Open Forum

  • 1.  Weighted Graybalance - a* b* crisscross

    Posted 09-12-2025 03:57 PM
    Hi all
    Looking for insight into an odd graybalance result. Scan failed with graybalance average and max out of tolerance. The weighted chart (bottom right) shows CMY graybalance to be shifted to the warm side. All reasonable. But the a + b lines crisscross at 60% dramatically. I've not seen that behaviour before. Any thoughts? Significance? 
    SBS paperboard, Gracol 2006. 
    Cheers
    G7 Result with a* and b* criss cross


    ------------------------------
    Phil Courterelle
    Print Operations Manager
    Great Little Box Company
    Richmond BC
    (604) 301-3700
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Weighted Graybalance - a* b* crisscross

    Posted 09-13-2025 03:35 PM

    Hi Phil,

    It's hard to state with any certainty because we don't have the whole story yet, for example, is this after you applied curves to a linear run? 

    But I can state that I often see changes in behavior to the wCh between the 60-75% inking range. And often this is due to ink trapping for your particular inkset. Once the paper starts filling up with dots of CMY, and the paper begins to take on a lot of water after going through multiple cylinders, the inks don't always lay down as well as they should. For example, if you're running KCMY, the yellow may be having difficulty laying  down on top of the cyan and magenta. So visually, at this range, this could possibly cause the color to look too blue and too magenta. 

    I can only guess at this point, but I would definitely suspect that may be happening to you. Hope you get more answers that will help you solve your dilemma! 

    Nikki



    ------------------------------
    Nicole Orr G7+ Expert
    Owner, President
    Futurepointe
    Colchester CT
    (860) 861-7929
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Weighted Graybalance - a* b* crisscross

    Posted 09-15-2025 04:57 PM

    Hi Nicole, 

    Thanks for the reply.

    This was a verification run after curves had been adjusted.
    Ink sequence is KCMY



    ------------------------------
    Phil Courterelle
    Print Operations Manager
    Great Little Box Company
    Richmond BC
    (604) 301-3700
    ------------------------------