From Design to Substrate Oct 26-27 in Belgium at AGFA

In-Person
Workshop
Oct. 26, 2026 - Oct. 27, 2026 • 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM W. EST
Non-Member
$999
Member
$799

OVERVIEW

ABOUT:

From Design to Substrate: Unlocking Design Intent in Packaging is a two-day, instructor-led workshop hosted by PRINTING United Alliance and led by G7+™ Trainer Ron Ellis. Designed for packaging professionals across the supply chain, this hands-on workshop tackles one of the industry's most persistent challenges: closing the gap between design intent and what actually comes off the press. Attendees will walk away with practical tools, proven workflows, and a clearer understanding of how to deliver packaging that truly matches the brand vision — every time.

About the Workshop

Packaging is often the first point of contact between a product and the consumer — and getting it right matters. This workshop takes participants through the entire design-to-print journey, from establishing clear color standards and working with Adobe tools to understanding press calibration, process control, and print quality evaluation. Whether you're a designer, prepress operator, or print buyer, this course will help you reduce rework, cut costs, and produce packaging that delivers on design intent

Training Schedule

  • Monday, Oct 27, 2026: 9:00am – 4:30pm CET (UTC +1)
  • Tuesday, Oct 28, 2026: 9:00am – 4:30pm CET (UTC +1)

Training Info

From Design to Substrate is an interactive two-day workshop designed to build practical skills across the full packaging design-to-print workflow. Sessions combine lectures, open discussions, and hands-on activities covering design intent, color standards, prepress preparation, press calibration, and print quality evaluation. Participants are encouraged to bring their computers and, if they would like, color measurement devices for any interactive parts of the workshop.

Training is open to all participants.
Language: English

Training Location

AGFA - Belgium

Septestraat 27, B-2640 Mortsel, Belgium

Seats are limited. Register Now

Seats are limited to ensure direct support by PRINTING United Alliance's G7+ trainer & staff. Register now to reserve your seat.

Schedule subject to change. Course content and order may be altered. Cancellations are not available for this event.


If you need any assistance, please contact:

Ray Weiss, Vice President, eLearning and Certifications - PRINTING United Alliance

Email:  rweiss@printing.org

 

WHO'S THIS FOR: Marketing professionals, Packaging specialists, Brand managers and implementation teams, Printers, Colour management and quality control teams, Prepress, production, art, pre-media and graphic design teams, Company owners, managers, CSR teams, and Sales

PRESENTERS

Ron Ellis G7 Expert Trainer Ron Ellis Consulting

AGENDA

Oct. 26 2026
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Day 1
8:30 AM - Welcome
9:00 AM - Design Intent – The Big Idea - Unleashing Creativity for Maximum Impact
The design to print workflow – Making your design real
How to talk about and communicate color – Painting on substates
Print standards and packaging: Setting the bar
Designing to a print specification: Crafting your art
10:30 AM BREAK - Fuel Up for the Colorful Adventure Ahead!
Adobe Color Settings – Setting your aims
CSF, ASE, CXF – Master the toolset
Spot colors – Selection and design – unleashing vibrance
Visualizing the printed product – Designing what you can print
12:00 PM - LUNCH
1:00 PM - Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat – Tips for tools
Creating files that work for print – Prepress mastery
Top ten tips to create a print-ready file – Secrets of file perfection
Examples of print-ready file checklists – Blueprints for success
Danger zones – Avoid the print minefield
2:30 PM - BREAK - Recharge Your Creativity Batteries!
Understanding the Production – Presses, calibration, and Process Control: Unveiling the Art behind the Scenes
Basics of color measurement – Using a color GPS
Characterizing a print condition – The DNA of print
Paper and Ink – Unleash the power of the process
Calibrating traditional presses – Tuning potential
4:00 PM - End of Day one and optional Q&A with instructor
Oct. 27 2026
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Day 2
8:30 AM - Quick Review
9:00 AM - Understanding the Production – Presses, calibration, and Process Control
A quick intro to color management – Use the magic of CMS
Color management and transformations – From mess to success
Premedia actions and what happens to your file – Use file wizardry
Plate curves, color servers, and print transformations – Tricks of file meisters
10:30 AM - Break: Indulge in a Quick Break to Recharge Your Print Excellence!
Digital print attributes and opportunities – Use the digital revolution
Process control during the press run – Real-time color control
Tips for press checks - getting the proof to press match – The art of potential
Strategies for spot colors – Boost the gamut
12:00 PM - LUNCH - Feast on Inspiration and Let Your Print Excellence Soar!
1:00 PM - Color Quality and Evaluation of Printed Products
Evaluating CMYK and spot color – Break the mystery of print
Tools for evaluation of printed products – Unlock secrets of the pressroom
Prioritizing quality criteria based on the most important metrics – The art of perfect balance
How to create tolerances for print – Setting your standards
Designing control strips and color bars – Making it matter
2:30 PM - BREAK - Recharge Your Print Energies for the Grand Finale!
What is a print quality program? – Learning what matters
Why print quality programs are needed – The quest for the best
Partnerships between suppliers and brands – Unite for better results
Example print quality programs – Inspiring journeys to warm your soul
Next Steps: Putting it All Together – Let’s Go!
Developing a Plan – Examples of greatness
What comes next! – Send it!
4:00 PM Conclusion: Thanks and thanks and thanks!

HOSTS/SPONSORS

AGFA Septestraat 27, B-2640 Mortsel, Belgium

CONTACT

Ray Weiss VP, eLearning & Certifications PRINTING United Alliance (434) 272-9922
Kristof Van Cleemput AGFA Mobile: +32 499 59 55 27