Ever had a design that looked perfect on screen, but then totally not what you had imagined when it was printed? You’re not alone.

This is down to neglected packaging colour management.

Your vibrant cherry red looks great on screen, but your printed sample looks like watery tomato soup. And your perfect mocha brown looks like a badly made coffee when it’s printed.

Packaging colour management is an easily overlooked process, but is crucial to maintaining consistency across packaging types and products. Expert reprographics keeps your brand integrity strong. Preventing your customers thinking that something just ‘feels off’ with your packaging.

Let’s explore why colour inconsistencies are one of the biggest problems that brands face when getting packaging shelf ready.

Why does my packaging colour look different when printed?

Colour systems

Put simply, your screen lies.

Different colour systems exist for digital and print. They can even differ between two screens! Therefore, it’s crucial they’re aligned. When viewing colour on screen, you’re looking at light-based colours using the RGB (red, green, blue) system. Printed colours use the CYMK (cyan, yellow, magenta and key – which is the word for black) system which is ink-based. More specifically, used for printing, including on packaging substrates.

Colour systems almost speak different languages, and some nuances don’t carry over well. This means your colour might not translate the same.

Screens and monitors

If colour systems don’t sound complex enough, you also need to think about the differences between monitors and screens.

Every screen will display colours slightly differently due to the calibration, brightness and type of screen.

Print materials

Paper, foil and film all absorb and reflect ink differently. Glossy designs versus matte designs affect the brightness and saturation of colour, and the chosen material determines the final appearance of the colour.

Printing processes

Flexo, litho and digital print – each type of printing process uses different inks and technologies, meaning colour values can vary.

Printers also vary in their display of colour, so packaging colour management is something to consider at every level.

Environmental factors

Things like the humidity of the room, press speed, drying time and operator settings can also affect the performance of colour in printing. There are so many factors to consider when comparing digital on-screen colour to printed colour.

Why colour inconsistencies are a big problem for brands

Colour equals brand identity. Something slightly off with your colours? Alarm bells ring and your brand integrity could be weakened.

Your consumers will subconsciously notice mismatched hues and slight differentiation in colour shades. They can spot when something just looks off – and you don’t want it to be your brand! Inconsistencies can lead to speculation around authenticity and integrity.

Some retailers can reject inconsistent product batches, and the reprints and delays cause considerable stress and increase in costs. It’s a logistical headache!

Packaging colour management processes protect your brand. Consistency builds trust and customers certainly appreciate familiarity. From well established brands to small start-ups – the expectations are high!

The benefits of a strong packaging colour management process

Ah, the art of colour management. At Springfield Solutions, we take the guess work – and the stress – out of packaging colours.

Translation of colour

Reprographic experts speak colour fluently. They understand how colour behaves across every print process, substrate and region, and use precise colour data to inform decisions.

Experts ensure your brand palette is translated from screen to print with total accuracy. Your vibrant cherry red stays cherry red! There won’t be a hint of watery tomato soup in sight.

Proofing processes and calibration involved in packaging colour management helps ensure designs are truly print ready, not just screen-pretty.

Consistency across formats

With packaging colour management processes, you can be confident that your packaging visually aligns with your brand palette. Cartons, labels, pouches and sleeves – every version of your product will showcase your brand with integrity.

Colour management teams also account for variations in print methods and materials. The red on your packaging looks like your red, not just any red. The colours are true to your brand, and they stay that way from design to print.

Preventing costly surprises

Advanced proofing and colour approval processes allow reprographics teams, like ours, to see exactly how colours will appear on intended substrates before production starts.

This means there will be no costly reprints and no time-consuming delays. When your packaging – be it labels, cartons or pouches – roll off the press, you’ll be confident that they’re the perfect translation of your brand.

And that’s down to a strong packaging colour management process.

Collaboration

Colour management is about collaboration – with designers, technologies and printers.

Whether your packaging is produced locally or globally, expert reprographics teams will maintain consistent, replicable results across the entire supply chain. No surprises, just your designs as printed packaging, exactly as you envisioned.

Why DIY colour checking isn’t enough

It’s tempting to trust what you see on screen, but you’re relying on luck. And luck isn’t scalable.

Brands, from small companies to global ones, will undoubtedly benefit from reprographics expertise in the packaging colour management process. You can be confident that you will achieve:

• Perfect colour matches across every SKU
• Optimised artwork files ready for print
• Precise proofing

Make reprints something of the past and rely on a team of experts with colours running through their veins!

The Springfield Solutions Approach to Packaging Colour Management

Your brand colour isn’t just a shade, or a hue. It’s an emotion, a promise, an identity, and the first thing customers recognise on the shelf.

Our end-to-end packaging colour management process combines technical expertise, science, creativity, and real-world print expertise. Our digital file preparation, proofing and press support ensure your colours appear as intended.

We help you throughout the entire packaging journey. So, you can leave your packaging in our hands. Stop worrying about mismatched hues or inconsistent colour. It is your job to focus on building a brand and line of products that perform.

Choose colour confidence with Springfield Solution’s packaging colour management process. Get in touch to ensure colour consistency!