Alwan Color Expertise will present its Hydra-powered applications at Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona (16–19 September), highlighting fast and accurate colour management across print sectors.
The Lyon-based company will demonstrate Hydra Profiling, HydraFix, and HydraSpot, all built on Alwan’s patented Hydra Color Engine. The technology uses spectral prediction to achieve IT8-level accuracy and spot colour results of less than Delta 1 in minutes, significantly reducing the time and complexity of traditional workflows.
Hydra Profiling reduces the number of patches needed to create ICC profiles from over 1600 for offset to as few as 40, or 84–368 for digital presses. This allows printers to cut profiling from hours to minutes while maintaining precision, including for multicolour and expanded gamut printing. HydraFix is designed to keep digital presses colour accurate as substrates and conditions change, updating profiles in a few minutes with 84 patches. HydraSpot applies predictive modelling to spot colour reproduction, with multi-illuminant optimisation to ensure consistency under retail and packaging lighting.
According to Alwan, these efficiencies allow the software to “pay for itself in one job”. Horizon Retail Marketing Solutions print manager Daren Cook commented: “After replacing our previous high-end solution with HydraFix, our colour is absolutely spot-on. It’s easy to use, fast, and the results are impeccable.”
Hydra Profiling is also available for trial via Alwan’s ColorCloud platform. In addition to powering Alwan applications, Hydra’s spectral technology is available for OEM integration with partners.
Xavier Niebla, CEO of Mexico-based colour consultancy Delta E, said: “I’m genuinely impressed by how Hydra can build such an accurate ICC profile with so few samples. It’s clear that Alwan’s Hydra sets a new benchmark for speed and digital colour accuracy.”
Alwan will also exhibit its Hydra range at Printing United in Orlando, USA, in October. Founded in 1997, the company provides software, consultancy and training for standardised colour management across the graphic arts sector.
