The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the measurable print attributes (Print Contrast and Dot Gain) and color gamut of solvent-based (SB) inks vs. vegetable oil-based (VO) inks of multicolor offset printing. The literature review revealed a lack of published research on this subject. VO inks tend to perform (color reproduction) better than petroleum inks; in recent years many printers have come to prefer using VO inks. This research adopted an experimental research method. The experiment was conducted in a computer to plate (CTP) based workflow. During the printing, once the density values met the standard (GRACoL) ink density values, the press was run continuously without operator interference and 1,000 sheets were printed, from which 278 were randomly selected for colorimetric and densitometric analysis. The color gamuts of both inks were derived by using colorimetric data. The comparison of SB inks to VO inks led to the conclusion that the latter provides a greater color gamut. VO inks offer greater color perception in printed images. The densitometric findings make it difficult to draw conclusions about print contrast, as each of the inks had statistically significant higher levels of print contrast for two of the four ink colors. Further study is needed to control the variables.

The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of Color Managed Workflow (CMW) on digital color photo printing. In a CMW, a device profile represents the color characteristics of a device (monitor, scanner, and printer) to be used in the printing workflow. The experiment analyzed the effect of device profiles on scanned and printed continuous-tone color images. The guiding objectives of this study allowed testing of an accepted color management practice to gain a better understanding of the presumptions associated with the application of device profiles. The experiment examined two groups of images [scanned (K1) and printed K2 (K = 2)]. The conclusions of this study are based upon an analysis of colorimetric data, visual assessment, and associated findings. The data from the experiment revealed that very minor color differences were found between the two groups of photos. The colorimetric data suggests that integration of device profiles is important in a CMW as it allows the process to obtain accurate output colors for a desired purpose.

The purpose of this applied research was to determine the influence of device link profile (DLP) in the color reproduction aimed at the G7 master compliance. The quality of digital color printing is determined by these influential factors: screening method applied, type of printing process, ink (dry-toner or liquid-toner), printer resolution and the substrate (paper). For this research, only the color printing attributes such as the G7 colors hue and chroma, gray balance, and overall color deviations were analyzed to examine the significant differences that exist between the two output profiles [Output Device Profile (ODP) vs Device Link Profile (DLP)]. These are the color attributes which are monitored and managed for quality accuracy during the printing. Printed colorimetry of each profile from the experiment was compared against G7 ColorSpace GRACoL 2013 (CGATS21-2-CRPC6) in CIE L* a* b* space using an IDEAlliance (Chromix/Hutch Color) Curve 4.2.4 application interface with an X-Rite spectrophotometer with an i1iO table. The measured data of each profile were run through this application (Curve 4.2.4). The data were analyzed by using the Verify Tool of the Curve 4.2.4 application to determine the pass/fail of G7 master compliance levels using G7 ColorSpace tolerances (G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, and G7 Colorspace). Analyzed data from the experiment revealed that the printed colorimetric values of each profile (G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, and G7 Colorspace) are in match (aligned) with the G7 master compliance levels (reference/target) colorimetric values (G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, and G7 Colorspace). Therefore, the press run was passed by the Curve 4 application for both the profiles used/tested towards aiming for G7 master compliance.

The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of screening technologies (AM vs. FM) in the color reproduction aimed at the G7 master compliance. The quality of digital color printing is determined by these influential factors: screening method applied, type of printing process, ink (dry-toner or liquid-toner), printer resolution and the substrate (paper). For this research, only the color printing attributes such as the G7 colors hue and chroma, gray balance, and overall color deviations were analyzed to examine the significant differences that exist between the two screening technologies (AM vs. FM). These are the color attributes which are monitored and managed for quality accuracy during the printing. Printed colorimetry of each screening from the experiment was compared against G7 ColorSpace GRACoL 2013 (CGATS21-2-CRPC6) in CIE L* a* b* space using an IDEAlliance (Chromix/Hutch Color) Curve 4.2.4 application interface with an X-Rite spectrophotometer with an i1iO table. The measured data of each screening were run through this application (Curve 4.2.4). The data of each screening were analyzed by using the Verify Tool of the Curve 4.2.4 application to determine the pass/fail of G7 master compliance levels using G7 ColorSpace tolerances (G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, and G7 Colorspace). Analyzed data from the experiment revealed that the printed colorimetric values of each screening (G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, and G7 Colorspace) are in match (aligned) with the G7 master compliance levels (reference/target) colorimetric values (G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, and G7 Colorspace). Therefore, the press run was passed by the Curve 4 application for both screening technologies tested.

The purpose of this applied research in the digital print production was to determine the influence of applied Color Output Modification Approaches (COMA) or Color Output Sequences (COS) to determine the colorimetric variations (COLVA) on the gray balance (GB) hue in a Color Managed Digital Printing Workflow (CMDPW). The experiment analyzed the application of eight COMA or COS on the digital color output. The data contained in this report are the result of an experiment conducted to test an accepted color management practice to gain a greater understanding of the presumptions associated with the application of correct print parameters (Calibration, Screening, Resolution, Source and Destination Profiles) of CMDPW. These parameters rely on the 4-C’s (Calibration, Characterization, Conversion and Control) of Color Managed Workflow (CMW). The experiment examined the eight COMA as independent groups (K = 8) using a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with equal n’s method (at α = 0.05) to determine the significant colorimetric variations that exists among the [K = 8, N = 800, ni = 80, nt = 640] groups gray balance average hue deviations. With eight groups, a one-tailed, non-directional hypothesis was established. The conclusions of this study are based upon an analysis of the COLVA by ANOVA test data and associated findings. The data from the ANOVA revealed significant differences in the COLVA of the reproduction among the multiple COMA groups. The colorimetric data derived by the experiment suggest that selection of correct print parameters is an important step in a CMDPW as it relates to achieving accurate GB for a desired use/purpose.