Colour management is key for producing professional wide-format signs and displays. Advances in large format printing technologies and the use of ICC profiles means accurate colour reproduction can be achieved with ease. Print providers are also realizing the benefits of delivering consistent, accurate colour jobs to end-users.

There are two key components to wide-format colour management. One is accuracy—the ability to replicate colours to a standard or the brand and product colours for cosmetics, fashion, etc. The other key is consistency between printers. One digital printer is comparatively easy to colour manage, but multiple printers are a challenge. When using multiple, different digital printers, a flexo press and an offset press, the objective is still consistency between the print processes, but the task becomes insurmountable without the right tools.

ICC profiles contain data that determines various colour attributes from a device, in order to achieve accurate colour reproduction. The data held in an ICC profile defines a mapping between the source (image file) and the destination (monitor or printer). Every device that outputs colour or displays colour is capable of having its own profile. Since every device displays/outputs colour differently, a standard was set by the International Colour Consortium (ICC). With this standard, devices that are originally far from accurate can be profiled to match. Since each profile is specific to its device, it can be manually adjusted if necessary.

Although many printers use CMYK as there ink set (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black), they can accept and print RGB images. ICC profiles will produce the best results when the printer being profiled is in its best condition. All nozzles should be firing in a nozzle check; otherwise the lack of nozzles can affect the output profile. Also, setting the right media type is important as this determines the ink capacity a particular media will hold (explained below). If too much ink is printed on the media, the target swatches needed for profiling can become mottled and will make scanning accurately difficult.

In colour management, an ICC profile is a set of data that characterizes a colour input or output device, or a colour space, according to standards promulgated by the International Colour Consortium (ICC).

Profiles describe the colour attributes of a particular device or viewing requirement by defining a mapping between the device source or target colour space and a profile connection space (PCS). This PCS is either CIELAB (L*a*b*) or CIEXYZ. Mappings may be specified using tables, to which interpolation is applied, or through a series of parameters for transformations.

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S02P, S05P, S112P, S110P, S22P, S52P, S54P, S56P, S30P & S34P

Website: www.grafityp.com
Website: www.grafiprint.info
Website: www.hp.com/go/L65500/solutions

POLI-WALL PRODUCTS
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POLI-FLEX PRODUCTS
Poli-Flex 4600, 4605, 4625, 4626, 4015, 4016 etc.

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J & M MEDIATEX PRODUCTS
Aqua, Starlight, Presto, Air, Bermuda, Troja etc.

» Roland

Website: http://dg4.roland.co.jp/en/3rdmedia/max/rvw/index.html

» HP Latex

Website: http://www.largeformatreview.com/green-policy/366-hp-designjet-l65500-latex-jm-textiles-pvc-free-media-help-change-jeans

KEMICA PRODUCTS
Digit100PGW, Digit100RCL, Digit100PCL, Digit100PBW, Digit100PGW (Matt)

Website: www.kemica.it OR

http://en.poli-flex.de/pages/product/digital_printing_media/monomeric_vinyls.html

3M PRODUCTS
IJ20, (White & Clear) IJ40, IJ180 etc.

Website: http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M/enGB/GraphicsSolutions/Home/TechnicalHelp/ICCProfiles/