In the competitive world of packaging design, the ability to produce a physically accurate prototype is a game-changer. Whether it’s a metallic finish, a complex shrink wrap, or a specific spot color on a clear film, a prototype must look and feel like the finished product. To achieve this, the industry’s most successful labs rely on a specialized synergy of high-end media, sophisticated color management, and precision hardware.
At ColorManagement.com, we provide the tools that turn a digital concept into a perfect physical mock-up.
The Software Engine: ORIS Flex Pack and GMG ColorProof
A prototype is only as good as the color management driving it. Standard print drivers simply cannot handle the complexities of white ink underprinting or the unique dot gain of packaging substrates.
- CGS ORIS Flex Pack: This specialized solution is designed specifically for the packaging industry. It allows for the production of high-end mock-ups that include features like cold foil, embossing effects, and complex finishing, all while maintaining perfect color integrity.
- GMG ColorProof: The gold standard for contract-accurate proofing. It ensures that your prototype matches the final production press with surgical precision, regardless of the substrate.
The Substrate Advantage: ORIS Media and JetComp
You can’t proof a bag on office paper. Prototyping requires specialized media that mimics the weight, texture, and transparency of actual packaging materials.
- ORIS Prototyping Media: CGS offers a wide array of transfer films and specialized papers that work in tandem with their software to simulate various industrial printing processes.
- JetComp Media: Known globally for its premier collection of wide-format inkjet films. From clear and white films to metalized and shrink materials, JetComp allows you to print directly onto substrates that can be converted into actual pouches, wrappers, and bags.
The Hardware Workhorse: Epson SureColor S9170
To handle these specialized media types and hit the widest possible color gamut (including difficult-to-match brand colors), you need a printer built for industrial-grade accuracy.
The Epson SureColor S9170 is a 64-inch solvent printer that is rapidly becoming the favorite for prototyping houses. With its sophisticated 11-color ink set—including Red, Orange, and Green—the S9170 can hit nearly any spot color in the Pantone® library. Its ability to produce high-density white ink makes it the perfect partner for printing on the clear and metallic films provided by JetComp.
Expert Support: The Color Management Group
Setting up a professional prototyping workflow—integrating solvent printers with specialized RIP software and film substrates—is a complex task. Calibration is key to ensuring that your mock-up isn’t just a “pretty picture” but a technically accurate proof.
Through the Color Management Group Consultant Directory, you can connect with experts who specialize in packaging and prototyping deployments. These professionals can help you calibrate your Epson S9170, optimize your ORIS or GMG workflows, and ensure your team is getting the most out of your JetComp and ORIS media.
Bring Your Concepts to Life
Stop settling for approximate mock-ups. By combining the precision of Epson hardware with the specialized capabilities of ORIS, GMG, and JetComp, you can produce prototypes that are indistinguishable from the final production run.
