The well-known Colour Graphics Services principal has travelled to Königstein/Frankfurt, Germany for in-depth training on the ultra-precision colour measurement instruments ahead of assuming full responsibility for the brand in Australia and News Zealand.
It will be a top up of his already extensive familiarity with the technology following years of demonstrating Techkon instruments as part of his ‘Colour Doctor’ ISO 12647 certification and other colour calibration work in the professional photography, advertising, graphic design, printing and packaging fields.
“It is a privilege to be working closely with Techkon, which is a company that shares my passion for colour accuracy at every stage of production. Like so many other German - engineered products, the quality of Techkon spectrophotometers and densitometers is outstanding, with several innovations not found elsewhere,” says Crowther.
Techkon’s latest development is a unique three-in-one colour densitometer that combines reflection and transmission measurement with a high-precision illuminated magnifier. Called simply the DENS, it weighs only 330grams, is compact and portable and enables anyone in the production chain to check densities, dot area and gray balance. Crowther notes: “It’s a tool that every printer and prepress technician should have instead of a plain loupe. The Li-Ion battery is good for 10,000 measurements per charge. It’s a 4x loupe on steroids, really!”
Other Techkon product include the SpectroJet, a wheeled spectrophotometer for precise measurement of colour control bars. It is fully ISO compliant and features a retractable polarizing filter. Colour and density data can be transferred to a PC via USB, to any program or to Techkon’s own ExPresso software. For longer control strips – up to 2 metres – a track system for the wheels is available.
“There is also a very nice Techkon plate reader which I have been using extensively,” says Crowther, “it can measure all types of screening; FM, AM and hybrid and even film and paper. Dots can be enlarged and examined and there is even an option for measuring low-contrast processless and chemistry-free plates.”
The Techkon range is rounded out with the SpectroDrive, a motorized press-side spectro-densitometer for reading page-wide strips and the SpectroEdge inline spectrophotometer for on-press web quality control at up to 1,000 feet per minute; including flexo for packaging.
“I will also visit the Techkon Innovations Lab where I will learn about the new ColorCatcher App for smartphones that enables any colour to be captured, matched and specified in CIE Lab and sRGB values. Techkon is really ahead of the colour game!”
The Techkon agency shift came as long-term incumbent, Kayell, switches to X-rite where it will come up against established dealer, DES.