Do You Measure Color, or Do You Eyeball It?
Five questions that reveal how well your shop really controls color, from visual matching and display profiling to density vs. L*a*b*, calibration, and verification.
The Alder Blog
Color Management & Printing Blog
Guides, product news, and real-world case studies on color management, G7 calibration, large-format printing, and the software that keeps your print production consistent.
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You're Probably Not Measuring Enough Color Data
Color management isn't a mystical black box. It comes down to one unglamorous activity: measuring color, over and over. What to measure, how often, and why verification is the real job.
Xitron Expands K2 Workflow Family with K2D-X and K2 3.0
Xitron adds K2D-X for multi-DFE digital print production and K2 3.0 for more automation, a vendor-independent way to standardize prepress across mixed-vendor presses.
Still Running an i1Pro1 or i1Pro2? Windows 11 May Stop It From Connecting
If your shop verifies color with an i1Pro1 or i1Pro2, there's a Windows 11 driver-signing change worth knowing about before it finds you mid-shift. Here's how to identify your instrument and plan ahead.
Xitron "Blue Box" + Windows 11 25H2: What to Do Now
If you rely on the Xitron USB "Blue Box" for plate output, a recent Windows 11 change needs your attention before it reaches your machine.
Summer Survival Guide for Large Format Printers
Hot weather is tough on large format printers. Whether you run eco-solvent, solvent, UV, latex, or aqueous devices, heat and poor environmental control can cause color shifts, nozzle issues, media problems, and costly downtime.
The Color Communication Standard You've Probably Never Heard Of — But Should Be Using
ISO 20616 is a two-part standard that defines a formal, structured language for color communication between a print buyer (the brand, agency, or print buyer) and a Print Service Provider (PSP).
Modern Color Control with the Alder Color Control Platform
Color is no longer just a quality metric; it's a contractual expectation. Brands demand consistency across runs, substrates, and devices, and "close enough" doesn't cut it anymore.
New 3D Gamut Viewer in ChromaChecker
A look at ChromaChecker's new 3D gamut viewer, from a team that runs its own branded ChromaChecker instance across dozens of client accounts and all of our professional services.
Success Story: Advancing Color Management at Absolute Packaging
Absolute Packaging in Anaheim partnered with Alder Color Solutions to improve color management across multiple print platforms. A packaging prototyping install quickly grew into a multi-phase color optimization initiative.
Attention Fiery XF Users — Urgent Update Required
Due to essential system updates at Fiery, LLC on April 14, 2026, all versions of Fiery XF 7.0–8.0.5 must install the Fiery XF 2026 Essential Update. Servers that aren't updated will lose access to available updates and more.
What's the Difference Between the New Epson S9170 vs the Older S80600?
Epson's new S Series signage printers differ from the S80600 more than you might expect. A close look at what changed.
Shakeups in the World of Color Measurement
How Datacolor's Techkon acquisition and Konica Minolta's MYIRO discontinuation are changing color management.
A Practical Guide to Building a Repeatable, Measurable Color Workflow
When color varies between devices, facilities, or operators, the issue is almost never the file alone. It's the absence of a standardized system.
FOGRA39 vs FOGRA51 — Modern Print Standards, Color Accuracy & Workflow Tips
Choosing between FOGRA39 and FOGRA51 comes down to your presses, your paper, and your measurement mode. Here's a clear breakdown of what each profile is, how they differ, and when to use which.
What an ICC Profile Actually Does (and Doesn't Do)
An ICC profile is a mathematical description of how a device reproduces color, whether that device is a printer, monitor, camera, or scanner. It lets color-managed systems translate color accurately between devices.
SBS C1S Paperboard — Brands, Makers, and What Actually Differs Between Them
There's a surprising amount of variety under the generic label SBS C1S (solid bleached sulfate, coated one side). A rundown of the main global mill brands and how they differ in color, brightness, weights, surface, and finishing.
Why Your Press Sheets Don't Match Your Proofs — Even When Both Are 'GRACoL'
If you've ever held a press sheet next to your contract proof and wondered why two "GRACoL" outputs don't match, you're not alone. Here's what's going on.
ChromaChecker vs MeasureColor
Both are color-quality tools for print, but their sweet spots differ enough that they can compete head-to-head in some workflows and complement each other in others.
Understanding & Monitoring Color Drift
Color drift isn't caused by one thing. Environmental changes, device wear, media variations, ink batches, and operator differences gradually push your output off target.
Significant Ink Savings Results Using PrintFactory
A vehicle wrap shop running three Epson S60600 printers with ONYX Thrive put PrintFactory to the test. Here's what it did for their ink consumption.
Standards Work — Here's Proof!
How G7 process control and standardized color management produced a nearly perfect match between a verified proof and the final printed brochure.
