The printing industry and many manufacturing industries are undergoing a transformation like never before. With advancements in automation, driven by software and artificial intelligence (AI), and digital workflows, printers have the opportunity to adapt or risk falling behind. Across the entire print workflow, from prepress to finishing, these technologies are changing how print businesses operate – boosting efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing color accuracy.
The Rise of Automation in Print
Automation in print is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. When once inline measurement devices to assess color were next-gen, it is now a standard feature. By integrating new features to drive workflows and extend production uptime, print provers can streamline their operations, minimize human error, and speed up production times.
Automation leads to faster turnaround. Automated prepress software can check files for errors, apply color corrections, and impose layouts in minutes. This drastically reduces the need for manual intervention, freeing up operators to focus on higher-value tasks.
Automation also directly drives consistency and quality. Automated color calibration ensures every print run meets G7® standards with minimal adjustments. This means fewer customer complaints and reduced waste due to reprints. Also importantly, workflow efficiency will be an end result with automation implementation. Advanced MIS (Management Information Systems) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems integrate with production equipment, allowing seamless job scheduling, inventory tracking, and reporting in real-time. This data can also be shared across platforms, giving print buyers data to drive their decision making, approvals, and get their print jobs done quicker, and products on shelves faster.
G7 & The Future of Color Accuracy
With automation and AI advancing, print standardization is more crucial than ever. The G7 methodology, and the next evolution, G7+™ continues to be the benchmark for printers looking to ensure color accuracy across different substrates and presses.
G7 and G7+ ensure predictable color reproduction across offset, digital, flexo, gravure, screen, large-format printing and any other 4+ color (CMYK+) print process. This means brand colors remain consistent regardless of the printing technology used. G7 and G7+ based print workflows also:
- Reduces Waste & Reprints by eliminating color inconsistencies. Less ink and paper waste translates to cost savings and a more sustainable operation.
- Enhances Print Shop Credibility by meeting global standards for quality and consistency. Many major brands require G7 certification when selecting print vendors, making it a competitive advantage.
- Supports Multi-Site Operations: Standardized color management ensures uniform output across multiple locations, critical for large printing networks or franchises.
What’s Next for Printers?
As AI and automation become more sophisticated, printers who embrace these technologies will gain a competitive edge. Investing in smart workflows, predictive analytics, and G7 calibration will be key to staying ahead in an industry that’s rapidly evolving. Future proofing print will mean a focus on several key areas, including:
- Adopt Automated Workflow Solutions: Implement software that integrates prepress, printing, and finishing for seamless operation. Workflow alignment is the first step for efficiency, and managing those solutions will have a huge impact on your return on investment.
- Invest in AI-Driven Color Management: Utilize intelligent tools that self-correct and adapt to changing conditions, reducing manual intervention. Data-driven activities throughout workflows can shave hours and days off of production, saving money and elevating capabilities. Without data collection, quality can greatly suffer, without any awareness, driving customers away, and impacting your business.
- Train Staff for Digital Transformation: Equip employees with the knowledge to leverage automation and AI effectively, ensuring smooth adoption. The expanded color management and print workflow training at iLEARNING+ provides opportunities to individuals across our industry to establish basic knowledge, or gain experience as industry leaders, leveraging the latest technologies and standards for optimal print production.
- Achieve G7 Certification: Standardizing color management guarantees high-quality, repeatable results that meet industry demands. Driving G7-based print production, with certification of in-house team members as G7+ Experts, and for print production as a G7 Master facility, your customers will trust you can produce leading color conforming work, based on the global G7 standards demanded by leading brands, print buyers, and driven by the latest tools and software available across print.
Are you ready for the future of print? Start by automating your workflow, leveraging AI tools, and achieving and maintaining G7 compliance to ensure long-term success. Learn more about G7+ at printing.org/g7plus, including the free G7+ Whitepaper available at ilearningplus.org. Become a G7+ Expert by attending G7+ Expert Training & Certification via live instructor led training, or OnDemand training.