manage pdf brand colors like a pro -...
TRANSCRIPT
Quick summary
§Changes affecting the packaging industry requiring improvements to brand color handling
§Weaknesses in current methods of handling brand colors in print production workflows
§Streamlining brand color handling through CxF/X-4 and PDF/X-4
Changes in shopping behavior
§2017 – online shopping dominates§2018 – internet of things§Free shipping§shopping behavior changes also affect brick-and-mortar
stores and fighting for customer attention on the shelves becomes ever more aggressive.
numerous trends in packaging:
§Special effects add attention grabbing elements§Brand color themes§Slim packaging§Sturdy packaging§Label legislation for print data and substrates§Event tie-in and co-branding, merchandising§Globally distributed manufacturing
Examples
Examples
Examples
Examples
Examples
Examples
Press check challenges
§For brand ownersscheduling, travel, frequency, cost
§For printersscheduling, assignment to shifts, other press runs
§How useful anywaysite-to-site match, different observers, color memory
§Subjective vs objectiveneed for independent specification and verification
Using brand colors in applications
§SPOT and EFFECT channels = additional channel§Color from palette as visual aid§ tints / hue shift ignored (even if data available)§Dangerous workarounds:
“BrandColor” and “35% BrandColor” create 2 plates§ “Coated” vs “Uncoated” vs “Process” hard to understand
Brand colors in print data files
§1 additional plate per spot and effect channel§No extra plates for “Process” brand colors§Linear, with plate curve assigned on CTP
(TVI + hue shifts differ between print processes)§Overprints? Overprints with tints involved?§Only placeholder color info in print data file
Current Color Communication
§Brand color specs: name, CMYK, RGB, HEX, (L*a*b*)§Written spec sheet + color chips
(costly to create, control and distribute)§Numerical aims, filter settings, tolerances, standards§ Ignore OBJECTIVE – use SUBJECTIVE§What about tints, overprints or metamerism§Expiration dates for spec sheet color samples
Real Color Specifications
L*a*b* to communicate brand colors
§L*a*b* defines colors outside CMYK / RGB device limits§L*a*b* still subject to lighting / filter / measurement§Only objective if variables specified§Transcription errors easily possible§Complexity increases with tints§Unreliable if written on spec sheet§L*a*b* is limiting; metamerism, overprints,…
CxF to electronically communicate
§After noticing the short comings in ICC and written spec sheets when it came to managing brand colors, GretagMacbeth outlined in a White Paper from 2002:“CxF is a new standard allowing seamless, worldwide digital communication of all commercially significant aspects of spot colors. Furthermore, CxF is defined in a completely open way so that all aspects of a color can be communicated, even when the application and the color communication features required are unknown.”
CxF – 15 years later§ “all commercially significant aspects of spot colors” part
didn’t quite work out in those early days§Often only L*a*b* of solids implemented§Supported, but not widely adopted – was a starting point§current feature set of CxF3 supports spectral
measurements, tint values, overprint measurements as well as annotations on measurement devices used, filter settings, tolerances and as extension even ink formulation recipes to achieve that color on different substrates
As of 2015: ISO 17972 parts 1-4
§ “advances this process further by identifying the use of the publicly available Color Exchange Format version 3 (CxF3) for prepress data exchange and verification. In order to achieve a level of exchange that avoids any ambiguity in interpretation of the file. Each part defines a required and optional set of CxF elements that are permitted to be used.”
ISO 17972 parts 1-4§ ISO 17972 consists of the following parts, under the general title
Graphic technology — Color data exchange format (CxF/X):§ — Part 1: Relationship to CxF3(CxF/X)§ — Part 4: Spot color characterization data (CxF/X-4)§ The following parts are under development (as of December 2017):§ — Part 2: Scanner target data (CxF/X-2)§ — Part 3: Printer target data (CxF/X-3)
ISO 17972 CxF/X-4 = international standard
§ CxF/X-4: solid ink printed on substrate; tints of ink printed on substrate (3 minimum, 11 recommended); tints of ink printed on black background (3 minimum)
§ CxF/X-4a: solid ink printed on substrate; tints of ink printed on substrate (3 minimum, 11 recommended); tints of ink printed on black background not required
§ CxF/X-4b: solid ink printed on substrate; tints of ink printed on substrate not required; tints of ink printed on black background not required
§ old CxF2 data can be imported into the new structure and it will behave as CxF/X-4b or CxF/X4a depending on if there is tint info or not. Users can always “fill in the gaps” to upgrade from 4b to 4a to 4.
§ The more data there is, the better the usability of the information.
