• New 3D Gamut Viewer in ChromaChecker

    For those of you who follow me, you know I’m a huge proponent of ChromaChecker. So much so that we have our own branded instance at alder.chromachecker.com. Not only do we have dozens of our clients on this platform but we use it for all of our professional services –…

  • How to Standardize Color Across Multiple Printers, Locations, and Operators

    A Practical Guide to Building a Repeatable, Measurable Color Workflow If you operate more than one printer — or more than one location — you’ve likely heard some version of this: When color varies between devices, facilities, or operators, the issue is almost never the file alone. It’s the absence…

  • FOGRA39 vs FOGRA51-Modern Print Standards, Color Accuracy & Workflow Tips

    Use cases, differences, and M-mode classifications Quick Summary Table Profile Full Name Typical Use Case Paper Printing Condition M-Mode FOGRA39 ISO Coated v2 (ECI) Legacy offset printing Gloss / silk coated Older measurement standard M0 FOGRA51 PSO Coated v3 (ECI) Modern offset printing Gloss / silk coated Optical brightener aware…

  • What an ICC Profile Actually Does (and Doesn’t Do)

     By Bill Owen – Alder Color Solutions An ICC profile is a mathematical description of how a device reproduces color — whether that device is a printer, monitor, camera, or scanner. It allows color-managed systems to translate color values accurately between devices. An ICC profile does:✔️ Describe a printer/ink/media combination✔️ Define color gamut and…

  • SBS C1S paperboard — brands, makers and what actually differs between them

    There’s a surprising amount of product variety under the generic label SBS C1S (Solid Bleached Sulfate, coated one side). Below I’ll pull together the main global mill brands you’ll see, what makes each different (color/brightness, typical weights/thickness, surface/coating and finishing options), plus a short note on where lesser/commodity grades come from. I’ve…

  • Why Your Press Sheets Don’t Match Your Proofs — Even When Both Are ‘GRACoL’

    By Bill Owen – Alder Color Solutions If you’ve ever stared at a press sheet and compared it to your contract proof thinking “Something’s off… but they’re both GRACoL, so why don’t they match?” — you’re not alone.This is one of the most common frustrations in offset printing, and it…

  • ChromaChecker vs MeasureColor

    These two products look similar at first (both are color-quality tools for print) but their sweet spots are different enough that they can be either direct competitors in some workflows or highly complementary when used together. Below I’ll give a compact, practical comparison (feature-by-feature), then explain how they overlap and a couple of concrete ways people…

  • Understanding & Monitoring Color Drift

    by Carrie Watson- Alder Color Solutions Color drift isn’t caused by one thing. It’s the result of environmental changes, device wear, media variations, ink batches, and operator differences that gradually push your output off target. Even if you’ve nailed your ICC profiles and calibration routines, color performance can still shift…

  • What’s the difference between the new Epson S9170 vs the older S80600?

    By Bill Owen – Alder Color Solutions – August 25th, 2025 I’m betting you are just as curious as I was about the new “S Series” Signage Printers from Epson? Let’s take a close look at the differences as they are significant. The Epson SureColor S9170 surpasses the older S80600…

  • Significant Ink Savings Results Using PrintFactory

    This week I was working with a new client, they’re primarily a vehicle wrap company. They have 3 Epson S60600’s which came with ONYX Thrive. They print mainly on Avery 1105 and have been using a profile that was available for download. I was explaining to the owner that we…