Abstract

Color matching is an important issue in the flexographic industry today because of many problems related to it. For example, there are few standards of ink and color for spot color printing. Further, there is no standardization in the communication among anilox roller suppliers and their customers concerning the specific cell volume measurement of the anilox roller. This research focused on the study of the use of the banded anilox roller as a tool for color proofing under the assumption that a spot color printed by the flexographic process actually should be produced using a banded anilox roller as a tool for color proofing. The major questions for this study were: 1. How will the anilox cell volume and line screen per inch affect the CIE LAB total color difference (AE) ? 2. Can the same color actually be produced with a AE < 2 (good match) by using the same specification of anilox roller? This research was conducted by printing a spot color with two banded anilox rollers to match the original Pantone color as close as possible and using it for the reference. The data collected from each of the bands was plotted in diagrams to see the effects of cell volume and line screen per inch on the total color difference(AE). In this experiment, two ink color strengths were used. In the second experiment, three anilox rollers were tested. The same specifications were given from the particular band of banded anilox roller derived from the first experiment to give the best color match from the first run. The second experiment was to print the same spot color using the three anilox rollers and banded anilox to deter mine which would give the closest match to the original Pantone color. Samples from each of the anilox rollers were collected and measured for their total color differences (AE) as determined relative to the sample mean of press sheets selected from the second press run of the banded anilox roller. In addition, the same banded anilox from the second press run was used to run again to confirm the result. The press sheets for each of the anilox rollers was evaluated for the degree of color matching to the press sheet printed by the banded anilox from the second press run. The study results show that there is a negative linear relationship between the cell volume (BCM) and the CIE LAB total color difference (AE), and a positive linear relationship between the line screen per inch (LPI) and the CIE LAB total color difference (AE). Ink color strength also has a significant impact on the changing of the AE value. Furthermore, the same color can be produced with AE < 1 ( no difference) by using the same banded anilox roller. However, only one of the three anilox rollers from different suppliers can produce the same color with the CIE LAB total color diffference (AE) < 2.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Flexography; Color printing

Publication Date

2-1-1998

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Print Media (CIAS)

Advisor

Lee, Barry

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: Z252.5.F6 P88 1998

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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