Alwan Color Expertise exhibited its Hydra Color Engine, based on patented spectral prediction technology, at the PRINTING United 2025 Expo.
Founder and president of Alwan Color Expertise, Elie Khoury, credits Hydra, which received the 2024 Pinnacle Award for technology, with making the 2025 exhibit the company’s most successful, to date, in North America.
Visitors to the Alwan booth fell into two categories, Khoury says: those who had heard about Hydra, and those who stopped to read Alwan’s exhibit signage and were impressed.
“The picture of the 40 patch Hydra chart stopped people in their tracks,” Khoury says. “The idea of having to measure so few patches, and being finished with profiling or spot color matching in a few minutes, is a little shocking to everyone who has struggled with color management.”
Alwan’s Commitment to Spectral Data
Those with deeper knowledge of colour science were also happy to learn that Alwan is committing to all spectral-based development moving forward, as spectral data is superior to conventional LAB (or colorimetric) colour management.
“We’ve been traveling, from Label Expo to Printing United, and then Hong Kong for ISO meetings,” says Khoury. “And everywhere that people are talking about color, Hydra is central to the conversation. They’re glad that it’s spectral. It looks like we got it right.”
Student Days
Alwan hosted two educational sessions for college students during Printing United 2025. In addition to its core business in software and solutions development, Alwan is involved in various education and training programs around the world.
About Hydra
Hydra requires only a very small number of patches to achieve IT8-level accuracy and produces less than Delta 1 for spot colour matching in minutes. Additionally, Hydra-powered products save up to 10% more ink than any other ink saving technology; without compromising print quality or colour accuracy.
Today, Hydra drives Alwan’s own Hydra Profiling, HydraSpot and HydraFix applications, and can be integrated with the wide range of commercial, packaging, textile, and other specialty print applications and workflows. Hydra is compatible with all types of output (i.e. digital, offset, gravure, flexo) and is specifically designed to handle multicolour printing processes including CMYKOGV, ensuring accurate characterisation of the Expanded Colour Gamut (ECG).
The Hydra Color Engine is also available for custom OEM integrations with strategic partners.
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