Whether you’re printing labels on a narrow-web flexo press, operating a wide-web CI press, or producing offset folding cartons, effective color management in flexographic printing is essential for maintaining brand integrity and reducing costly rework.
That’s where X-Rite’s color management solutions come in. From handheld spectrophotometers to powerful software suites, X-Rite’s tools give printers reliable, data-driven control over color performance.
Why Color Management Matters in Flexographic Printing
Color accuracy can make or break a packaging design. Printed materials must match brand colors precisely across substrates, machines, and production runs. Inconsistencies between a prepress proof and press output can lead to wasted materials, dissatisfied clients, and expensive reruns.
Implementing strong color management practices ensures:
• Consistent reproduction of brand colors across jobs and substrates
• Reduced press setup time and waste
• Better alignment between design intent and finished output
• A more efficient communication loop between stakeholders
Harness the Power of the X-Rite eXact™ 2 Spectrophotometer
No matter how well-trained your eyes are, a spectrophotometer provides unmatched objectivity when it comes to measuring color. The X-Rite eXact family of spectrophotometers and densitometers delivers precise results under different lighting conditions, Delta E methods, and color spaces—accounting for challenges such as opacity and metamerism (when color appearance shifts under varying light sources).
The eXact line includes four versions: Densitometer, Standard, Advanced, and XP. Each model is built to help converters and printers capture accurate readings and eliminate costly guesswork.
• eXact™ 2 XP, designed for film converters, solves color variance caused by film orientation. With proper settings, it reads color accurately—saving time and improving pressroom efficiency.
• Its digital interface and data visualization features make it simple to compare colors, track variations, and ensure targets are hit consistently.
Getting the most out of your eXact 2 requires understanding its core functions and settings. Regular training—such as webinars or X-Rite’s online tutorials—can help teams better harness capabilities to minimize rework and maintain quality.
Streamline Workflows with X-Rite ColorCert Suite
Complex packaging workflows often involve multiple stakeholders—brand owners, designers, ink suppliers, and printers. Miscommunication between these groups can create inconsistencies and delays. The X-Rite ColorCert Suite addresses this challenge by providing a unified dashboard that standardizes color data and quality metrics across the entire production chain.
ColorCert helps:
• Ensure color specifications are shared across teams in real-time
• Manage CMYK, expanded gamut, and spot color workflows
• Simplify analysis with visual dashboards and actionable insights
• Integrate industry standards into your everyday processes
By connecting every point in your production chain, ColorCert enhances color management in flexographic printing—from prepress to press to packaging delivery.
PantoneLIVE: Consistency Across Global Supply Chains
For brands competing on packed retail shelves, maintaining consistent brand colors worldwide is non-negotiable. PantoneLIVE allows all stakeholders to access the same digital Pantone color libraries, regardless of geography or production site. This ensures that every job—no matter where it’s printed—meets brand color targets precisely.
PantoneLIVE strengthens communication between brand owners, designers, and printers, creating a seamless color management ecosystem that keeps final packaging colors true to intent.
Perfecting Ink Formulation and Control
Even with the right tools, color success depends heavily on ink formulation. X-Rite’s Ink Formulation Software (IFS) addresses one of the most common weak points in color management: mixing and matching ink correctly for each substrate.
IFS provides:
• Precise recipes for accurate ink mixing
• Options for reusing leftover inks and reducing waste
• Versions tailored for printers, ink manufacturers, or online use
• Consistent control over ink film thickness and material handling
By adopting IFS, printers can streamline color accuracy from the ink room to the press, significantly improving color management in flexographic printing workflows.
Enhance Pressroom Precision with MeasureColor
New to our lineup, MeasureColor is an advanced color quality control software designed for converters and printers who demand accuracy on every job. MeasureColor Production gives operators instant, actionable color feedback on press, minimizing guesswork, reducing setup time, and ensuring target colors are hit consistently.
Integrated reporting tools, like MeasureColor Reports, transform real-time print data into clear, actionable analytics, enabling facilities to monitor performance, compare suppliers, and drive ongoing process improvements. By incorporating MeasureColor, your team gains another layer of visibility and control, turning color data into quality results and supporting world-class print standards.
Getting the Most from Your Color Management Tools
Investing in X-Rite’s color measurement technologies is only part of the equation—knowing how to use them daily is what drives long-term value. Training operators to understand measurement functions, interpret Delta E values, and adjust based on real-time readings ensures each press run meets its color targets the first time.
Key practices include:
• Taking accurate initial color measurements
• Performing drawdowns for verification
• Adjusting colors based on digital feedback rather than visual guesswork
• Regularly calibrating devices for consistent precision
For businesses focused on quality and measurable improvement, these habits turn color measurement into a competitive advantage.
The Takeaway: Achieving Excellence in Color Management
From high-end packaging to flexible films, color management in flexographic printing defines print quality and brand credibility. Tools like the X-Rite eXact 2 Spectrophotometer, ColorCert Suite, PantoneLIVE, and Ink Formulation Software bring measurable precision to every stage of production.
Together, they help printers and converters control, manage, and communicate color seamlessly—eliminating rework, improving collaboration, and delivering brand-perfect results every time.
Ready to elevate your color management in flexographic printing? Contact Anderson & Vreeland today to explore X-Rite’s full range of color measurement and workflow tools. Our experts can help you choose the right solutions, train your team, and ensure you deliver brand-perfect results every time.
