RU2801299C2 - Method and system for determining a colour tint - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: production of colour images.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a system and method for determining the ink formulation. The method includes providing a database with a plurality of data sets, user determining a target application method, a target base, and a desired target tint, performing a search in the database, and, if at least one suitable data set is found, displaying of the paint formulation information stored in at least one dataset. In this case, the data set also contains information about at least one reference shade, a reference application method and a reference base. A reference shade is obtained by applying an ink according to the recipe to which the information contained in the data set relates to a reference substrate using a reference application method, the reference application method being different from the application method to which the information contained in the data set refers, and/or the reference framework is different from the framework to which the information contained in the dataset refers.

EFFECT: simplifying the method for determining the formulation and quality control of paint with a given shade.

14 cl

Description

The present invention relates to a system as well as a method for determining an ink formulation which, when applied using a certain application method, such as a planar printing method, to a certain substrate, such as paper, results in a colored product, such as printed paper, with a certain tint.

Such systems and methods are used for a wide range of applications, including packaging design. For example, when designing packaging such as food packaging, a new, colorful, multi-colored design is created whose accurate output requires that the colors specified by the packaging designer can be accurately realized when the packaging is printed using the ink formulations used to reproduce the different colors. . However, the hue achieved after applying the ink according to the recipe using the application method, i.e. in the case of printing, the hue achieved as a result of printing with the printing ink on the base, depends on a number of factors, in particular, on the specific type of substrate and the application method used. When printing with an ink by a flexographic printing method on paperboard, a printed product with a very different hue can be obtained compared to, for example, printing the same ink on coated paper using a gravure printing method. In addition, a conventional paper gravure printing ink that provides a desired tint to a packaging designer, when applied to a desired packaging board using a gravure printing method, will not produce the desired tint. Therefore, there is a need for an ink capable of producing the desired shade on a particular substrate using the desired printing process, or failing that, one needs to be developed.

In addition to providing the desired shade when applied to the target substrate using a specific application method, a formulated paint suitable for a new application, such as new packaging, must meet a variety of other criteria. Depending on the application, the paint according to the formulation must, for example, have a certain gloss value and be characterized by a more or less pronounced chemical resistance or a more or less pronounced light fastness (only some of the requirements are listed here).

In order to make it easier for packaging designers and other users to determine the appropriate ink formulation for a particular system despite these complex relationships, databases and computer programs have been developed that allow the user to set the required target parameters, such as target shade, base, application method with which the ink is applied. according to the recipe is applied to the base, the required chemical resistance of the colored product obtained as a result of applying the paint according to the recipe to the base, and other parameters. The computer program then searches the database for a suitable ink formulation and displays the ink formulation, after applying which, in accordance with the information stored in the database, to the target substrate using a certain application method, a colored product with a shade close to the desired target shade is obtained. If an ink formulation that produces a color at least approximately similar to the desired target shade is not found, the user will be notified that no matches were found.

Such a method and system is sold, for example, under the trade name PantoneLIVE.

From US 7,034,960 B2, a method of using a database to develop a colored product is known, which includes the following steps: i) storing the development information in the database, the development information including properties associated with the development of a plurality of colored products, ii) obtaining the first color information, including at least a first color, iii) identifying first design information in a database, wherein the first design information includes at least a first paint, iv) obtaining at least one physical property of a colored product, and v) using the first design information to determining whether at least one physical property matches the first ink. If at least one physical property does not match the first ink, the method either terminates or a warning is displayed to the user that at least one physical property does not match the first ink. The user can then change the design he wants or the requirements for the painted product until a matching match for the paint recipe is found in the database. The latter, however, is not a satisfactory solution, since in this case the user does not initially receive the ink formulation which will make it possible to obtain the desired colored product.

Once a user has received a paint formulation for their intended color product on a particular substrate, to which the paint according to that recipe is applied using a particular application method, that paint recipe is usually sent to the paint manufacturer (which may be located in another part of the world), after which he can make paint. Typically, the paint recipe is presented to the user as a recipe mixture of several semi-finished products, which can be purchased, for example, from a distributor of a computer program with which the paint recipe was determined using the above method. Such a paint formulation may, for example, consist of two to five colorants and a non-staining composition. Each of the dyes contains one or more pigments that are dispersed in, for example, a solvent and/or a binder, while the non-coloring composition may contain one or more binders, such as an alkyd resin, and/or one or more solvents, for example, a mineral or vegetable oil. In the case of offset printing inks, the composition is also referred to as a varnish. The paint manufacturer mixes these ingredients together to make the paint according to the recipe. However, there is a problem for the paint manufacturer in that it is expensive to perform a reliable quality control of the formula paint being made, since the formula paint must be applied to a specific substrate using a specific application method before comparing the hue of the thus obtained dyed product to a specific target hue. However, as a rule, only laboratory methods of application are available to the paint manufacturer, and often he does not have access to the customer's base. If the discrepancy between the determined target shade and the shade obtained for the production lot is too great, the paint manufacturer must correct the production lot by subsequently adding appropriate quantities of one or more semi-finished products.

