The commonest complaint.
WHY COLOUR CAUSES DISPUTES
Screens emit light and print reflects it, so they cannot match exactly.
WHAT ELSE AFFECTS IT
Material: the same ink looks different on different substrates
Lighting under which it is viewed Machine calibration Batch variation
WHAT TO TELL CUSTOMERS IN ADVANCE
That printed colour is close, not identical, to their screen.
WHY IN ADVANCE
Afterwards it sounds like an excuse.
WHAT TO OFFER WHERE COLOUR IS CRITICAL
A printed proof on the actual material.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT BRAND COLOURS
Whether the customer has specified colour values.
WHY
Brand colours have defined references, and matching them is a stated requirement.
WHAT TO DO
Ask for the reference, and confirm what is achievable.
WHAT TO BE HONEST ABOUT
Colours that cannot be achieved in the process being used.
WHAT TO CALIBRATE
Equipment, on schedule.
WHY
Uncalibrated machines drift and produce inconsistent results between jobs.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT REPEAT JOBS
Record the settings and material used.
WHY
Customers expect a reprint to match the original.
WHAT ELSE CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT
Trimming accuracy Registration Banding or streaks Finish quality
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
A standard, and check against it before delivery.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT SUBSTANDARD OUTPUT
Reprint it before the customer sees it.
WHY
Delivering work you know is poor costs more than the reprint.
