to take the ‘I’ll be quite honest with you, when plant technician mixing inks early in his choice of anilox away from the printer. The people say: “We’ve got this really good career. ‘It was not with fexo ink then, it only way was to provide them with one product and you will use less ink volume“, was with silk screening but it’s the same standard anilox to use with the PureTone I’m always a bit skeptical,’ Kendall says. principle. The same problem occurs when inks for spot colors. But when Refex Labels implemented the you choose a silkscreen mesh or an anilox. Pulse Roll demonstrated that every PureTone system, it found that the inks Variability is what causes the problem. Pantone color can be achieved using a 5-6 performed as expected and this was backed Printers would come back to me and say volume anilox, providing the PureTone up by the data. that the colors are wrong when in fact I database is calibrated to that anilox. A The production process all the way from made the correct shade. And it was very converter would simply have to ensure an pre-press was adjusted around PureTone, clear that the printers were making their inventory of the same volume anilox across says Kendall. ‘Once you have optimized own decisions on what screens to use to all presses. each element of the process, you can get print with – the same with the anilox.’ ‘Now the printer doesn’t need to make a job on press much quicker, with less Seward developed a procedure with the the fundamental choice. It is made for him makeready time, and less set-up is required converter’s pre-press division to ensure by us because we are the ink manufacturers, to match the color you need – that’s that the right screen volumes were used we know how strong the inks are.’ another thing that we’re really hot on.’ with the right inks. The press operators then Seward says the advantages of using a Apart from the ink volume and cost knew which screen to use with what ink. standard volume anilox for all spot colors savings, PureTone is a food compliant low ‘My problems went from up to 20 a day to include greater consistency, a high color migration product as well, which ticks all probably two a week. All because I made strength for lower flm weight, better the boxes for Refex in terms of UV inks. the inks for the same screen every time.’ adhesion, improved halftone reproduction, Kendall says that PureTone has made the Seward concluded that leaving the less wastage and better cure. operator’s job easier since there is no more choice of what anilox or screen to use for That was the thinking behind the manual selection of anilox or mixing inks. spot colors with the printer was the main PureTone ink mixing system. How did it ‘It’s printing by numbers, so as long as you problem. The press remains idle while the work in practice? L&L spoke with three label do it right, it is a lot easier to get the right labelsandlabeling.com