The packaging print industry is at a turning point: while color consistency has always been a challenge, brands expect accurate color reproduction despite tighter budgets and shorter timescales. This requires automation and the seamless integration of color management software into prepress workflows to improve accuracy and productivity. Instead of isolated color management tools, leading companies are turning to fully integrated solutions that make color a natural part of the entire production workflow. The recent awards received by Hybrid Software clearly underscore this development.
Double Recognition for Innovation
Hybrid Software has already received several prestigious awards this year: the 2025 Pinnacle Award for CLOUDFLOW Colorspace and the renowned European Digital Press (EDP) Award 2025 as “Best Color Management Solution.” In addition, Hybrid’s OEM division (Global Graphics Software) was recognized for SmartDFE™ as “Best Technical Workflow Solution”—a solution that also integrates ColorLogic color technology.
“We are honored to receive these prestigious awards this year,” says Christopher Graf, VP/GM of Hybrid Software’s color business unit. “These accolades validate our commitment to innovation and to delivering cutting-edge technology that transforms how our customers work.”
Reality in Packaging Print
The packaging print industry is under immense pressure: increasing labor shortages are colliding with rising demands and shorter turnaround times. Smaller run sizes mean more jobs must be handled in less time. The complex value chain demands maximum efficiency while quality expectations continue to rise.
What makes these challenges even more complex? Color. Labor shortages are especially noticeable here, as traditional color management solutions require deep expertise and years of experience. Furthermore, they are often proprietary and difficult to integrate into prepress workflows. The solution lies in data-driven color management systems that embed expert color knowledge directly into automated workflows—allowing even less experienced staff to achieve precise color results.
A Paradigm Shift: Integration Over Silo Solutions
This is where Hybrid Software brings a revolutionary approach. Through the strategic acquisition of ColorLogic, a unique combination was created: the proven PDF expertise and workflow automation of PACKZ and CLOUDFLOW merges with ColorLogic’s high-precision spectral color technology into a seamlessly integrated solution.
“Most color management systems on the market are not as tightly integrated with prepress software as the ColorLogic technology in CLOUDFLOW Colorspace,” explains Marc Van Passen, Co-CEO of Rask, a leading prepress service provider and part of the international Korozo Group. “This integration into our existing workflows is crucial for streamlining production and boosting efficiency.”
Rask has been working with Hybrid Software tools for ten years and recently implemented CLOUDFLOW Colorspace. With 16 specialists, the company provides prepress services for Vitrapack and external clients such as label printers, carton manufacturers, and brands.
CLOUDFLOW Colorspace enables direct spot color conversion and ΔE preview, aligned with the digital press’s printing conditions.
Proven Innovation: From Theory to Reality
The practical advantages are evident. At Scatolificio Ceriana, an Italian corrugated packaging manufacturer with 70 employees, the implementation of Hybrid’s solution revolutionized the entire production process. After investing in an HP PageWide C550 digital press, the company chose PACKZ from Hybrid Software.
“PACKZ is different from other editors because you don’t need additional software for press preparation—everything is included,” says Giovanni Barichello, co-owner of the company. “That enables higher standardization. Once you’ve adopted the methods and established classification, standards, and profiles, everything runs smoothly.”
Especially impressive: the integration of ColorLogic technology allows Ceriana to convert spot colors directly based on the press conditions of the digital machine, without the need for additional conversion software between prepress editor and press. “That eliminates a step and a potential production bottleneck,” says Barichello.
The company also uses ColorAnt and CoPrA from ColorLogic, as well as the iC3D module for photorealistic 3D visualization. “Once the prepress file is created, we can generate a three-dimensional model to show the customer, who can interact with it as if holding the actual product,” Giovanni explains.
Victor Asseiceiro, General Manager Color at Hybrid Software, brings over 20 years of international experience in color management. He defines the overarching color strategy across Hybrid Software’s portfolio and leads ColorLogic—a brand of Hybrid Software with award-winning products for prepress operations, print service providers, and OEM partnerships with software and printing hardware manufacturers.
Digital Standards as a Gamechanger
The solution is based on spectral data and digital color standards—a method that eliminates subjective interpretation and ensures that everyone speaks the same language and works with the same specifications.
Joris Verbouwe, Product Manager for Color Technology at Hybrid Software, describes the approach as “data-driven, logical, and intuitive.” The system allows print jobs to be redirected very late in the process to different presses—so-called “late binding”—without quality loss.
“It’s very data-driven—it’s color by numbers. But it’s also about the people interacting with CLOUDFLOW. You can’t expect everyone to be a color expert. It’s great to have skilled people focused on color, but that can cause production bottlenecks. With the CLOUDFLOW workflow, anyone in the production process can make color decisions and evaluate the outcome—without being a color expert.”
Automation Without Compromise
CLOUDFLOW Colorspace automates every step from calculation to output. Its browser-based interface integrates seamlessly with ERP, MIS, and web-to-print systems. The result: improved customer communication, faster turnaround times, reduced manual work, and a direct path to exceptional print quality.
“For us, it’s important that processes run the same way every time, as efficiently and predictably as possible. We aim for zero errors – everything must be perfect,” explains Van Passen at Rask. “To achieve that, we need a platform like CLOUDFLOW. Especially when you start automating more broadly and need to communicate with customers.”
Hybrid Software CLOUDFLOW Colorspace is highly adaptable to existing business systems and processes.
Sustainability Through Precision
Accurate color control not only reduces waste and spoilage but also supports sustainability initiatives by minimizing material and resource use. By implementing a digital color workflow, brands and their print providers benefit from faster setup times, improved productivity, and reduced waste.
Looking Ahead
The multiple awards—Pinnacle Award, EDP Awards for Best Color Management Solution and Best Technical Workflow Solution—confirm the innovative strength of the integrated solution. Christopher Graf sees it as “a validation of our commitment to solving real-world challenges in label and packaging print through innovations that deliver measurable impact.”
Conclusion: Integration as a Success Factor
The fusion of PDF expertise, workflow automation, and precise color management marks a turning point in the packaging print industry. Instead of isolated solutions, integrated systems are breaking down barriers and setting new standards for efficiency.
“We’re very satisfied with the investment we made with Hybrid Software. We work better, and I absolutely recommend Hybrid Software as a partner and provider of solutions that truly deliver what they promise,” summarizes Giovanni Barichello from Scatolificio Ceriana. “These are tools that allow us to create well-crafted products, printed with the latest technology, and reproducible over time with the same quality.”
