Flexo quality

[KarlFromDorset]

Hello, new member here.

I've just received a run of printed labels and I'm not happy with the final outcome. From what I've been told by another printer these were printed by Flexo.

I have had 4 spot colours printed on matt stock. Most of the label is meant to be Pantone 297c. However, the final finish is not solid at all. It's very wishy-washy, almost as if the ink is too thin and showing the imperfections of the material.

Should this process be able to do a true solid colour regardless of a matt or semi-gloss material?

Also the registration is very poor and giving a drop shadow effect.

Any advice or info would be welcome.

[Luc St-Pierre]

I don't think you can expect any coated pantone colors (such as 297 C) in any printing technology on matte material. Your printer may have been sloppy on good solid rendering or registration but will never achieve shades from Pantone coated library on matte material. When dealing with a new printer or a printing technique you have never experienced before, it would be wise to ask to be there for press approval.

[KarlFromDorset]

I approved the digital proof and on approval I also requested to visit the factory prior to running the labels. This never happened as they forgot to let me know. Having run Svecia 60x40 machines and worked in all areas of the industry I requested this as I was never offered a proper proof and I know what can be achieved.

I had never heard of Flexo until yesterday and to me sounds like this is where the colour and registration problems have arisen. Would this be down to the type of plates being used?

Perhaps the printers used Pantone coated as opposed to matte or uncoated hence this is where the colour issue has arisen.

[ajr]

This sort of thing is done on a narrow web flexo machine usually with uv drying between units. The registration usually isnt very good and they are better for spot colour work. Ask your supplier for a reprint, the reason they didnt let you see it on press is that they were probably just a middleman and put it out to a trade printer and put a massive markup on it.

A

[Correct Color]

I approved the digital proof and on approval I also requested to visit the factory prior to running the labels. This never happened as they forgot to let me know. Having run Svecia 60x40 machines and worked in all areas of the industry I requested this as I was never offered a proper proof and I know what can be achieved.

I had never heard of Flexo until yesterday and to me sounds like this is where the colour and registration problems have arisen. Would this be down to the type of plates being used?

Perhaps the printers used Pantone coated as opposed to matte or uncoated hence this is where the colour issue has arisen.

A digital proof isn't going to tell you anything about how a specific device prints a spot color on a specific media. The only accurate representation of a spot color is a drawdown of the actual ink on the actual media.

As far as PMS this, that or the other thing, if you're printing a spot color, they can't be interchanged. The only formula for spot PMS 297 ink is: 3.25 parts Process Blue; .75 parts Reflex Blue; and 28 parts Transparent White. What makes it C, U, or M is the media on which it's printed. That's why those conventions were established.

Mike Adams
Correct Color

[FlexoGrunt]

Because of how the Flexo presses work (in essence a rubber stamp picking up ink and hammering it directly onto the material) the more uneven the material the more uneven the print. Flexo has it's benefits (quick setup, in-line, roll to roll, more stations for custom inks) and the quality has come a very long way in a very short amount of time BUT printing on uneven surfaces is a big weakness.

I would definitely let them know you are unhappy with the quality and ask how they can achieve the matte look while providing a better looking transfer of ink. They should have told you in advance of how it would look.

We would have set your expectations on what this printing looks like (by sending you samples of previously printed labels) and even suggested going with a matte lamination on a more even stock.