Rutherford ColorLoop
Closed-loop presetting and correction
Turns measurements into ink key corrections and sends them to the console. CIP3/CIP4 presets load before the press starts. The loop closes, automatically.
Learn moreUnited States
ColorLoop.ai
Closed-loop color for American pressrooms. ColorLoop scans the sheet, compares it to your target and corrects the ink keys, automatically. Proven on 1,000+ systems in 30+ countries.
The real bottleneck
The press is rarely the problem. The measurement in front of it is.
Outdated or closed OEM measurement means unstable color, wasted sheets and longer makereadies on every shift. ColorLoop replaces guesswork with a connected, press-side loop, without buying a new press.
The idea
One closed loop. Any press.
The Rutherford software that closes the loop, working with the X-Rite measurement tools North American pressrooms already run, plus expert support to keep it performing.
IntelliTrax2
Press-side scanning
The automated scanning system US pressrooms already trust. Reads a full color bar in under ten seconds, bars down to 2 mm, contact-free.
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MeasureColor
Process control and reporting
One platform for offset, flexo and digital. Real-time DeltaE, ChromaTrack density guidance, audit-ready reports for the brand owner.
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G7-anchoredBuilt for the way North America prints: G7.
Most North American shops calibrate to G7 gray balance. ColorLoop holds your gray balance and density targets sheet after sheet, tracks DeltaE00 against the brief, and documents every run so the brand owner audit is ready before the job ships.
- G7 gray balance
- ISO 12647 compatible
- DeltaE00 tracked per job
- Audit-ready reports
Any press, retrofitYour press qualifies. New or thirty years old.
Rutherford retrofits closed-loop color to the console you already run: Heidelberg, Komori, Koenig & Bauer, Manroland, Mitsubishi, Ryobi. CIP3/CIP4 presetting opens every ink key from prepress data, then the loop keeps the run on target. No new press, a fraction of the cost.
- Heidelberg · Komori · KBA
- Manroland · Mitsubishi · Ryobi
- CIP3 / CIP4 presetting
- No new press
On your existing measurementKeep the X-Rite investment you already made.
ColorLoop works alongside the X-Rite and MeasureColor tools already installed in your pressroom, IntelliTrax2 included. The measurement you trust becomes the sensor of the loop: readings feed the console, corrections flow back, color holds.
- IntelliTrax2
- MeasureColor
- eXact family
- Your investment stays
How it works
The ColorLoop loop.
- 01
Preset
CIP3/CIP4 ink key presets load automatically from prepress data. No manual entry.
- 02
Scan
IntelliTrax2 reads the color bar across the full sheet in seconds.
- 03
Compare
MeasureColor computes DeltaE against your G7 or brand target and flags zones out of tolerance.
- 04
Correct
ColorLoop sends corrections to the console. The operator approves. Closed loop.
Return on investment
up to 0%
less upfront cost than a new measurement system. ColorLoop modernizes color control with flexible financing, without investing in a new press. Figures below in USD.
− 0 %Makeready waste
− 0 %Makeready time
ΔE < 0Color stability in the run
0 %Sheets traceable
ROI estimator
How much could ColorLoop save your pressroom?
Pick your production profile, press format and number of colors — then fine-tune your makeready figures. Every value stays adjustable.
Sheet format
Colors
Fine-tune your figures
Production profile
Sheet 707 × 1,000 mm · ≈ $0.23/sheet (280 g/m² · 1,150 $/t)
Set by the profile — adjust freely
From wash-up to press-OK
Sheets to first good copy
Loaded hourly press cost
Estimated annual saving
$144,563
≈ $12,047 / month
Paper saved297,000 sheets/year$67,613
Press time recovered513 press hours/year$76,950
Estimated on 225 production days/year and ColorLoop targets of −55% sheet waste and −38% makeready time. Paper grammage and price are set by the selected production profile.
Talk to a Rutherford expertProof, from the pressroom floor
They run the loop every shift.
From high-volume commercial work in Michigan to packaging lines across the North American supply chain.
Printwell USA
Michigan, United States
Consistent color at high volume, on the presses they already ran.
Watch testimonial
Avery Dennison
Querétaro, North America
Closed-loop color across a global packaging leader’s production.
Watch testimonial
Moderna Printing
Belgium, worldwide reference
Reduced waste and smarter startups on heatset web production.
Watch testimonialGo deeper
Color, explained for the pressroom.
From the blog
G7 vs ISO 12647
Two ways to standardize offset color, and how to combine them.
Read the article
From the blog
DeltaE: what tolerance is acceptable?
Realistic targets for process and brand colors, and how to hold them.
Read the article
From the blog
Reduce makeready waste: 10 levers
From CIP3 presetting to closed-loop, with the savings math.
Read the articleGetting started
A guided deployment, not a drop shipment.
1
Rutherford Check
Send a few photos of your console. We confirm eligibility of your press and ink key system within one business day, free.
2
Configure and install
Your setup is assessed for compatibility, the ideal configuration is designed, and measurable performance targets are set before installation.
3
Prove and support
Installation, operator training and validated results. Targets not met? You can stop. Annual audits keep the performance.
What you get
Everything to run the closed loop.
- Rutherford ColorLoop closed-loop software
- CIP3 / CIP4 ink key presetting
- Works with IntelliTrax2 and MeasureColor
- Professional installation and operator training
- Rutherford Academy courses, open to everyone
- Annual performance audit, included
Open and flexible by design. ColorLoop runs with all press brands and all workflows, no vendor lock-in, no rip-and-replace.
ColorLoop in North America, FAQ
Straight answers.
Does ColorLoop support G7 workflows?
Yes. ColorLoop holds gray balance and density targets sheet after sheet and tracks DeltaE against the reference, whether your shop is anchored to G7, ISO 12647 or a brand-specific standard. Every run is documented for the audit trail.
Which presses qualify?
Rutherford retrofits closed-loop color to most sheetfed offset presses with motorized ink keys: Heidelberg, Komori, Koenig & Bauer, Manroland, Mitsubishi, Ryobi and more, new or decades old. The free Rutherford Check confirms your console in about two minutes.
Do I need to replace my measurement hardware?
No. ColorLoop works with the X-Rite measurement most US pressrooms already own, IntelliTrax2 and MeasureColor included. Your existing investment becomes the sensor of the loop.
How is this different from buying a new press?
Offset360-class closed-loop adds connected measurement and automatic ink key correction to the press you already own. You get the color performance of a new press console for a fraction of the cost, with flexible financing.
How do I get started?
Run the free Rutherford Check: a few photos of your console, an answer within one business day. If your press qualifies, we design the configuration and set measurable targets before anything is installed.
Next step
Stop losing money on every makeready.
Every uncontrolled makeready burns sheets, ink and press time. Check free of charge whether your press qualifies: a few photos of your console, an answer within one business day. Figures in USD.