X-Rite unveils new ink formulation software

X-Rite, a supplier of color management, measurement and communication technologies, has launched version 6 of its InkFormulation software. Developed for ink manufacturers and printers who formulate their own ink, X-Rite’s InkFormulation is said to provide a fast, accurate and consistent ink formulation, formula creation, storage, approval and retrieval solution for offset, flexographic, gravure and screen-printing inks. The new InkFormulation 6 software gives ink suppliers and printers flexibility over recipes and assortments, improves basic materials handling, automatically determines the right ink film thickness and helps to eliminate hazardous waste.   

Thanks to a sophisticated math engine that provides better prediction of ink interactivity with substrates, InkFormulation 6 is able to rapidly calculate the optimal and most cost-effective recipe based on the printing process, ink, illumination, pigment pricing, and number of components and materials to be used. InkFormulation 6 helps printers and ink suppliers speed up the ink formulation workflow process (including special inks), with consistent, reproducible results on a broad variety of substrates and ink film thicknesses, including transparent films and metalized substrates.  

With version 6’s improved Basic Material Module, users can work with a variety of additives within one assortment, allowing them to change a single additive in a recipe without having to re-do the draw down or create a completely new assortment. This new enhancements of this module simplifies the handling of assortments and recipes, giving users more control over their ink database.  

The new Film Thickness Calibration Module allows users to quickly and precisely determine the right ink thickness for flexo, gravure and screen-printing. Users no longer need to re-measure known recipes for different line screens or rollers and adjust the film thickness manually; they can simply enter the roller or screen as a parameter. The software will automatically calculate the required film thickness and apply it to the whole assortment. InkFormulation 6 automatically calibrates a roller with a single recipe, thereby eliminating the need to create separate assortments for each roller. 

‘The new and improved basic materials module of InkFormulation 6 will give us the ability to change the combination of additives, solvents and technical varnish in a recipe, which is a critical added value for differing customer requirements and is perfectly suited to modern liquid spot-color ink formulation. We particularly like the new formulation wizard, as it allows us to take a step back in the formulation process at any time. The new print layout editor with InkFormulation 6 will allow us to add customization features to the printouts for providing product or customer specific Certificates of Assessment (COA). We are looking forward to using InkFormulation 6, as it will bring us more flexibility and usability improvements, which will help us in saving time and costs,’ commented Dr Danny Rich, color physicist at Sun Chemical. 

‘We have been testing the new InkFormulation 6 for a while now, and are confident that the new features will help us significantly simplify and automate our workflow. In particular, we are excited about the flexibility that the new print layout will afford us, and with the improved basic material module, we will be able to reduce and simplify our handling of assortments and recipes,’ said Marcus Gampper, manager, technical service packaging inks, Flint Group Germany. 

X-Rite’s Leftover Management feature, also included in InkFormulation 6, allows leftover inks to be reused in new recipes during the formulation process. InkFormulation provides recommendations on how to reduce the amount of leftover inks and allows for any leftovers to be reworked into new formulations, reducing inventory and waste, lowering disposal costs and providing a rapid return on users’ InkFormulation investment (typical ROI for spot color printers, especially in flexo, gravure and screen printing is said to be less than six months). 

InkFormulation 6 will be shipping in November, 2010, from X-Rite and its extensive global network of authorized resellers. Anyone purchasing InkFormulation between now and November 2010 will be entitled to a free upgrade to InkFormulation version 6.  

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