Colour control in printing and graphic arts
Optical density, colour consistency and press calibration — objective quality control for sheet and web.
Colour and density on press
Print quality control combines two quantities: the optical density of the ink (how much light the layer absorbs) and the colour of the print (how the eye perceives it). Densitometry drives ink laydown and process repeatability, while colour measurement in the CIE L*a*b* space ensures conformance to the standard and between runs.
3nh densitometers combine both — measuring density to ISO standards plus full colour and ΔE difference. Substrate, proof and packaging colour is additionally checked with spectrophotometers. Visual assessment of prints takes place in a colour assessment cabinet under standardised D50/D65 light.
Objective measurement shortens make-ready, reduces waste and keeps colour consistent across the whole run.
Instruments for graphic arts
spektrofotometry
NS810 Sphere Spectrophotometer
Portable d/8° sphere spectrophotometer with SCI measurement — Φ58 mm integrating sphere, ΔE*ab 0.04 repeatability and a full reflectance curve for colour control in the field or on the line.
- d/8° sphere geometry with a Φ58 mm integrating sphere, SCI measurement regardless of sample gloss
- ΔE*ab 0.04 repeatability and ΔE*ab ≤ 0.2 inter-instrument agreement
- Full 400–700 nm reflectance curve and the complete set of colour-difference formulas
- 3.5" touchscreen, 1,000 standards / 15,000 sample memory, USB and RS-232
kabiny-swietlne
P120 Oversize Colour Assessment Cabinet
An oversize P-series light cabinet (1280 × 590 × 660 mm chamber) — six light sources and room for large samples such as furniture parts, rolled fabric or finishing panels.
- Six light sources — D65, TL84, UV, incandescent, CWF and TL83/U30 — switched automatically
- A much larger viewing chamber (1280 × 590 × 660 mm) than the P60(6)
- Room for large samples — rolled fabric, furniture parts, finishing panels
- Compliant with ASTM D1729, ISO 3664, DIN, ANSI and BSI
densytometry
YD5050 Spectrodensitometer
Portable 45°/0° spectrodensitometer for print density and full-colour measurement — ISO 13655 M0–M3 measurement conditions, apertures up to Φ8 mm, 20,000-reading memory.
- 45°/0° geometry compliant with ISO 13655 M0/M1/M2/M3 measurement conditions
- Optical density (ISO Status A/E/I/T), dot gain, print contrast and full L*a*b* colour
- Combined LED light source with UV lamp, Φ2/4/8 mm apertures
- 0.01 D density repeatability, 20,000-reading memory, USB and Bluetooth 5.0
Frequently asked questions
Densitometer or spectrophotometer for print?
A densitometer (e.g. YD5050) combines density measurement with process control and colour — the natural choice for a print shop. A spectrophotometer suits cases where substrate and proof colour conformance is the priority.
What light for assessing prints?
D50 is the graphic-arts standard; D65 is also used for cross-industry comparison. Assessment takes place in a light cabinet with a standardised, calibrated source.