Stabilizing the System with G7® Technology
Parkland Direct, an industry leader in high-volume, lithographic envelope manufacturing, has achieved G7® Master Facility Qualification of its integrated color management system for producing litho-offset envelopes. On August 13-15th, Parkland representatives, Steve Rorer and Philip Harrison, attended Idealliance’s® G7 Expert and Professional Training certification hosted by IWCO Direct® at their beautiful corporate headquarters in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The training was led by Don Hutcheson, inventor of the Idealliance G7 method and president of HutchColor, LLC. Idealliance is a global, non-profit think tank in the graphic communications industry focused on innovation, education, certification, and integration in every facet of print.
What is G7?
G7 is an industry-leading set of specifications from Idealliance for achieving visual similarity across all printing processes. It is a global standard widely used to measure the color accuracy on any output device. The G7 Master Status indicates that a facility has calibrated specific equipment and systems to G7 gray balance and neutral tone curves capable of delivering a shared appearance across multiple printing devices and platforms. A peer-to-peer target print is produced on a stable printing system where the measurements are used to correct the ink curves in order to bring the printing system into G7’s ideal neutral density curve alignment. The beauty of G7 is that regardless of the printing technology, if the neutral tone prints well, the rest of the colors will follow suit. Printing facilities value the color consistency and efficiency that G7 standards allow, and this stabilized productivity software gives clients real peace of mind by seeing color consistency across the board on all of their products. Endorsing the advantages of G7, Clint Seckman, President of Parkland Direct, says, “A high-volume envelope converter that offers lithographic printing under one roof is a rarity in our industry and one that is G7 certified even more so. This shows our commitment to reaching and maintaining the highest print quality for our clients.”
Professional and Expert Training
The G7 Master Facility Certification training provided Parkland’s Steve and Philip an opportunity to advance their skills and strengthen their knowledge in the print industry. The training focused on G7 theory, calibration principles, overall color management, and troubleshooting, in addition to preparing Steve and Philip to assist with in-house and outside facility procedures. Don Hutcheson walked trainees through each phase of G7—from the creation of the process to the implementation of the principles for the Parkland Direct facility.
Why G7?
Brand color and shared appearances across multiple components are critical in the printing business. The focus of G7 is to aim for a universal gray balance among all printing platforms. Whether printing offset litho, flexo, inkjet, or any other method, achieving a common gray value at various screen assessments will provide consistency to stabilize the system. In an effort to initiate a new standard, Idealliance has been training printers around the world to aim for the same gray balance—something that has never existed in the industry. “We applaud Parkland Direct for utilizing the G7 Master Program to assure consistency and quality in their proofing, brand color management, and print processes. G7 Master Qualification demonstrates a level of control and expertise that places Parkland Direct at the top of their field,” commented Timothy Baechle, CEO for Idealliance.
Parkland Direct now joins a select group of global print service providers that have successfully completed the training, examination, and qualification process of their print production procedures, validating their capabilities to the highest level of global industry standards and specifications. The implementation of the G7 methodology enables Parkland to reproduce a visually similar appearance across all printing types and substrates, along with improving process control and production efficiency.
Their unique process and unyielding dedication to quality and manufacturing improvements set Parkland Direct apart in the industry. Parkland’s G7 Master Facility Qualification is just another step in staying relevant in today’s ever-changing market that necessitates continued learning and knowledge to enhance customer satisfaction. To find out more, please visit parklanddirect.com or call 434.385.6225.
