Introduction
Measuring Instruments
FD-7 / FD-5
Next generation Spectrodensitometer for Colour Management in the Graphic Arts Industry, even on substrates containing optical brighteners
Introduction
As the Graphic Arts Industry is moving towards digital processes to improve their value chain there is an increasing reliance on numerical quality control of printed products. This is faster more accurate and easier than visual evaluation. However, as the final products are intended to be seen, it is essential that measurement results closely match visual perception.
A potential problem is that the paper used for print products influences the final colour. Many kinds of paper used for printing contain fluorescent whitening agents (FWA’s) to make the paper appear brighter and whiter. The effect of the paper fluorescence on the colour of print products is particularly large when viewed under Illuminant D50*1. For this reason, ISO 13655-2009*2 defines Measurement Condition M1 as having illumination corresponding to CIE Illuminant D50 to minimize differences in measurement results due to paper fluorescence. However, this effect cannot be controlled with conventional Spectrodensitometers using tungsten lamps as light source.
The new Spectrodensitometers FD-7 and FD-5 offer unique solutions to this problem by utilizing Konica Minolta's patented VFS (Virtual Fluorescence Standard) technology to enable colour evaluation which takes in to consideration the fluorescence of the paper under Illuminant D50, the standard light source used by the printing industry for colour evaluation. Because of this, the FD-7 and Fd-5 are the first instruments that offer measurement results corresponding to ISO 13655 Measurement Condition M1.
*1 An artificial light source defined by the CIE having a spectral distribution simulating daylight commonly used for color measurement.
*2 ISO 13655-2009: Graphic technology - Spectral measurement and colorimetric computation for graphic arts images
Main Applications
- Density and colour control of printed materials
- Measurement of fluorescence in R & D of printing machinery manufacturers and paper manufacturers
- Printed colour patch measurements
- Colour formulation of printing inks
