Signage Education | Color Management Part 2, Why Would I Care About Accurate Color?

In this, the second part of a series of articles on Color Management, we’ll explore why you might care about accurate color and color management. For many, the ability to generate predictable, consistent and accurate color may not be critical. If you primarily work with text, this is likely the case. When working with corporate logos or photographic images (especially of people) however, color matters.

By way of example, McDonald’s golden arches are a specific color, “close enough” never is. Similarly, a poster with a picture of a person wouldn’t be acceptable if the person appears to have jaundice, sunburn, or an unnatural skin tone.

Without a defined proper color management process end-to-end, a sign manufacturer has no option beyond trial and error. This typically involves printing an image, and in visual inspection, subjectively determine if they think the customer will accept the finished product. If the color is off badly, the only choice is to make purely subjective adjustments and try again.

The best you can do without color management is “close enough”, the result of trial and error. This introduces waste in both materials and time, which can affect the cost to produce and the sign company’s profit. Sign companies without color management expertise are motivated to try to get the customer to accept product that isn’t right, trying to balance customer expectations and the sign company’s profits.

As we explore color management further in future articles, it will become apparent why consistent, predictable and accurate color are impossible without proper process. The factors that affect color output will be presented, as well as tools used to control color throughout the design and production process.

For more information, contact:

Spectrum Signs
23382 Madero Suite L
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949) 297-3800

Spectrum Signs