Color measurement for print and packaging links prepress targets to ink formulation, press setup, substrate control and finished-product approval. A color value has meaning only when the measurement condition, backing, substrate, aperture and sample state are known. Treat those choices as one method and the result becomes useful for make-ready, process control, supplier alignment and brand-color protection.
Define the color decision
| Decision | Measurement direction |
|---|---|
| Approve a solid or spot color | Compare a representative solid patch with an approved spectral target under the agreed ISO 13655 condition and backing. |
| Control a CMYK process | Use the applicable process standard, control strip and printing-condition targets rather than one isolated color. |
| Approve finished packaging | Measure the actual construction after drying, curing, laminating, varnishing and forming where those stages change appearance. |
| Control paper or board | Use the specified paper method for color, brightness, whiteness or opacity; these are related but not interchangeable quantities. |
Control the sample before reading it
Identify the substrate grade, coated side, print direction, ink system, film weight, drying or cure state, overprint, varnish and laminate. Use a flat, clean area larger than the instrument aperture. For translucent stocks and films, the backing is part of the result. For corrugated board or textured packaging, increase the sampled area or average several defined locations instead of selecting the smoothest patch.
Measure the stage you intend to approve
A wet press sheet, dry sheet and laminated carton can have different color. State the conditioning interval and whether acceptance occurs before or after converting.
Choose and record the measurement condition
ISO 13655 defines graphic-arts spectral measurement and colorimetric computation. M1 is commonly used for modern D50-aligned workflows and matters when paper or ink fluoresces. M0 is a legacy, incompletely controlled UV condition; M2 suppresses UV; M3 adds polarization to a UV-suppressed measurement and is used in particular process-control workflows. Values from different conditions can diverge, especially on optically brightened paper, so the condition must travel with the data.
Keep illuminant, observer, color space, Delta E formula, aperture and backing fixed. Assess critical prints visually under the applicable ISO 3664 viewing condition as well as instrumentally.
Build a production color-control loop
01
Define
Name the target, substrate, print condition, instrument settings, measurement locations and tolerance.
02
Measure
Verify the instrument, condition the sample, use the specified backing and retain individual readings plus the average.
03
Act
Check color direction and process variables, approve or correct, then trend the run before drift reaches the limit.
Print and packaging measurement guides
- How to Measure Printed Color
- Measuring Spot Colors
- Measuring Packaging Color
- Measuring Paper Whiteness
- Optical Brighteners and UV in Paper Measurement
- D50 vs D65 for Print Color
- Delta E in Printing
- Measuring Opacity in Paper and Packaging
- ISO 13655 Explained
- Choosing a Spectrophotometer for Print & Packaging
Match the instrument to the workflow
The SD-700 UV supports portable reflectance work where UV behaviour and smaller print areas matter. The SD-500 suits many routine solid-color reflectance checks. For controlled paper, board, film and transmission workflows, the SD-800B and SD-900B provide benchtop presentation and broader measurement capability. Confirm ISO 13655 condition support, geometry, aperture, backing and accessories against the actual specification before purchase.
Last reviewed 22/09/2026 · Level: Intermediate
Topics
Applications
Related knowledge
Measurement Techniques
How to Measure Printed Color
Measure printed color with a defined target, ISO 13655 measurement condition, controlled backing and representative sampling plan from press sheet to finished product.
Technical guide · Read the guide →Delta E
Measuring Spot Colors
Measure spot colors with spectral targets, controlled ink film and substrate conditions, and tolerances that preserve hue and chroma as well as total color difference.
Technical guide · Read the guide →Aperture Size
Measuring Packaging Color
Measure packaging color across paperboard, corrugated board, labels, flexible film, rigid plastics and metal with construction-specific backing and sampling controls.
Technical guide · Read the guide →UV Measurement
Measuring Paper Whiteness
Measure paper whiteness with the correct metric, UV condition, backing or stack, orientation and conditioning so supplier and production results are comparable.
Technical guide · Read the guide →Illuminants
Optical Brighteners and UV in Paper Measurement
Understand how optical brightening agents and instrument UV content change paper and print measurements, and how M1, M2, ISO and D65 conditions should be controlled.
Technical guide · Read the guide →Color Spaces
D50 vs D65 for Print Color
Understand the different roles of D50 and D65 in print, packaging and paper workflows, and why calculation illuminant, physical viewing light and instrument UV condition must not be…
Technical guide · Read the guide →