Success Story — International Brand Company
How cloud-based color management helped a global brand standardize packaging print quality, reduce press checks, and speed up approvals.
100 Years of Great Western Ink!
A century of innovation, quality, and sustainability has made Great Western Ink a trusted name in printing and ink manufacturing.
New Workflow Software from Xitron — K2
Xitron K2 brings PDF workflow automation, prepress tools, and scalable RIP technology at a fraction of the cost of enterprise solutions.
How to Install ICC Profiles in Mimaki RasterLink 7
Step-by-step: download, install, and use ICC profiles in Mimaki RasterLink 7 for accurate, reliable color.
New Uncoated UV Dataset and Profile
The new Alliance_UC_UV characterization expands the color gamut for UV inks on uncoated paper. What it is and why it matters for commercial printers.
3 Reasons Why You Should Have a Spectrophotometer
How a spectrophotometer improves color accuracy and consistency for designers, printers, and photographers.
Color Management from Capture thru Print
How end-to-end color management helped a global home décor brand improve accuracy, cut production time, and standardize its workflow from photography to print.
Proofer Challenge! Let's See What You've Got.
Think your inkjet proofer is dialed in? How to verify G7 proofing accuracy and GRACoL CRPC6 conformance, and tighten up your proofing workflow.
PrintFactory Success Story — 43% Ink Savings!
How PrintFactory cut ink consumption by 43% while improving color accuracy and workflow efficiency for a commercial print provider.
Understanding Measurement Modes
When to use M0, M1, M2, and M3 measurement modes on your spectrophotometer, and why the choice matters for color verification.
Difference Between IA ECG B1C and IA ECG B1C X ICC Profiles
What separates the IDEAlliance ECG B1C and B1C X profiles, how their GCR settings differ, and what that means for extended color gamut separations.
Using a Multipurpose Control Strip That Includes All G7 Gray-Finder Patches
Why one control strip, the ChromaChecker CC84 with every G7 gray-finder patch, can handle both G7 calibration and everyday print process control.
How to Revise an Existing Plate/Press Curve WITHOUT a Dedicated Press Run
Generate G7 correction curves from CC84 control strips on production jobs, so you can adjust press calibration without stopping for a test run.
Match Spot Colors as Easy as 1, 2, 3!
A walkthrough of spot color matching in ChromaChecker Capture: measure the target, check Delta E, and let automated corrections close the gap.
Never Wonder If You Can Match a Color Again!
Virtual Spot Print shows whether your printer can hit a spot color before you print, using ICC profiles, spot color libraries, and Delta E analysis.
The Best Color Management Training Options
A rundown of the best ways to learn color management, from PRINTING United Alliance courses and G7 certification to ICC workflow training.
Will AI Play a Role in Color Management in the Near Future?
Where AI and machine learning could fit into color management, calibration, and print quality control, and what's realistic in the near term.
Upgrading an Existing Offset Press — A Success Story
How the Alder Press Control Bundle, combining spectrophotometers, G7 process control, and cloud reporting, brought an existing offset press up to standard.
The Power of Wide Gamut Profiles!
How wide gamut CMYK ICC profiles, source profiles, and RIP color management work together to get the most color out of your printer.
BIG Spot Color News — Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE) v6
Adobe PDF Print Engine 6 brings spectral color data into the PDF workflow. What that means for spot color accuracy and where CxF files fit in.
Alder Color Solutions Receives 2022 Best of Portland Award
Alder Color Solutions was recognized with a 2022 Best of Portland award for its digital print, color management, and customer support work.
The Best Spot Color Software
Why ChromaChecker Capture is our go-to for spot color matching, and how it uses spectral measurement, ICC profiles, CxF files, and Delta E analysis to hit brand colors.
Wide Format Dye Sublimation Ink Jet Printer Tips & Tricks
Maintenance habits that keep wide format dye-sublimation printers running: printhead care, humidity control, and a preventative maintenance routine.
Wide Format Dye Sublimation Ink Jet Printer Tips & Tricks — Part 2
Part 2 goes deeper into dye-sub maintenance: capping stations, wiper blades, and keeping the ink system healthy.
A New/Better Spot Color Matching System
Why spectral color libraries and ChromaSpot are emerging as a modern alternative to Pantone for spot color in digital print workflows.
Alder Color Can Calibrate Your Press Remotely WITHOUT a Dedicated Press Run!
Remote, cloud-based press calibration keeps you G7-conformant without travel costs or a dedicated press run.
Alder Color Solutions Becomes the First EFI Fiery for Display Graphics Premier Partner in the US
Alder Color Solutions is the first EFI Fiery for Display Graphics Premier Partner in the U.S., with certified expertise in Fiery workflow and color management.
One Click Color Verification — Without Spending Big Money
How the affordable Spectro1 measures L*a*b* values for quick print color verification and quality control.