lead to inconsistency, wasted materials, and unhappy customers, which in turn will cost your business in the long run. “Without proper systems, you risk colour drift between jobs, costly reprints, and damage to your reputation,” she says, adding: “Over time, those ‘small’ colour errors can lose you clients and restrict the types of high-value work you can take on. “As to what should printers and signage companies should be looking for in quality solutions, I would recommend that they seek out software that delivers accurate calibration, ICC profiling, and reliable repeatability across devices and substrates. It should handle spot colours, integrate smoothly with your workflow, and be easy for your team to use day-to-day.” Overton also takes a leaf out of the PRINTING United Alliance book by saying that ongoing support and training are vital in this area, adding that colour management is not just a one-time setup, but an evolving process, where there is always room for improvement and higher accuracy in the final printed piece. “At Zebra Print Group, we combine our hands-on production experience with practical guidance,” Overton explains, adding: “We help print companies to assess their workflows, recommend suitable tools, and provide staff training to improve colour accuracy and efficiency. Our goal is to help customers achieve consistent, high-quality results that build client trust and strengthens their business in the long-term.” The message here appears to be both simple and clear: skimp on colour management at your peril. With so much importance attached to the accuracy of colour in printed pieces – be it smaller-format projects or wide-format applications, the customer will almost certainly notice if the colour is not right. This is applicable to clients from all areas, with but such a large number of wide-format print companies and commerical printers working with marketers and brands, then they will likely be even more analytical when it comes to signing off work, meaning you cannot run the risk of not hitting the right notes on colour. With all this said, quality colour management software should certainly be one of your new year resolutions this year. Accurate colour is critical in print; it’s what protects a client’s brand and sets a professional printer apart ▲Ray Weiss, vice president for eLearning and certifications at PRINTING United Alliance, says without quality colour management software, “a lot” can go wrong ◄ Samantha Overton, managing director at Zebra, says accurate colour is “critical” in print Pantone colours are not just random codes; they are specific ink formulas made by mixing base pigments in exact proportions to achieve a specified colour Factoid COLOUR MANAGEMENT | ROB FLETCHER 37 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 358 - January | February 2026
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