Alwan to Showcase Hydra Color Engine for Color Management at PRINTING United Expo 2025
Alwan Color Expertise aims to change the future of color management with the Hydra Color Engine, its patented spectral prediction engine now being integrated with a wide range of commercial, packaging, textile, and other specialty print applications. Built to conquer the high costs, long processing times, and unnecessary complexity that have hindered the industry for decades; Hydra requires only a very small number of patches to achieve IT8-level accuracy, and produces less than Delta 1 for spot color matching... in only minutes.
In addition to powering Alwan solutions, Hydra’s spectral-based technology is also available for custom OEM integrations with strategic partners.
Alwan will showcase the Hydra Color Engine’s capabilities at Printing United, taking place Oct. 22-24 in Orlando, Florida; as well as this month’s Labelexpo in Barcelona.
Flawless Production: IT8-Level Accuracy and < Delta 1 for Spot Colors – in Minutes
Providers can insure their customers of flawless production with Hydra-powered applications. Hydra: 1. reduces hours-long print and measurement sessions to only minutes, due to the very small number of patches it requires; 2. reaches IT8-levels of accuracy in profiling anywhere from 3 to 7 colors; and 3. also produces less than Delta 1 for spot color matching. Hydra is also specifically designed to handle multicolor printing processes, including CMYKOGV, ensuring accurate characterization of the expanded color gamut (ECG).
Additionally, all Hydra-powered products save up to 10% more ink than any other ink saving technology; without compromise to print quality and color accuracy.
Alwan's Hydra Color Engine | Credit: Alwan
The Hydra Color Engine at Printing United
Visitors to Alwan at Printing United will see firsthand how print, packaging, textile and specialty printers who use Hydra-powered applications can drastically reduce both the cost and time previously required to achieve the most accurate, predictable color in print and packaging applications. The company is also working on textile color management solutions with an industry partner.
How Color Profiling Has Been Done… Until Now
Conventional profiling uses mathematical interpolation – an estimate based on known data -- to calculate profile tables from measured patches. The more patches that are printed, the more accurate the interpolation. As an example, IT8 charts for 4-color offset presses usually contain 1,600+ patches – requiring multiple hours-long printing and measurement sessions.
Today: Hydra Spectral Prediction
The Hydra spectral prediction engine uses physics to model ink, light, and substrate interaction; and, as a result, is able to calculate profile tables of IT8-level accuracy in just a few minutes, and using a much smaller number of patches.
Elie Khoury, Alwan’s founder and president, says that Alwan began R&D efforts in spectral prediction over a decade ago. “We knew then what color experts are talking about today,” he says. “They are realizing that spectral data is superior to conventional LAB – or colorimetric – color management.
“Alwan is way ahead of the game, with the breakthrough the industry has been waiting for, available now,” Khoury says. “Hydra powers the fastest, easiest, most accurate color management… for much less money.
“It’s a new day for color.”
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Packaging Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Packaging Impressions.
