PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa

Congratulations to Mimosa, Pantone’s Color of 2009.  “In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.”

“The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.

2009 Color of the Year

I’d agree its a very pretty shade of yellow. Speaking of mimosas… I think a 1:2 ratio of orange juice to champagne sounds good right now..

3 oz Orange Juice

6 oz Champagne

Mix and serve in a ritzy champagne glass that has been chilled. It must be a ritzy glass because the Mimosa originated at the Ritz in Paris. It probably came because those rich women didn’t want people to think they drank ALL day long. What? The acid in the orange juice kills the alcohol…

And while we’re talking about Orange Juice, what’s going on with the new Tropicana carton? Kind of looks like it should be Publix brand.  Not that I don’t heart Publix store brands, but I want to see the orange with the straw stuck in it. How else do you know its straight from the grove? Or is that a different OJ entirely?!

First G7 Gracol Master in SC!

We are now a certified Gracol printer! We rip, proof, plate and print to Gracol standards!

The new color is richer and more colorful. Combined with our brand new proofers and CTP, our Gracol certification is an amazing additional service we can provide to our customers.

Prior to 2000, when printers used film, proofs were standardized to a SWOP industry standard. After 2000 when the industry went computer-to-plate (CTP), printers relied on the pressroom to provide a “good” press sheet and prepress worked to match the press sheet. Each press, plant-to-plant varied the color of this “good” sheet. Now, with Gracol, printers can return to a solid industry standard made specifically for commercial offset printing. Now, press to press, plant to plant, customers can expect the color to remain consistent.

Many of you know about “SWOP” which stands for “Specifications for Web Offset Publications”. SWOP was initiated in 1975 as a response to the printing industry’s need for uniform specifications.

GRACoL stands for “General Requirements for Applications in Commercial Offset Lithography”. GRACoL began in 1996 and published it’s first standard in 2002. GRACoL was formed to improve graphic arts by reporting the influence and impact of new technologies on commercial offset lithography. The emphasis on Commercial Offset not Web. Basicly it sets a new color standard for commercial offset printers. You may hear the term “G7″. G7 refers to the “proof-to-print” process used to hit the GRACoL targets. The process is all about printing good neutral greys from 1% to 99%.

What does Gracol color look like?
The new color is richer and more colorful. It actually has more dot gain in the midtones (like film) to provide full color. The highlights and shadows still show good details since we are CTP and can hold a 1% and 99% dot. Each color (CMYK) has it’s own special curve to produce ideal neutral greys. Our proofs look very close to proofs from our sister plants within CGX that have adopted the Gracol standard.

Today is National Limerick Day

There once was a barrel of ink
With a hue so pretty & pink.
It looked like candy
So shiny and dandy,
But oh! That barrell did stink!

GRACol standards

As of April 9, 2008, Wentworth Printing now rips, proofs, plates and prints to Gracol standards. Our goal is to become Gracol Certified by April 1, 2009. Meanwhile Wentworth will continue to optimize and develop our internal systems to meet the Gracol standard.

Prior to 2000, when printers used film, proofs were standardized to a SWOP industry standard. After 2000 when the industry went computer-to-plate (CTP), printers relied on the pressroom to provide a “good” press sheet and prepress worked to match the press sheet. Each press, plant-to-plant varied the color of this “good” sheet. Now, with Gracol, printers can return to a solid industry standard made specifically for commercial offset printing. Now, press to press, plant to plant, customers can expect the color to remain consistent.

Many of you know about “SWOP” which stands for “Specifications for Web Offset Publications”. SWOP was initiated in 1975 as a response to the printing industry’s need for uniform specifications.

GRACoL stands for “General Requirements for Applications in Commercial Offset Lithography”. GRACoL began in 1996 and published it’s first standard in 2002. GRACoL was formed to improve graphic arts by reporting the influence and impact of new technologies on commercial offset lithography. The emphasis on Commercial Offset not Web. Basically it sets a new color standard for commercial offset printers. You may hear the term “G7″. G7 refers to the “proof-to-print” process used to hit the GRACoL targets. The process is all about printing good neutral greys from 1% to 99%.

What does Gracol color look like?
The new color is richer and more colorful. It actually has more dot gain in the midtones (like film) to provide full color. The highlights and shadows still show good details since we are CTP and can hold a 1% and 99% dot. Each color (CMYK) has it’s own special curve to produce ideal neutral greys. Our proofs look very close to proofs from our sister plants within CGX that have adopted the Gracol standard.

18-3943 BLUE IRIS

“From a color forecasting perspective, we have chosen PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris as the color of the year, as it best represents color direction in 2008 for fashion, cosmetics and home products,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “As a reflection of the times, Blue Iris brings together the dependable aspect of blue, underscored by a strong, soul-searching purple cast. Emotionally, it is anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic. Look for it artfully combined with deeper plums, red-browns, yellow-greens, grapes and grays.”

I didn’t realize that Pantone also makes paint. I would always look at my Pantone books and then stand around the paint store trying to match my book to the paint samples. Its environmentally friendly and made from high quality ingredients.