01
Spot-color control
Approve standards and production color with L*a*b*, spectral data and an agreed color-difference formula.
Graphics & packaging
Color control for print, labels & packaging
Verify spot colors, production runs and packaging color tolerances across substrates, converters and suppliers—with a method that separates ink, paper and surface effects.
Why color drifts
A color target has to survive the substrate, press and finish.
Ink draw-downs, press sheets, labels and finished cartons can all carry the same nominal color and still measure differently. Paper whiteness, optical brighteners, ink film, coating, lamination and texture affect the result. Instrumented color control makes those variables visible before a run becomes waste.
02
Run-to-run consistency
Track color at defined positions and intervals so drift is corrected while the press is still running.
03
Supplier alignment
Give printers, converters and brand owners one measurement method for approvals, claims and repeat orders.
Instrument options
Portable and benchtop instruments for Print & Packaging
Portable instruments suit press-side checks, incoming packaging and large finished items. Benchtop instruments suit controlled laboratory presentation, small specimens, transmission work and repeatable approval workflows.
Where it pays off
Use cases across print and packaging production
01
Spot colors
Approve brand colors against a protected physical and digital standard.
02
Press make-ready
Reach the target faster by measuring early sheets before full production speed.
03
Run monitoring
Sample defined positions across the web or sheet and trend drift through the run.
04
Labels & cartons
Check converted pieces after coating, lamination, embossing and finishing.
05
Incoming packaging
Verify supplier cartons, labels, closures and printed components before use.
06
Multi-site standards
Correlate instruments and exchange spectral data between brands, printers and converters.
Method notes
Decisions that make measurement repeatable
| Decision | Common starting point | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate | Measure the approved stock or control its whiteness and backing | Paper shade, opacity and brighteners can move both color and visual appearance. |
| Geometry | Keep geometry and specular condition fixed | Gloss, coatings and texture respond differently under different optical arrangements. |
| Aperture | Fit fully inside the printed patch | An aperture that includes unprinted stock, edges or adjacent colors produces a mixed result. |
| Tolerance | Name the formula and component limits | A shared ΔE number is only enforceable when every site calculates it the same way. |
UV control for paper and board
Many white papers and boards use optical brighteners. If they influence the approved appearance, define the UV condition and keep it consistent. The SD-700 UV is a relevant portable option where UV-included and UV-excluded comparison is required, but it is one option within the wider portable and benchtop ranges.
Specifying with confidence
Print & Packaging color measurement FAQ
Should print be measured on a press sheet or finished pack?
Use the specimen that controls the commercial decision. Press sheets are best for process adjustment; the finished pack confirms the effect of coating, lamination, texture and conversion. Many programmes define both.
Why does the same ink read differently on another paper?
The substrate changes reflected light through its color, opacity, fluorescence and surface. Keep the approved stock fixed or define how substrate variation is handled.
How large should a color patch be?
It must fully cover the instrument’s true viewed and illuminated areas with margin for positioning. Confirm those areas for the selected aperture rather than relying only on the aperture name.
Can suppliers share one Delta E limit?
Yes, after agreeing the standard, sample construction, instrument geometry, settings, formula and correlation process. The limit alone is not a complete specification.
Related applications
Other materials and workflows we cover
Make every approved color reproducible.
Tell us the substrate, print process, patch size and tolerance. We’ll help match the geometry, aperture and workflow to the job.
Technical guides for Print & Packaging
Delta E
Delta E in Printing
Use Delta E in printing with a named formula, matched measurement conditions, directional color information and tolerances validated against the product and viewing context.
Technical guide · Read the guide →Measurement Techniques
Measuring Opacity in Paper and Packaging
Measure opacity using defined black and white or paper-backing reflectance procedures, controlled orientation and representative sampling for paper, board, labels and flexible packaging.
Technical guide · Read the guide →UV Measurement
ISO 13655 Explained
A practical explanation of ISO 13655 spectral measurement for graphic arts, including M0, M1, M2 and M3 conditions, backing, geometry and colorimetric metadata.
Technical guide · Read the guide →Buying & Selection
Choosing a Spectrophotometer for Print & Packaging
Choose a print and packaging spectrophotometer by matching ISO measurement conditions, geometry, aperture, UV control, sample presentation and data workflow to the real job.
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 →Fundamentals
Color Measurement for Print & Packaging
A complete framework for controlling printed and packaging color across inks, substrates, press conditions, converting processes and final product inspection.
Technical guide · Read the guide →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 →Aperture Size
How to Measure Small Parts and Small Color Samples
Small-part color measurement depends on the true viewed and illuminated areas, precise targeting, controlled backing and a fixture that reproduces position and angle.
In-depth practical guide · Read the guide →