PAPERmaking! FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY Volume 5, Number 2, 2019
DATACOLOR - KEYS TO RELIABLE DIGITAL COLOR COMMUNICATION The challenge that we all face regardless of our business is how to get the right product to the customer at the right time when they are ready to purchase. This is especially true in the apparel business. Consumer preference changes quickly and failure to have products that fit the current trend can mean more than just a short-term loss of business. The adoption of digital colour communication has facilitated a significant reduction in colour development cycle time, but it has also introduced challenges of its own. Failure to control the process by which the digital colour data is created will lead to: x The exchange of incorrect information x Misunderstanding about product quality x Delays in the development cycle To ensure confidence in the quality of the digital colour data that is being exchanged, the sources of variation in the measurement process must be identified and controlled. Basics of Digital Colour Communication Multiple processes are required for successful colour development from the time that a designer selects a colour until the time that it ends up on a showroom floor. In order to have products for a particular season, the development process must start months in advance. The challenge is how to ensure that the right colour is communicated from concept to consumer. Identify the Standard The first step in the colour specification process is to identify a standard to use for colour matching. The original source for inspiration may be a swatch of fabric or a colour created on a monitor, and this target must be communicated accurately to the mills providing the final product. Experience bears out, however, that physical standards are often a source of misunderstanding between designers and manufacturers and can lead to delays if they’re not selected carefully. While finding a good standard solves many of the problems associated with getting a good shade match, they do nothing to improve upon the colour development process as a whole. Physical standards must still be distributed and the target colour maintained throughout the development process in order to achieve the desired colour in the market. Communicate the Digital Representation The only way to guarantee the colour integrity of the standard and to also decrease development time is to communicate the digital representation of the selected standard. What does a digital standard look like? It is simply a set of numbers called spectral reflectance values that describe how the object interacts with light. Whether we are beginning the colour process with a physical standard or a CAD design, the colour can be defined numerically in this way. Numerous computer programs have been developed that interpret these numbers and provide basic descriptions of colour and colour difference.
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