Tools for Precise Color Control and Print Quality
DUO
Professional equipment for precise color control at every stage of printing — from developing a pantone formula to checking the finished print run. Together with official Pantone color catalogues, they form a complete toolkit for a printing house technologist.
Color accuracy in printing depends not only on ink quality, but also on the ability to measure and confirm that the result matches the reference. Three instruments solve different tasks at different stages of the process — from developing a pantone formula in the lab to controlling a print run right on the press. Pantone catalogues, in turn, serve as a common language between designer, client, and printing house — they eliminate color perception discrepancies that are unavoidable when viewing a color on a monitor screen.
Three Instruments — Choose Based on Your Task
Spectrophotometer
Formula development and precise color analysis
Measures the full spectrum of reflected light, not just intensity
Essential for developing custom-mixed pantone formulas
Works on paper, cardboard, film, and other substrates
Densitometer
Print run stability control
Measures the optical density of the ink layer on the print
Standard quality control tool right at the press
Simpler and faster than a spectrophotometer for routine control
Quick check of color stability from sheet to sheet
Colorimeter
Portable compliance check
Detects color deviation from the reference without full spectral analysis
Compact and convenient for field conditions — warehouse, batch receiving
Optimal for control without the need for a detailed spectral report
Fast results in seconds
Which Instrument for Which Task
Spectrophotometer
Densitometer
Colorimeter
Pantone Color Catalogues
Pantone color catalogues are the standard in global printing. An essential tool for designers, technologists, and quality managers when selecting and confirming colors with a client.
Formula Guide
The core catalogue with mixing formulas — gloss and matte coating, the standard for color agreement between designer and printing house
Color Bridge
Shows the CMYK equivalent of Pantone colors — essential when converting a spot color to process printing
CMYK Guide
The full range of CMYK process printing colors with precise values for each shade
Metallics
Metallic gold, silver, and bronze shades for premium packaging and printing
Pastels & Neons
A catalogue of pastel and neon shades — soft muted tones and vibrant fluorescent colors not found in the standard Pantone palette. In demand for children's products, cosmetics, sports brands, and advertising materials that require enhanced brightness or a distinctively light color.
Q&A
Is it necessary to have all three instruments at once?
No, the choice depends on the scale of production. A small printing house that mixes pantones infrequently only needs a colorimeter for basic control. A facility with its own color lab and regular custom pantone orders needs a spectrophotometer. A densitometer is worthwhile when stability of large print runs directly on press is important.
What is Delta E, and what value is considered acceptable?
Delta E is a numerical value representing the deviation of a measured color from the reference. The lower the number, the more precise the match. For most commercial applications, a deviation of up to 2 units is considered acceptable; for critical brand colors, requirements may be stricter — up to 1 unit or less.
How does Color Bridge differ from the standard Formula Guide?
The Formula Guide shows Pantone spot colors with formulas for mixing the ready-made ink. Color Bridge shows the same colors, but alongside their closest CMYK equivalent — this is needed when a brand's spot color needs to be converted to process printing, and you need to know in advance how accurately it can be reproduced.
How often do Pantone catalogues need to be updated?
Catalogues do not physically change already-printed colors, but over time the paper yellows and the shades distort, so an update every 12–18 months is recommended to maintain accuracy. Pantone also periodically releases new shades, which only appear in updated catalogue editions.