AVT unveils spectrophotometer for ISO-compliant color measurement

AVT has launched SpectraLabel, a spectrophotometer which allows the highest quality ISO-compliant color and density measurements on-press and on-demand. It is said to be particularly suitable to the printing of flexible packaging, especially for the flexo and gravure processes where consistent color quality in repetitive packaging images is critical.

SpectraLab is a robust device that employs the latest technology in color measurement, and is fully ISO-compliant with true spectrophotometric measurement of the printed colors on virtually all flexible substrates. AVT says it is the only spectrophotometer on the market for the on-press inline measurement of absolute color and density values of color critical packaging, and is an optional add-on module to the company’s PrintVision/Jupiter and PrintVision/Argus models.

The measured colors are reported during run-time by the Jupiter system on press-side displays. SpectraLab comprises a Spectral Measurement Unit (SMU) that measures conformance with the recognized ISO standards for graphic arts color measurement devices, including ISO 13655 and ISO 5.3.

‘A key benefit of SpectraLab is that it responds to today’s increasing quality requirements,’ said the company in a statement. ‘Today’s consumer product companies sell and package similar products worldwide, so they require consistent color quality from all printing plants, wherever the product is sold and packaged.  This quality capability is critical for proper branding by consumer product companies, whose end users are globally mobile.

‘Press operators value SpectraLab because they can “print to the numbers” supplied by the system, instead of making subjective judgments on quality. The system is completely intuitive for production personnel, and the ready access to a wealth of accurate run-time color measurements raises the bar for process and quality control.’

SpectraLab eliminates inefficient multiple press stops and starts for offline color measurements, and using its automated measurements, printers can satisfy their customers’ increasing demands for more detailed and accurate color quality monitoring. 

SpectraLab measures by sampling user selected points anywhere on the web. These can be changed by the operator, who can also adjust target color values and customize other key parameters, even while the press is in production. It measures up to 15 ink colors at up to three locations per color, and areas as small as 6mm in diameter on clear and opaque substrates, and on both sides of the web.

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