How SpotOn! Flexo Helps Control Spot Colors

(Click images to enlarge.)

SpotOn! Flexo uses spectral data to provide optimal density information, allowing the operator to run a spot color to match a reference color. This software compares the spectral data of a color measured on a press pull (using a spectrophotometer) to the spectral data of the reference color. A quick calculation gives the press operator the optimal density to obtain the closest (lowest Delta E, or dE) match to the reference color.

The SpotOn! Flexo software’s user interface uses a simple color-coded icon to indicate the density corrections. After each color measurement, a color-coded icon is displayed:

Green = optimal ink density and color match
Orange = acceptable color match that could be improved by either increasing or decreasing ink density
Red = failed color match that cannot be achieved without additional ink formulation

The software also provides a trending chart of the density and the corresponding Delta E versus the reference color.

Reference colors can be loaded into the software in one of three ways:

Ink formulations files such as MIF or CxF files can be uploaded
Colors can be measured into the software using a spectrophotometer
Colors can be input using CIELAB coordinates

SpotOn! Flexo supports all of the popular Delta E equations: dE1976, dE1994, dE2000, dECMC. The software allows the user to set the dE tolerances for a specific job. The user sets both warning and fail tolerances. For example, a customer may require all spot colors to be within a range 3 dE to be accepted, and will be considered failing at 5 dE.

Spoton! Flexo supported measurement instruments:

Konica-Minolta FD-7 (Windows Only)
Techkon SpectroDens (Windows only)
X-Rite i1 Pro
X-Rite 530
X-Rite 939
X-Rite SpectroEye
X-Rite SP62-64