What does industrial print mean to you?
Industrial print is a broad term, defining everything that implies the application of ink on substrates to create printed items that can be used in an industrial capacity. It is a dynamic and potentially rich area that opens up new opportunities for print service providers to extend their range of applications and approach niche sectors. In the industrial landscape, it is important that a minimum set of parameters are agreed upon to define the visual characteristics and technical properties that the end product may have. The research in the field is ongoing. It is expected that new metrics will emerge while existing ones might be revised. Once these specifications are tested and agreed as standards, commercial printing, large format print, textile, ceramic and other vertical industrial sectors may take advantage of them. With this, manufacturers, print service providers and brand owners will have a common set of ‘rules’.

What impact does the lack of consistent colours have on industrial production environment?
Quality control is pivotal for an extensive and diversified series of applications, ranging from textile and interior decorations to packaging, where colour reproduction is particularly critical when reproducing branded materials. Advertising campaigns may contain conventional and digitally printed items produced on various printing substrates and brand colours need to be accurately reproduced. Matching conventional spot colour-based process with a digital one, which is CMYK driven, implies dedicated colour management tools and settings.
Objective colour standards need to be implemented to ensure quality and process control throughout the production environment. Fogra Process Standard Digital (PSD) is increasingly important to achieve consistent quality printing with conventional and digital technologies on a wide range of substrates from different locations.

Are print service providers today more knowledgeable about colour management and keen to implement processes to ensure standard colour reproduction?
The number of PSPs interested in colour management is gradually increasing, but not at the pace and level required by an extremely demanding and competitive industry. Many printers still underestimate the importance of allocating time and financial resources to create a set of media which is tested and optimised to work in conjunction with a specific device. They don’t realise that providing customers with the most accurate and high-standard application ultimately will pay back. Perfectly ‘tuned’ colour management reduces ink consumption, improves quality and raises productivity thanks to increased speed and the capability to minimise remakes, as accurate colour reproduction reduces chances for errors.

(Dorin Pitigoi will be speaking at FESPA 2015 in the Education Hub (Hall 8/Stand B90) on 20 May at 3 pm, in the session titled ‘Fogra specification for system and process check for large format printing applications.’ On 21 May at 4 pm, he will talk about ‘Colour challenges in signage printing on non-paper like substrates’.)