Sawgrass Technologies Inc., Charleston, S.C., has named June as Digital Color-Management Month.
The company aims to help businesses become more efficient and profitable by raising awareness about the need for color management specific to the systems and substrates businesses use most.
In the customization and personalization business, color and efficiency are everything, according to the company. When your colors are off, efficiency is drastically reduced from the time and materials you invest in testing each color change. Customers are particular about their colors, especially when it comes to their branding reproduction. Not knowing how to properly manage digital color production on the substrates your customers order can result in dissatisfied customers, increased material waste, refunds and damage to your reputation, according to the company.
Sawgrass suggests some things you can do this month to increase your color management skills and give your efficiency a boost:
Familiarize yourself with your graphics and printer software. All of Sawgrass’ SubliJet inks and compatible printers come with PowerDriver software, which makes it easy and efficient to deliver accurate colors that pop, according to the company. But it only works if you install it properly and know how to integrate it with your graphics software. The company offers several webcasts that can help you learn more about the software you have and how to use it correctly.
Print your color palette on specific substrates you use. Every graphics program has a palette from which you can choose colors. Most can be customized, and many allow you to import your sublimation printer’s color specs. Check what your software offers and print the entire palette on each of the different substrates you use.
Create spec samples. Just like with keeping a color palette handy, you also should have a set of spec samples that show how your prints look on several types of substrates.
Take the time to test what works best for you. Print quality is influenced by a variety of factors, including heat, substrate composition, humidity, dust, time, pressure and altitude. Invest in a set of ink to use to learn the combination of factors that needs to be present to produce the best colors possible. This will save you time and money in the long run, according to the company.
Throughout June, Sawgrass will provide more education and tips for managing color across a variety of industries. To register for any of the company’s design or color-management webinars, click here.
For more information, visit sawgrassink.com. — L.M.