CxF/X-4b vs CxF/X-4 data
PDF/X
§Like CxF frequently updated and enhanced§Old versions use flat CMYK§Modern versions support multiple color spaces,
transparencies, overprints, spot colors and extended specifications (e.g. CxF attachments)
The “fear” of PDF
§ “portable document format” = anything is possible(web page, contract, audio + video, …)
§Many PDF settings available§Lack of trust = exchange .INDD or .AI files
(labor intensive and prone to errors)§PDF/X = printing; PDF/X-4:2010 recommended
(forward PDF/X and color presets to collaborate)
PDF/X is formalized in ISO standard 15930
§ ISO 15930 defines the specific implementations:§ ISO 15930-1:2001: PDF/X-1a:2001, blind exchange in CMYK + spot colors, based on PDF 1.3§ ISO 15930-2: PDF/X-2, was never published.§ ISO 15930-3:2002: PDF/X-3:2002, allows CMYK, spot, calibrated (managed) RGB, CIELAB, with ICC Profile, based on PDF 1.3.§ ISO 15930-4:2003: PDF/X-1a:2003, revision of PDF/X-1a:2001 based on PDF 1.4§ ISO 15930-5:2003: PDF/X-2, An extension of PDF/X-3 which allows for OPI-like (external linked) data to be included. It was withdrawn in 2011.§ ISO 15930-6:2003: PDF/X-3:2003, revision of PDF/X-3:2002 based on PDF 1.4§ ISO 15930-7:2008: PDF/X-4, Colour-managed, CMYK, gray, RGB or spot colour data are supported, as are PDF transparency and optional
content. A second conformance level named PDF/X-4p may be used when the ICC Profile in the output intent is externally supplied. It is using PDF 1.6. A second edition with minor corrections and improvements (which does not change file identifications) is ISO 15930-7:2010.
§ ISO 15930-8:2008 PDF/X-5, with a second edition with minor corrections and improvements (which does not change file identifications) as ISO 15930-8:2010. It is using PDF 1.6. A collection of three conformance levels:
§ PDF/X-5g: An extension of PDF/X-4 that enables the use of external graphical content. This can be described as OPI-like (Open Prepress Interface) workflows. Specifically this allows graphics to be referenced that are outside the PDF, which "can have value in reducing... demands... by allowing... work with low resolution" [ISO-15930-8:2010].
§ PDF/X-5pg: An extension of PDF/X-4p that enables the use of external graphical content in conjunction with a reference to an external ICC Profile for the output intent.
§ PDF/X-5n: An extension of PDF/X-4p that allows the externally supplied ICC Profile for the output intent to use a color space other than Grayscale, RGB and CMYK.
CxF and PDF/X
§How does that change the PDF/X? What does this mean for proofing and production? Print sequence…
§Understand PDF/Xthink of it as a container which includes all information that defines a print job. You can even specify printing substrate and number of impressions within a PDF/X.Almost anything you’d throw into a manila folder which would accompany the job through a production environment until final billing can be integrated into a PDF/X
CxF/X-4 data in PDF/X-4
§Embed CxF/X-4 into PDF/X-4§Spectral measurements, tints, overprints§Measurement settings, tolerances§Reproduce and verify anywhere and at any time§You’ll likely still run a few tests with the printers to
ensure everybody feels comfortable with the process
Using CxF/X-4 data in PDF/X-4§CxF tools allow users
to assign and extract CxF/X-4 data in a PDF/X-4.
§ It is also possible that way to specify the ink laydown sequence, which is important for proofing and printing.
Limiting factors
§No direct CxF support in Creative Cloud§Workflow tools to embed CxF/X-4 into PDF/X-4§No CxF data for a color = nothing to embed (duh!)§Recipients can choose to ignore CxF data§Still: way better than current color spec sheets§Mutually agree upon and stick to process
PDF/X, CxF/X and “the Cloud”
§CxF Toolboxes for online job tracking, color content verification and remote approval processes.
§Tools embed CxF/X-4 into PDF/X-4 and also read out§Workflow tool exports .ase from CxF for Creative Cloud§Online production databases track jobs with brand
colors and store verification information gathered during press runs (verification criteria in CxF/X-4)
Access colors in “cloud” database§ Storing CxF/X-4
information in a cloud environment allows global access.
§ User access control restricts access to subsets as well as limit modification rights.
§ Verification data for print jobs gets logged also user specific.
CxF/X-4b import data vs full CxF/X-4
Certification of CxF/X-4 colors§Specify color tolerances
§Certify to tolerances
Outlook, Challenges, Compromises
§Use of CxF/X-4 data for multi-channel separations§CxF/X-4a solutions vs full CxF/X-4§Completeness and ownership of color data§MC-ICC or proprietary n-channel vs CxF/X-4
(accuracy, flexibility; test charts, print sequence, screen)
You can also use CxF for 3D visualization and animation, …
ThankYou
forinfoonORISCxF Toolbox:[email protected]
screenshotsCxF Toolbox:CorySawatzki/BarrySanel
allotherimagecontent:foundthroughgooglesearch