Creative & design

X-Rite unveils Pantone Colour of the Year

X-Rite and Pantone have revealed that Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray plus Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating have been chosen as their official Colour of the Year for 2021. “A marriage of strength and optimism, Ultimate Gray and Illuminating don’t have to be used in equal proportions. Either colour can take precedence whether for print, packaging, beauty or home furnishings,” said Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute. Ray Cheydleur, Printing and Packaging Market Manager at X-Rite, added: “Producing Illuminating for its highest visibility and impact, or Ultimate Gray for its versatility in packaging and store displays, will require the right colour management software that can match the colour across corrugated, film, offset and digital, to ensure that all the components match. This includes tools for digital colour communication, ink formulation, colour measurement and quality control.” To arrive at the selection, experts at the Pantone Color Institute search the globe for new colour influences. For 22 years, their choice has influenced product development and purchasing decisions across multiple industries worldwide.

Idealliance launches updated colour reproduction guide

Idealliance has released Volume 21 of its Guide to Print Production. The popular publication will now be offered as a textbook, printed on-demand and designed to serve as the definitive reference guide to the critical science of colour reproduction. At the heart of the guide are the standards and specifications that make colour possible and practical. For example, it includes Idealliance’s world-leading G7 specification and other science-based approaches to accurate, repeatable colour reproduction. The guide is organized into three parts. The first covers basic information about colour print reproduction and was designed for students and industry novices. The second focuses on Idealliance’s standards development, training and certification programs to improve competency and workflow. The third is the core of the guide and contains current, practical descriptions of specifications defining graphic communications colour workflow – including G7, GRACoL, and SWOP. This indepth section outlines colour, design and print management on specific data sets, targets, procedures and workflows that need to be considered in print and packaging creation and production.

Shutterstock debuts The Create Fund for designers

Shutterstock has announced The Create Fund – a $300,000 (USD) artist grant program that will provide financial support for artists around the globe – focusing on diversity, inclusion, social justice and environmental awareness through content they create. Shutterstock’s aim is to fill content gaps and further diversity and inclusion within its content library and contributor network. Support will be offered to “under-represented artists who are advancing the global mission of diversity and inclusion through their visual content.” At launch, grants offered will cover three areas: Create for Climate (supporting artists who depict climate change, environmental protests, and our changing landscape); Support Invisible Illness (promoting artists who create visual stories that break the stigma about mental health); and The Senior Creatives (supporting designers over 50 who want to share their experiences and perspectives through their creative work). Artists – including photographers, videographers, illustrators, composers or writers – are encouraged to apply and must submit a project proposal, examples of their work, and a short biography. Please visit the Shutterstock website for program deadlines and rules.

Evian launches its first label-free bottle

Evian has unveiled, in Singapore, a new bottle design made from 100% recycled plastic with an engraved logo, as the brand looks at innovative ways to reduce its use of virgin plastic. “Reinventing the way Evian natural mineral water is packaged, the newly-designed bottle presents an opportunity to reaffirm the brand's beliefs and involvement in protecting the environment,” said the company. Aligned with Singapore's Zero Waste Masterplan to pave the way towards a zero-waste nation, the introduction marks a significant milestone for Evian “to becoming a circular brand by 2025 by making all of its plastic bottles from 100% recycled plastic.” In early 2020, Evian received a global certification for becoming carbon neutral. Its new 400ml bottle design features an Evian Pink bottle cap and will be made available at selected hotel, café and retail outlets in the months ahead, according to the company.

Evian’s new label-free recycled plastic bottle.