Custom Packaging Bags: How to Effectively Avoid Color Differences When Printing Packaging Bags

In the printing production of packaging bags, color difference in plastic Packaging bags is a key and critical aspect in the quality control of the printing process. Ensuring that the hue of a batch of printed materials or several batches remains consistent in the printing process is one of the most basic requirements in packaging bag production quality management, and also a challenge we need to face. Many packaging bag manufacturers lack a systematic color control method, making it difficult to effectively control color deviations, resulting in frequent customer complaints, returns, and even claims.

So how can color difference be effectively avoided? Shunxingyuan Packaging, a professional flexible packaging manufacturer, combines its own experience to give you a detailed explanation.

Nowadays, many companies still use visual methods to judge whether the hue deviation of printed products meets the product hue requirements of the company and customers. There is considerable error here. The product is affected by multiple factors such as printing ink, light, environment, and observation methods, and the pattern color reflected in our eyes will also be different. Larger packaging bag manufacturers are also using color measuring instruments, improving the way hues are judged and identified, such as Shunxingyuan Packaging.

Whether using the naked eye or a colorimeter to judge color difference, we must clarify the factors that cause color difference before we can do a good job of color control and avoid the occurrence of color difference.

Factors Causing Color Difference ：

1、 Ink Procurement

When selecting and purchasing ink, we must understand the system of the ink and the hue bias of each color, such as the original red being biased towards blue, the original yellow being biased towards yellow or blue, etc. Therefore, when selecting ink, it must meet the product printing hue requirements of the enterprise. At the same time, we must also do a good job of archiving the original color ink samples when using the ink for the first time, providing a basis for subsequent ink inspection and spot checks. Generally, the use of ink must go through small samples, small tests, medium tests, and large tests before it can be used in batches. Samples and printed samples should be saved each time they are used to evaluate the hue stability of the ink. This is the first step to controlling color difference.

2、 Sampling

Inconsistent sample retention leads to occasional color differences in printed products. Currently, many printing companies do not pay attention to standardized sample management, and sample retention is also not standardized. When printing is needed, they search everywhere for samples, sometimes samples cannot be found, and there are even situations where business personnel go to customers to get samples. For such companies, color differences will be endless. Therefore, we suggest that flexible packaging companies must establish a quality control department to conduct positioning, placement, and personnel assignment, establish a color management center, and do a good job of sample retention.

3、 Sample Production

Color samples are roughly divided into customer-signed samples and customer-provided samples. For the first printing of a new layout, most of the time we have the customer directly confirm the signed sample. The customer-signed sample should be properly kept and stored in the designated product file bag. Many companies do not pay attention to this issue, so that in subsequent normal production, they cannot get this signed sample, causing unnecessary business communication and disputes.

Due to the influence of plate making, ink, and printing technology on the customer's sample, it may be difficult to completely replicate the color of the customer's sample in normal color matching printing. Before plate making, communication should be conducted with the customer regarding the color, clarifying the acceptable hue deviation and requirements. Then, the plate making factory makes the plates according to the customer's hue requirements. This can effectively reduce the color difference problems caused by sample matching.

4、 Sample Storage

After all new and revised products are confirmed for printing, sample retention must be notified immediately. Sample retention requirements: The printed product is clear and complete, without printing quality problems, accurate register, and the hue meets the signed sample and matching sample requirements. Sampling length: 2 plate cycles. Remarks: Production time, production team, new or revised version, signature confirmation, and fill in the sample retention notification form for posting.

When the finished film is laminated, retain the finished sample according to the sample retention notification form. Sample retention requirements: No printing and lamination quality problems, no obvious scratches on the appearance, 5m of film roll sample, 10 bags of sample, and complete the sample handover confirmation form.

After receiving the samples, the quality control department should have a dedicated person to check the samples and signatures. After the verification is correct, standard sample cutting is performed. The requirements are to leave a register color circle or color sequence block on the edge, and cut with a complete vertical and horizontal dot complete pattern. Then, paste the sample on the designated sample paper. Note whether it is a new version or a revised version. The quality control department uniformly stamps the sample with a special stamp and attaches the signature of the person in charge of the quality control department. All workshops use the quality control department's signed sample as the standard to ensure the uniformity of sample management and execution. When the customer requests a color change, pay attention to timely replacement and distribution to various production workshops for timely replacement and uniformity of samples. In addition, when retaining samples, we should pay attention to the upper and lower limit samples, that is, the deviation range of the hue, so that printing and quality control personnel can better control the hue and color difference on site.

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