Technological Developments — More Changes Reshaping the Industry

Printers are questioning whether or not a new system is needed, the benefits to them if any, and the prospects of having to maintain two color specifying systems: the new Goe and the old or classic entrenched Pantone system. Although Pantone says there is an approximately 40 percent crossover match from the old system to the new one, printers are concerned about the 60 percent for which there is no crossover color. Although Pantone contends the differences are minimal, skeptics noted that this has yet to be proven. Some have also questioned the Pantone claim that because the system is designed for printing uniform ink film thickness, it results in equal drying times, less use of spray powders and more control when matching color on-press.