iPQ-Spectral performs real-time, inline measurement of the colour data with a high-resolution spectrophotometer on the printing press, comparing them with given reference values.
As part of their development partnership, X-Rite, provider of colour management technology, and BST eltromat International, supplier of quality assurance systems for web-oriented production processes, will enable precise colour measurement and control in web printing on the basis of the XRGA standard.
X-Rite has developed a sensor specifically for iPQ-Spectral, the inline spectral colour measurement module of the iPQ-Center from BST eltromat, that is fully compatible with the hand-held measuring devices from X-Rite. As a result, printers obtain comparable results offline and inline when performing spectral colour measurement with both the X-Rite hand-held devices and iPQ-Spectral. By continuously generating absolute measurement data, inline spectral colour measurement assists printers in complying with given colour standards, even at very high web speeds of up to 1000 m/min and web widths of up to 2.5 metres.
In flexo and gravure printing, among other applications, the X-Rite sensor specially developed for iPQ-Spectral detects the spectral colour data in real time, displaying them as L*a*b* values. The machine operators get direct feedback on the quality and validity of the measurements on their control terminals. As the system promptly detects any colour deviations, both in solid and halftone colours, the machine operators can quickly eliminate their causes. The same applies to deviations in colour density and dot gain.
‘iPQ-Spectral is the only inline spectral colour measurement system working to the XRGA standard with a sensor from X-Rite’, said Dr. Christopher Kauczor, product manager at BST eltromat International.
‘Thanks to our cooperation with that company [X-Rite], we can give our customers maximum reliability in colour management and control in web printing, together with the greatest possible efficiency,’ he added.
