Systems and methods for providing remote approval of an image for printing are provided. One system includes a processing circuit in communication with an image capturing device that is configured to capture an image of a printed product. The processing circuit is configured to process the captured image into a processed image accurate to within a tolerance in a color space to indicate the visual appearance of one or more colors. The color space is a standardized color space, such as sRGB or CIELAB. The processing circuit is further configured to transmit the processed image to a display located remote from the image capturing device and to receive an input signal from a remote input device to allow a user to approve or reject the displayed processed image for printing on a print device.

An automatic inker fountain color detection and error correction system includes: a can decorator including a plurality of inking stations each including inker fountains; a plurality of color sensors each disposed in vicinity of respective inker fountains and structured to detect ink colors of inks placed in the inker fountains; a vision sensor disposed at an output of the can decorator and structured to capture images of printed cans; and an automatic inker fountain color detection and error correction device communicatively coupled to the plurality of color sensors, the vision sensor, and the inking stations, and structured to receive the ink color information from the color sensors and the captured images from the vision sensor, determine that an inker fountain color error has occurred based on the captured images and correct the inker fountain color error based at least in part on the ink color information.

Scaling factors are applied during printing operations to account for a change in the size of sheets. A sensor within a printing device captures an image to measure dimensions of a front surface of a target sheet of paper. A first scaling factor is determined for the front surface of the target sheet based on the measured dimensions as compared to target dimensions for the sheet. The sensor also captures an image to measure dimensions of a rear surface of the target sheet of a paper after ink or toner is applied to the sheet. A second scaling factor is determined for the rear surface of the target sheet based on the measured dimensions. The first scaling factor and the second scaling factor are applied to processing of subsequent sheets to meet the change in the size of sheets during printing operations.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a printing press and a flexographic printing press for implementing said method, wherein the method comprises performing the following steps: a) capturing information from at least one image printed by said printing press; and b) comparing said information captured from said printed image with at least some digital-format information predetermined in prepress, or digital prepress information, including at least one part of the image to be printed. The method comprises adjusting the pressure and/or register setting of one or more printing units of the printing press, using at least the result of the comparison in said step b). The press is designed in order to implement the method.

Systems and methods for providing remote approval of an image for printing are provided. One system includes a processing circuit in communication with an image capturing device that is configured to capture an image of a printed product. The processing circuit is configured to process the captured image into a processed image accurate to within a tolerance in a color space to indicate the visual appearance of one or more colors. The color space is a standardized color space, such as sRGB or CIELAB. The processing circuit is further configured to transmit the processed image to a display located remote from the image capturing device and to receive an input signal from a remote input device to allow a user to approve or reject the displayed processed image for printing on a print device.

A can decorating system includes a can decorator including at least a plurality of cylinder plates and a plurality of inking stations; and a control station communicatively coupled to the can decorator. The control station includes an input apparatus; a display; a control system structured to monitor and control operations of the can decorator; and an automatic label creator structured to receive a label specification, create a label, determine values for image registration based at least in part on the label specification and data associated with previously applied labels, and transmit at least the label and the values to the control station. The control system causes the plate cylinders and inking stations to be adjusted based on the label and the values of image registration. The plate cylinders and inking stations print the label on undecorated cans based on the label and the values.

A printing system (10) is provided for printing on a material, comprising an ink formulation module (12) comprising at least one ink reservoir (14) and an ink adjustment system (16), a printing unit (18) for applying ink to the material, a sensor module (22) comprising at least one probe (24) for generating color measurement data, and a control module (25) being connected to the ink formulation module (12), the sensor module (22) and the printing unit (18). The color measurement data comprises at least one ink color value of the ink before being applied on the material by the printing unit (18). The control module (25) is configured to receive the color measurement data from the sensor module (22) and to transmit an ink adjustment request to the ink formulation module (12), wherein the ink formulation module (12) is configured to adjust the ink composition of the ink in the at least one ink reservoir (14) based on the ink adjustment request.

The present invention relates to a method for calculating the parameters for the pre-inking of a printing unit of an offset printing press with a spot colour comprising the following steps: a) predetermining a printing unit, a spot colour, a substrate to be printed with the spot colour and a specific ink coverage necessary to achieve predetermined colour coordinates of the spot colour to be achieved on the substrate, b) determining the number of vibrator roller contacts to the ink duct roller being necessary to obtain, by printing the predetermined spot colour with the predetermined printing unit onto the predetermined substrate, the specific ink coverage having been predetermined in step a) from at least two different reference spot colours, wherein each of the at least two different reference spot colours has been printed with the printing unit having been predetermined in step a) onto the substrate having been predetermined in step a) with a different predetermined specific ink coverage.