Perfect match: ECP is widening the colour spectrum
ECP, a revolutionary downloadable metallic and colour system for offset print has been developed by German company, Petzold Concept, to overcome problems associated with printing spot and special colours. Among those problems are expensive ink changes, limited metallic colour gamut, regional variation between colour/ink samples, and fading swatch books that have been printed on paper made light sensitive via optical whiteners.
Based upon higher print densities, the ECP technique has been tested successfully since the mid 1990s. First applied as a high quality, exact colour technique to print and produce automotive colour cards, the huge time and cost savings it afforded, fuelled further development of the system. Today, ECP is used widely throughout the cosmetic, fashion, and lifestyle industries – wherever intensive/spot colours can be incorporated into images and designs.
ECP was been developed by Petzold Concept GmbH, of Gernsheim. The company’s main focus over the years has been to test and develop new production and finishing methods for the print industry.
The main point of difference setting ECP apart from other colour systems is that all of the 4200+ colours, metallic, and pearl tones, currently included within the system, can be reproduced using CMYK, silver and/or gold (based upon ISO 2846 standards).
In effect, the entire spectrum can be produced on four- to six-colour printing machines. It is even possible to print ECP colours together with four-colour images/photos by using a special ICC profile (provided as part of each download) which harmonises the higher densities required when printing ECP - leaving photos in their natural state.
These factors represent a new dimension in print quality and creative design potential, and, via dramatic cost savings, open new and exciting possibilities previously not realisable, or too expensive, via offset print.
ECP is presented in a sophisticated storage and carry case/kit including: four fully defined colour swatch booklets, an information and usage manual, a series of reference strips, an ECP Club membership card, and a registration card to facilitate online downloads of the ‘digital colours’ which can be processed as standard ISO colour files. All colours are acquirable and payable based upon usage (that is, the user pays only for what is needed and used).
Among the notable benefits and cost advantages ECP offers over other spot colour systems, some of the more important are:
• it requires no additional investment in expensive, special software or prepress know-how;
• it requires no additional colours/inks (such as orange, green, red, or purple) to obtain an enlarged colour gamut;
• the enlarged colour gamut includes all corresponding metallic tones, signifying a much greater range than any metallic system on the market;
• it allows printers to greatly simplify workflows and better organise procedures as no other additional inks (other than possibly silver and gold) are required;
• it offers the first internationally standard colour system for spot and metallic colours which can be measured and controlled via measuring apparatuses such as densitometers, grey scale wedges, and reference strips;
• it is claimed to be the first, and only, system where colours can be ordered and delivered via the internet; and
• it is not dependant upon one, or a small group of suppliers: ECP is an open system which can be reproduced using readily available global/regional products. As such, it alleviates potential bottlenecks caused by suppliers not being able to deliver on time, or to specification.
Various print materials such as inks, papers, screens, workflows etc are currently being tested for their compatibility with the high-density printing technique upon which ECP is based. Providing the results are suitable, each successful product will be certified as one which supports the system.
In a cost comparison to alternatives available on the market, ECP also comes out on top! A complete ECP kit costs EUR480, and colour downloads, attained on a needs basis, cost approximately €100 per complete colour file (depending upon the final number of colours required/ordered). Printing costs are naturally dramatically reduced.
On top of the many benefits already mentioned, there is also an ECP Club, members of which enjoy a further 20 per discount on all orders, plus other worthwhile benefits.
ECP Create is a service which offers customers the chance to create their own colours, if a tone is not already included in the extensive ECP range. Within 48 hours of receiving an original colour sample, a colour ‘recipe’, plus machine print of the ‘new’ colour, is returned to the customer for approval.
