Obtaining a copy that matches your vision 100% is a process dependent on many technical factors. Why are prints from different printing houses not identical? This is primarily influenced by different batches of paper, the specifications of the printing machines, and the chemical composition of the inks used.
Challenges on the road to ideal color
Press Check (on-site printing approval): This is the most reliable way to match colors, allowing for real-time saturation adjustments during printing. However, it is logistically demanding and involves business travel costs.
Archival prints as a reference: Older editions often cannot serve as a reliable reference. Over time, paper yellows and ink oxidizes or fades due to UV rays and air exposure. Additionally, surface wear from handling changes the optical perception of the color.
The Pantone System traps: Pantone colors are an excellent choice, but their use comes with specific conditions:
Swatch book age: Pigments in swatch books fade over time. An old guide does not guarantee compliance with current standards.
Coated vs. Uncoated: Mistakenly using coated (C) specifications for uncoated (U) paper drastically changes the final result.
Substrate texture: Uncoated paper with a distinct texture is not flat, which affects ink distribution and light reflection — the color will look different than on a smooth sheet.
Screen vs. Reality: Choosing colors based on a monitor image carries a high risk of error due to device calibration differences and the fact that screens emit their own light (RGB), while print uses reflected light (CMYK). Remember that not every Pantone color can be accurately replicated in the CMYK palette.
What actually helps achieve a great print?
Using current swatch books (no older than 1–2 years).
Certified digital proofing: Creating a color trial that simulates the final effect for standard-compliant papers (coated and uncoated papers with the correct whiteness).
File standardization: Preparing projects according to the correct parameters (Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 color profiles).
Communication based on numbers: Using specific CMYK percentages or Pantone numbers instead of descriptive color names.
Awareness of these processes is the first step to success. In a professional publishing process, nothing happens by chance — technology watches over the physics of light and the chemistry of inks. However, it is worth knowing that something else influences the final reception of the work: the biology of our sight.
Explore these fascinating facts about how our eyes interpret colors — this knowledge will help you look at your project from a completely new perspective:
1. Gender: Who Sees More Shades?
Research suggests that men and women perceive the world slightly differently. Women generally perform better at discriminating between closely related shades (e.g., various versions of beige or pink).
The Study: A 2012 study by Israel Abramov from the City University of New York showed that men require a slightly longer wavelength of light to see the same hue as women (colors appear slightly "warmer" to them). Conversely, women displayed significantly greater precision in distinguishing subtle differences in the middle of the spectrum (yellows and greens).
The Cause: This may result from high levels of androgen receptors in the visual cortex, which influence neuronal development during puberty.
2. Age and Lens Yellowing (Physiological Changes)
This phenomenon is well-documented in ophthalmological and optometric literature (including works on the optical density of lens pigment).
The Fact: As we age, proteins in the eye's lens undergo denaturation, leading to hardening and a shift in color to a yellow-brown tint (known as lens yellowing).
The Effect: The lens begins to act as a filter that cuts off short-wavelength light (blues and purples). Research published in the "British Journal of Psychology" suggests that older adults' ability to distinguish blue tones can be much lower than that of younger people, which affects their overall assessment of white balance in print.
3. Memory Color Effect
Your brain applies a filter to what your eyes see based on your expectations. If you take a paper cutout of a banana and illuminate it so that it is physically gray, most people will still swear they see it as slightly yellowish.
The Study: Hansen et al. (2006) proved that our knowledge of the world (e.g., that bananas are yellow and strawberries are red) changes how neurons in the visual cortex process signals. The brain "re-colors" reality to match its internal database.
As you can see, the process of transferring color onto paper is a fascinating but technically demanding journey.
We don’t leave you to face these challenges alone. We are here to support you at every stage of production—feel free to contact us!
Dimograf Team
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