Colour management in digital textile printing

On the basis of simulated prints, a customer can decide on the colour appropriateness for a selected pattern. This article presents the possibilities and correct procedure for colour management application in the field of digital printing onto a textile substrate. The aim of the research was to establish whether long-term and expensive pre- and after-treatments can be avoided with the help of an appropriate development of printer profiles. The latter would be conducted through a print simulation on paper printed with a Canon laser or ink-jet printer. The results have confirmed that a print simulation on paper can be conducted with both printers, while a Canon ink-jet printer offers better results. In addition, by calculating the colour inconstancy index CMCCON02, the illuminant influence on the colour change of substrates under five different illuminations was determined. The results showed that simulated colours should be compared with original colours under daylight illuminants (D50, D55 and D75), while indoor illuminants A and F2 are not appropriate for a comparison, especially in the case of simulation with a Canon ink-jet printer (CMCCON02 index >5).