In packaging, gravure presses usually use an N number of special inks (Pantone) for brand colors and backgrounds in a CMYK+N workflow that considerably increases the number of cylinders required
Tetracrom instead is a simpler printing process that can achieve an expanded or “enhanced” gamut using only CMYK inks, being able to reproduce most of Pantone colors and all images with a lower cost and a reduced carbon footprint in general, thus being more sustainable and eco-friendly in alignment with the latest market trends and requirements of brand owners and governments regulations
2. ● In packaging, gravure presses usually use an N
number of special inks (Pantone) for brand colors and
backgrounds in a CMYK+N workflow that considerably
increases the number of cylinders required
● Tetracrom instead is a simpler printing process that
can achieve an expanded or “enhanced” gamut using
only CMYK inks, being able to reproduce most of
Pantone colors and all images with a lower cost and
a reduced carbon footprint in general, thus being more
sustainable and eco-friendly in alignment with the
latest market trends and requirements of brand owners
and governments regulations
(*) formerly Tetrachrome
Actual jobs printed using Tetracrom
by Sipack-Emsur Argentina
Tetracrom (*)
3. ● The 5940 patches test chart that is used for the
fingerprint of the press and build the ICC profiles
for color management during prepress, is the
same that is used to make the Color Book for the
prepress department, and also potentially shared
with designers and customers if needed
● The practical implementation of the
Tetracrom process relies also on this Color
Book that allows to visually evaluate actual
printed colors on different substrates like
pearlescents, metallics, translucents, etc.
where the spectrophotometers and the
standard color management software
encounter some limitations.
Tetracrom spot colors
Tetracrom test chart for profiling of the press
Color book for visual and Delta E selection and
verification, made from the pages of the color chart
4. ● The full potential of the Tetracrom process can be
better achieved with customized CMYK+ inks at
the highest viable density which provides the
biggest gamut in order to reproduce as much
special spot colors as possible, e.g. up to 97% of
the Pantone color book depending on Delta E
tolerances required
● In addition most printed images can
be made more vivid and eye-catching
if desired, since the increase in gamut
also allows for stronger, deeper and
more saturated colors when needed
Tetracrom gamut
Standard CMYK Tetracrom
CMYK Vs Tetracrom color spaces (gamuts)
5. Tetracrom gamut
Printed sample standard CMYK
Printed sample Tetracrom showing more vivid images
and also closer Delta E in Spot Colors simulation
7. Tetracrom inks breakthrough
Comparison between a standard Magenta like Gracol with a Magenta+ ink that
can better filter out the Green wavelength for the human eye
The spectral curves for an ink “Magenta+” that better filter
out Green when compared with a standard Gracol Magenta,
where the absorption curve of Magenta+ eliminates better
the medium Green frequencies between 475nm and 625nm
and transmits better the Red an Blue ranges in the
575-700nm and 375-475nm respectively.
Long time ago we humans discovered
that by selectively filtering the white light,
all colors can also be achieved on
passive white media like paper, canvas,
plastics, etc. which translates in practice
onto three basic filters used in what is
called subtractive synthesis of colors: one
filter called Cyan eliminates the low
frequency or Red, other called Magenta
eliminates the medium frequency or
Green and the last filter called Yellow
eliminates the high frequency or Blue.
Since the discovery of the basis for the
subtractive synthesis in the 1700’s by
Jacob Christoph Le Blon, the technology
of the CMYK printing process and the
printing industry have progressed a lot
specially after the “materials revolution” in
the 20th century, but we are still using the
imperfect inks (light filters) that were
developed many decades ago…
8. Tetracrom inks breakthrough
Gamut comparison between stdandard. CMYK Gracol and CMYK+ showing the color
differences in Delta E when printing Spot colors A, B and C
I had a recently a breakthrough
working with CMYK+ inks in a different
printing industry which can be easily
manufactured and this concept can be
translated to gravure inks as the
technical colorimetric principle is
exactly the same: Expanding the
Gamut that the millions of CMYK
combinations can achieve.
With a bigger Gamut more Pantone
and other Spot colors can be
reproduced with a smaller Delta E, pict
comparing gamuts of Gracol CMYK
with Tetracrom CMYK+ where it can
be appreciated that Spot color A can
be printed with zero Delta E by both,
Spot color B can be printed with zero
Delta E by Tetracrom but there is a
difference with Gracol and Spot color
C can be printed with a smaller Delta
E with Tetracrom than Gracol.
9. ● One of the main advantages is “gang printing” of
several jobs in the same run, allowing gravure to
compete in price, flexibility and speed with
flexography in short runs and promotional products
with limited shelf life
● For the packaging designers, the number of flat colors
for backgrounds and special areas is no longer limited
by the number of printing stations of the press
● No need for big ink changes on the press, setup times
are typically much shorter
● Smaller cylinders and inks inventory, including excess
of premixed Pantone inks not completely used on the
press runs, etc.
● SUSTAINABILITY: Decreasing ink waste and energy
consumption and a reduced carbon footprint in
general including also less cylinders to manufacture,
less weight for shipping, etc.
Tetracrom advantages
Gang printing of several jobs in the same run
