Mark Andy has introduced the Mark Andy Print Products (MAPP) Color Smart Program, a pressroom initiative aimed at helping label and printed packaging converters improve colour consistency across jobs, presses, shifts and operators.

The program is available immediately and is scheduled to make its formal public debut at LOUPE Americas 2026. According to Mark Andy, Color Smart brings together on-site evaluation, press fingerprinting, calibration, product recommendations and documented standard operating procedures to establish a repeatable approach to colour management.

“Colour consistency is rarely determined by one component,” said Dave Telken, senior vice president, Mark Andy Print Products. “It depends on how the plates, mounting tape, anilox rolls, doctor blades, ink, and press settings work together. Color Smart brings those variables into one coordinated process so converters have a clearly defined production standard that they can repeat from one job to the next.”

Mark Andy said the program is intended to address challenges associated with changes in the printing workforce, including the loss of experienced press operators and technical personnel. It has been designed to establish a documented production standard, with the aim of reducing reliance on operator-specific knowledge and making repeatable colour results easier to achieve.

The program follows a five-stage process: MAPP specialists first listen to the converter’s production objectives and colour challenges, then evaluate its prepress, plate room and pressroom workflows to identify potential sources of variability and waste. They recommend suitable combinations of plates, mounting tape, anilox rolls, doctor blades, ink and other pressroom components, before calibrating the press under controlled conditions to establish performance benchmarks and the settings required to achieve the desired result. Finally, MAPP documents the agreed colour specifications and operating procedures to support consistent reproduction over time.

“Fingerprinting is the point where the entire process comes together,” Mr Telken said. “We establish how the press is performing, optimise the variables that influence color, and document what works. The goal is to give the company’s team a practical process that makes the job easier to repeat.”

The program can be used with Mark Andy presses as well as equipment from other manufacturers, according to the company. This means it is intended for converters operating mixed press fleets or production across multiple facilities.

Mark Andy also said the process can be used to identify training opportunities and provide less-experienced operators with a defined framework for working toward established colour targets.

Color Smart is offered through the Mark Andy Print Products technical and supply partnership model. MAPP specialists work with participating converters to recommend, implement and support the pressroom products incorporated into the documented production process.