Taking the guesswork out of color control — it's critical. In today's print environment, color is no longer just a quality metric—it's a contractual expectation. Brands demand consistency across runs, substrates, and devices, and "close enough" simply doesn't cut it anymore. That's where platforms like the Alder Color Control Platform come in. They shift color management from a reactive process into a data-driven, automated system. Most print workflows still rely heavily on manual spot checks, operator judgment, and static reports—if any reports exist at all. Even with tools like G7 and ICC profiling in place, many shops struggle to maintain consistency over time, identify drift, and prove compliance. The result: wasted material, reprints, and lost confidence. Modern color control isn't about better guesses. It's about removing guessing entirely. Every adjustment is based on data. Every result is measured against a standard. Every job is repeatable. Instead of "I think we're close…" you get: "We're within ΔE tolerance and gray balance spec." The Alder Color Control Platform is based on ChromaChecker and replaces subjective decisions with measurable, real-time data. It connects your press, your measurement devices, and your targets (G7, ICC, brand standards) and turns them into a live feedback system. Instead of pulling sheets and debating color, you'll get ΔE values, gray balance status, and pass/fail conditions displayed in clear, easy-to-read graphics—in real time. Different operators usually means different results—unless you remove the guesswork. With Alder Color Control, everyone works toward the same target data and everyone produces the same outcome. Skill still matters, but consistency no longer depends on it. When guesswork is removed, color becomes predictable, results are repeatable, and your workflow is scalable. You move from guessing to knowing how jobs will print. Guesswork is the hidden cost of printing. It doesn't show up on invoices, but it shows up in reprints, delays, and inconsistency. The Alder Color Control Platform doesn't just improve color—it removes uncertainty. And when you remove uncertainty, you gain speed, consistency, and control. In modern print production, the goal isn't better guessing. It's no guessing at all. Lead Color Specialist, Alder Color Solutions Bill is an Idealliance-certified G7 Expert and founder of Elevated Color, with more than 45 years in prepress, printing, and color management — including over 25 years dedicated to helping printers achieve predictable, repeatable color across commercial, packaging, wide-format, offset, digital, and inkjet work. He specializes in G7 implementation, ICC profiling, press and monitor calibration, proofing systems, and workflow standardization, with deep experience across RIPs including EFI Fiery XF, PrintFactory, ChromaChecker, Onyx, Caldera, and Xitron Navigator, and platesetter workflows such as Agfa Apogee, Kodak Prinergy, Esko, and Heidelberg Prinect. His work has appeared in PRINTING United, Idealliance, and WhatTheyThink.The Problem with Traditional Color Control
What "No Guesswork" Actually Means
Instant Visibility — No More Guessing
Consistency Across Operators and Shifts
Turning Color Into a Controlled Process
About the Author
Bill Owen
Phone: 720-933-4413