How do I activate my SpotOn! Flexo software?
- You can purchase an activation code for SpotOn! Flexo at any time, by clicking on this link, or by calling All Printing Resources at 1-800-445-4017. Once you have an activation code, download the Getting Started Guide here. (Acrobat pdf 2.1 Mb)
Is there a SpotOn! Flexo User Guide?
- The User Guide for SpotOn! Flexo is available here (Acrobat pdf 7.2 Mb). A series of tutorial videos are available to you via a link in the e-mail that is sent to you when you download the SpotOn! Flexo software.
Is SpotOn! Flexo similar to SpotOn! Press?
- Yes. SpotOn! Flexo was developed in a joint partnership with SpotOn! Press and All Printing Resources (APR) especially for the Flexographic printing market. SpotOn! Flexo can be upgraded to a full version of SpotOn! Press.
What computer platform does SpotOn! Flexo require?
- SpotOn! Flexo server application runs on a PC. SpotOn! Flexo Client runs on Mac OSX 10.5 or higher, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2008 Server or higher.
Is SpotOn! Flexo a stand-alone application or client/server?
- SpotOn! Flexo 2.6 is available in a Stand-Alone or Client Server Version.
Can the user create their own Delta E tolerances?
- Yes. SpotOn! Flexo allows the user to create both a DeltaE (ΔE) warning level and a tolerance (or fail) level using all of the current Delta E equations, ΔE76, ΔE94, ΔE00, and ΔECMC.
What type of spectrophotometer is required to use SpotOn! Flexo?
- SpotOn! Flexo requires the instrument report spectral data. The current measurement instruments supported are:
- Konica-Minolta FD-7 (Windows Only)
- Techkon SpectroDens (Windows only)
- X-rite eXact (Windows only)
- X-Rite i1 Pro & i1 Pro 2
- X-Rite 530
- X-Rite 939
- X-Rite SpectroEye
- X-Rite SP62-64
How can you create the color libraries (reference colors) required in SpotOn! Flexo?
- Spot color libraries can be created in one of three ways:
- Color references can be imported from an ink formulation software as a .mif or .cxf file.
- Color references can be measured into SpotOn! Flexo using a supported spectrophotometer.
- Color reference LAB values can be typed in.
Can you associate specific metadata to a job so it can be searched or reviewed at a later date?
- Yes. SpotOn! Flexo has several areas to attach metadata to a specific job and/or color. All of these metadata fields are searchable.
Can SpotOn! Flexo separate Make-Ready readings from actual Production readings?
- Yes. Each time you make a measurement you can select a radio button to designate the measurement as a Make-Ready or Production measurement.
Can you use reference colors from different Color Libraries for a specific job?
- Yes. When creating a job, you can select colors from any color reference library.
How can you scroll through colors in the main screen window?
- You can either click on a specific color in the window or you can use the Up & Down arrows to scroll through color measurements. Additionally, you can use Left & Right arrows to scroll through the number of measurements.
Do you always have to read the substrate prior to making any color measurements?
- Yes. SpotOn! Flexo uses spectral data to compare the reference and measured color. The calculation is based on the color reading including the white point or substrate.
If you have a measurement error can you delete the measurement and/or read the measurement again?
- Yes you can either delete the measurement by Editing the Job, selecting the measurement number and click the Delete key on your keyboard, or you can select Measure Edit from the main screen, select the color and take a new measurement. This new measurement will override the current data.
What does the Density / ΔE chart represent?
- The center vertical line represents the optimal density at the lowest ΔE value to reproduce the selected spot color. The Black curved line represents the ΔE variations associated with the densities along the bottom of the chart. You can hover your mouse along the Black curved line and see the relationship of ink density and ΔE.
What does the ΔL*, ΔC* and Δh chart represent?
- When looking at each graph, the left-hand bar represents the difference between the measured color and the reference color at the current density and the right-hand bar represents the predicted difference between the measured color and the reference color if run at the suggested density. The ΔL* graph shows the L* deviation (too light or too dark). The ΔC* graph shows the Chroma deviation (too weak or too saturated). The Δh graph shows the hue angle deviation (e.g. a green that is too cyan or too yellow).
Where are the color libraries located in the Client-Server version of SpotOn! Flexo?
- The SpotOn! Flexo color libraries are located:
Windows - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SpotOn
You can also access this folder by clicking on the Start button and typing %allusersprofile% in the Run command window.
Note: you can easily access this location by clicking on 'Show Log' in the SpotOn! Admin (PC server) application.
Mac OSX - Mac HD/Users/User Library/Application Support/SpotOn
Note: you can easily access this location by clicking on Log File: Show in the standalone Mac or PC Client application.
Is there any reporting functionality in SpotOn! Flexo?
- Yes. SpotOn! Flexo includes a Trend Graph that quickly gives you a historical view of the measurements you have taken and provides ink density and Delta E values. Additionally, you can click the Reports button and this same information, along with and associated metadata is generated in a pdf report. The report can be customized with you company name and logo.
We currently have pressroom software, how is SpotOn! Flexo different?
- SpotOn! Flexo was designed specifically as a tool for Flexo press operators. Formulation software is very powerful for creating or establishing standards or reference colors and tracking these colors from batch to batch. Formulation software was never designed to be used press-side, and lacks important information required by the press operator, such as ink density. Compare SpotOn! Flexo & Formulation Software.