Versaworks software, Colour matching advice needed please?

[RobertLambie]

I can’t help with regards to versaworks settings as it has been so long since I last used it.
what I wanted to ask is, are the colours a million miles apart from the artwork you have been given?
if i am given customer artwork, it will be printed at a good quality setting then laminated, if required.
if the customer wants a colour matched, or as close as possible, then that falls into a new service and I will charge them for it, starting at around £50.
colour matching will vary greatly depending on the material you are printing onto, the settings you choose and even the laminate you use. What looks spot-on in your workshop, will look a million miles away taken outside into the sunlight and so on.
I am not saying “it can’t be done” and I am not saying, “do not try”. just do not get hung up on time-consuming exercises that your customer needs to be charged for.

I do this “even for cut vinyl” I have a set range of stocked colour vinyl that I hold and do not deviate from. if a customer wants a colour outside that range then no problem, but they are told it will take 48hrs to get it in and I must buy in increments of 10m minimum order, which i must pass onto them. never have I had someone grumble or push for the stipulated colour after being told this!
don’t get me wrong, if an order or potential work with a large customer is on the cards, i will match and buy in the stock without even mentioning it to the customer. I have even done this several times with Oracal colour matching 10+ rolls of cast vinyl for me. but you get the idea of where i am coming from…

anyway, just pointing this out mate. as i realise i am not helping with the versaworks question.

[Robert Neill]

Hi Robert…. its not a million miles away, just that om screen it looks so vibrant and when printed it’s so dark. And was annoying me that no matter what changes I made, it made no diff to the outcome

[RobertLambie]

monitor colour calibration is just another aspect of colour matching, mate.
even what your looking at on your screen does not dictate what your customer sees on their monitor when you email artwork.
what I would suggest is to try “resetting” your monitor to the factory defaults. just in case you have messed with your screen settings at some point and its not helping with regards to your working visual.
also, the angle your monitor sits at can also alter the visual colours your working with. the best angle is eye level with the screen completely flat/parallel to your face. even as a temp fix, sit some books under the monitor if not already on a stand.

[Robert Neill]

Yeah I get what your saying mate, I have 2 monitors side by side and the colours are diff on both lol.

Anyway it’s not a biggy, was just more that it was bugging me that when changing setting and still getting the exact same output. Thought there was maybe something in versa that needed ticked or unticked, that kind of thing.

Thanks Robert

Robert

[RobertLambie]

there could be something in versaworks that helps mate. so don’t rule it out just on what i am saying. my reply is based on my general overall view on colour matching etc, not the software as such, or any software for that matter.

[Graham Scanlan]

Also Robert, take into consideration that using 3rd party inks can cause complications.

All the versaworks media profiles are only built around the Roland printer >versaworks>original inks>branded media

[Robert Neill]

Hi Graham…. yes I did consider that point. That being said though, when I change a setting in my usual rip software it makes a diff. So i would have thought if it was the inks that it would be the same for that program. Hence why I thought it was maybe a silly tick box or something that I was missing from versaworks.

I shall just continue to use my usual program, just thought I would try versaworks, but its no problem.

Thanks

[David Hammond]

We’ve a new VF2-640, and back on versaworks. We did the same as you, printed the same image on different profiles, and settings with zero noticeable difference to our eyes.

[Robert Neill]

Mmm thanks David. So sounds like versaworks is not worth bothering with then yeah.

[David Hammond]

It does the job for us. Profiles are limited and I occasionally find the orange and green inks don’t print particularly well, and don’t dry as quickly as the CMYKk inks.