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ColorLoop

ColorLoop

Ink control systems, side by side.

InkZone, QualiTronic, ErgoTronic, SpectroDrive, EasyTrax, IntelliTrax. What each one does, and where ColorLoop fits.

Works on these presses

ColorLoop in action

On real presses.

Rutherford: 1,000+ systems in 30+ countries. Short films from sheetfed offset pressrooms; pick one to play it.

Watch the customer stories

THE SYSTEMS

Who does what.

SystemMakerWhat it does
InkZoneDigital InformationInk key presetting and closed-loop color control, retrofitted on sheetfed and web offset presses.
QualiTronic ColorControlKoenig & BauerInline color measurement and control, built into Rapida sheetfed presses.
ErgoTronic ColorControlKoenig & BauerAutomatic color measurement at the sheet inspection desk of the ErgoTronic console.
SpectroDriveTechkonAutomatic scanning spectrophotometer on a track at the press; sends the measurements to a PC.
EasyTraxPress-side color scanning system for sheetfed presses.
IntelliTrax and IntelliTrax2Automatic press-side color scanning for sheetfed presses. ColorLoop runs with them.
ColorLoopRutherford.frSoftware: ink presets before the first sheet, then corrections after each measurement. Runs with IntelliTrax or IntelliTrax2, on most press brands.

From each maker's own product pages, November 2026. Product names belong to their owners.

01 / COLORLOOP AT THE PRESS

See the color.
Control the run.

ColorLoop press-side interface on a Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Gen 6 with its webcam, showing six printing units, color-coded ink zones and operator controls
The ColorLoop screen on a Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Gen 6, with a demo job of six units and 32 ink zones. The animation over it is an illustration with sample values.

ColorLoop runs on a PC next to the press console. It works in three steps.

STEP 01

Preset

Ink-key settings calculated from the plates, paper and ink, sent to the console before the first sheet.

JOB SETUP · TO SCALE

About30 sAutomatic job setup

At least10 minManual job setup

STEP 02

Measure

Your operator scans the color bar with IntelliTrax or IntelliTrax2.

A color-coded view shows where each ink zone sits against its target.

STEP 03

Correct

Each ink zone is compared with its target and the corrections go to the console, after each measured sheet, pull after pull.

ColorLoop saves the data only when the color is stable. Validated settings improve the next presets.

AT THE PRESS

Your operator stays in control.

Your operator sees every ink zone and can take over at any time.

Learn how it works

WHERE COLORLOOP FITS

One software. Most presses.

Not tied to one press brand. Not a new scanner.

  • Heidelberg, Koenig & Bauer, Komori, Manroland, Ryobi, Mitsubishi and more
  • From 30-year-old machines to current models
  • Job setup in about 30 seconds
A printed sheet on the console of a Heidelberg press, the ink keys lit below
02 / WHAT IT SAVESPUBLISHED FIGURES

Save paper
and press time.

Every sheet before the color is right, costs you.

MAKEREADY SHEETS · EXAMPLE JOB
Example based on the published figure of up to 65% less waste. Figures published by Rutherford. Results vary by pressroom. Example job: 1,000 makeready sheets without ColorLoop, 350 with ColorLoop.
MAKEREADY TIME
Up to45% less makeready time

Up to€150,000saved every year

Figures published by Rutherford for ColorLoop on sheetfed offset presses. Results depend on your presses, stocks and jobs and are not a guarantee.

03 / IN PRODUCTIONRUTHERFORD.FR

Proven on press.

Ten stories, filmed on press since 2018.

Printwell

66%

reduction in makeready waste

Watch the testimonial

Viappiani Printing

40%

less makeready waste

Watch the testimonial

Moderna Printing

1,500

sheets for makeready, down from 3,000

Watch the testimonial

Figures published by Rutherford with each testimonial, before ColorLoop. Results depend on the pressroom.

Rutherford, worldwide

1,000+systems deployed

30+countries

Rutherford has deployed over 1,000 systems in more than 30 countries. Source: rutherford.fr

Testimonials.

2:00

Rutherford closed-loop installationFilmed before ColorLoop. Press play to watch it here.

Watch on YouTube

USA

Printwell

Challenge
Result

What changed

    Press
    System

    Challenge and result: the story card on rutherford.fr. What changed and the quote: the description of the video on YouTube.

    QUESTIONS

    Good to
    know.

    Is ColorLoop an alternative to InkZone, QualiTronic or SpectroDrive?

    ColorLoop does the same job, ink presets and closed-loop corrections on sheetfed offset, in its own way: it is software that runs with IntelliTrax or IntelliTrax2 scanning, on most press brands.

    Does ColorLoop work with SpectroDrive, EasyTrax or an inline camera?

    ColorLoop runs with IntelliTrax or IntelliTrax2. For another setup, start with the free console check: Rutherford tells you what your press needs.

    Does ColorLoop only work on one press brand?

    No. Virtually all sheetfed offset presses, from 30-year-old machines to current models: Heidelberg, Koenig & Bauer, Komori, Manroland, Ryobi, Mitsubishi and more.

    What does a closed loop do?

    The press prints, a scanner measures the color bar, and the software sends ink key corrections to the console. ColorLoop also presets the ink keys before the first sheet.

    FREE CONSOLE CHECKABOUT TWO MINUTES · NO COMMITMENT

    Four photos.
    One answer.

    Is your press ready for ColorLoop? Send four photos of your console from your phone. It is free, takes about two minutes and commits you to nothing.

    1. 01

      Open the console check

      On your phone, at the press.

      Click or scan to start your check.
    2. 02

      Take four photos

      The whole console, inside its cabinet, the ink keys, the nameplate.

    3. 03

      Get your answer

      Rutherford tells you within one business day whether your press is ready.

    Then order your ColorLoop. Available worldwide. Compatible consoles include Heidelberg, Komori, Koenig & Bauer, Manroland, Mitsubishi, Ryobi, Goss and Presstek. Questions? contact@rutherford.fr

    Your project briefRutherford · about 2 minutes

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