The path to color nirvana is not an easy one. Last month I talked about the benefits to extended color gamut printing, as well as the precautions when considering the investment in this technology. When I recommend investigating expanded gamut printing, here is a step-by-step outline to move forward.

Include prepress, press and sales, as well as senior staff members with fiscal responsibility. Later, expand the team with external members from your vendors, prepress partners (if not in-house),ink and paper suppliers and equipment manufacturers. Esko, FM6, Kodak, Opaltone, Pantone and Specialcolor (Aurelon), among others, offer solutions and will be happy to assist you in your assessment.

Some level of customization will be inevitable. Speak with associations and university resources, or a consultant with experience in color management and implementation of extended color-management systems.

The number of printers who have successfully implemented extended color gamut systems is on the rise, particularly in the last two years. Find printers who are willing to share their experience, either directly or through an industry association.

Assess your current conditions to build off your system, including workflow tools, color management solutions, ink and printing equipment.

Once you have laid the groundwork and determined that you have enough justification to move forward, reach out to your customers. Begin early by selecting several key accounts. Sit down with them for an open dialog to determine how a program will benefit them, and commence a trial project.

Today's market dynamics have created compelling reasons for both converters and their clients to adopt extended color gamut printing solutions. Although there is currently no solution which will faithfully reproduce all possible spot colors, the value in time and cost savings, coupled with the added flexibility to freely design with all those colors that can be rendered, will provide a significant competitive advantage.

Both you and your customers will benefit from the improvements to your processes resulting in higher quality, faster turnaround and greater cost-competitiveness.

617/547-5666, jagger@karstedt.com