Based on this, the present invention has been proposed a system and method for determining the formulation of an ink, when applied using a given method of application to a given substrate, a colored product with a given shade is obtained, and this system and method make it possible to easily produce an ink according to a certain recipe and provide a simple and reliable quality control of the resulting paint according to the specified recipe.

According to the present invention, this problem is solved by using a method for determining the formulation of paint, when applied using a certain application method on a certain base, a colored product with a certain shade is obtained, including:

a) providing a database in which a plurality of data sets are stored, each of the data sets in each case containing at least information about the paint formulation, the base, the method of application and the shade of the dyed product obtained after applying the paint according to the specified formulation with using the method of applying to the base,

b) indication by the user of the target application method, the target substrate and the desired target shade obtained in the final dyed product after applying the paint according to the recipe using a specific target application method on a specific target substrate,

c) performing a database search, preferably with a computer program, to determine if it contains at least one set of data that contains information about the paint formulation, after application of which using the target application method determined in step b), to the target the base determined in step b), a dyed product is obtained with a hue that corresponds to the target hue determined in step b), or deviates from it by no more than a certain tolerance, and

d) displaying, if at least one suitable data set is found in step c), the paint formulation information stored in the at least one data set,

moreover, at least one of the data sets (in addition to the information stored in it about the paint recipe, about the base, about the method of application and about the shade of the dyed product obtained after applying the paint according to the specified recipe using the method of applying to the base) also contains information on at least one reference shade, a reference application method, and a reference substrate, wherein the reference shade is obtained by applying an ink according to a specified recipe, information about which is contained in the data set, to a reference substrate defined in the data set using the reference application method defined in a data set, wherein the reference application method is different from the application method information contained in the data set and/or the reference substrate is different from the substrate information contained in the data set.

Since at least one of the datasets, preferably a plurality of datasets, and very preferably all datasets (in addition to the information stored in them about the paint recipe, about the base, about the method of application and about the shade of the dyed product obtained after applying the paint according to the specified recipe using the method of application to the base) also contain information about at least one reference shade, the reference method of application and the reference base, and the reference shade is obtained by applying the paint according to the recipe, information about which is contained in the data set, on the reference base using the reference method application, where the reference application method differs from the application method contained in the data set and/or the reference base differs from the base information contained in the data set, reliable quality control can be easily provided for the produced batch of paint according to the specified recipe . It is only necessary to apply the appropriate amount of paint according to the specified recipe from the production batch to the reference substrate using the reference application method, and then compare the shade of the reference dyed product made in this way with the reference shade information contained in the data set. If the deviation resulting from said comparison is within a certain acceptable range, the lot can be released. Otherwise, it must be corrected by adding one or more components until a shade is obtained within the acceptable range for the reference dyed product made using it.

A particular advantage of the method according to the present invention is that the quality control does not require the paint manufacturer to apply the resulting paint according to the specified recipe using the target application method specified by the customer (which usually requires a complex system), to the target substrate specified by the customer (possibly , very specific and not commercially available), but should use only a reference substrate, which, for example, is a standard paper available worldwide and universal, using a reference application method (preferably simple and not requiring a complex system). Otherwise, the paint manufacturer would have to purchase the appropriate target base specified by the customer for each individual paint formulation, which may not be available or which may be very difficult to obtain locally, and use a specific target application method specified by the customer. In this case, an ink manufacturer that produces many different ink formulations would need an extremely large warehouse space with many different, possibly scarce, target bases, as well as many different application systems, such as a web offset press, a gravure printing, etc. According to the present invention, on the other hand, a reference base and a reference application may be sufficient if the same reference substrate and reference application are stored for all ink formulations available in the database. However, for different inks, especially for different printing inks, it is advisable to choose different reference application methods, for example, for liquid and paste inks. These reference application methods may, for example, involve the use of a laboratory offset proofer (e.g. Prüfbau MZ II or MZE multipurpose test press, IGT offset proofer or Mickle Ink Proofer), another laboratory proofer for liquid printing inks such as the 180 lab tester (nsm Norbert Schläfli AG), flat circular proofer with engraved or etched plate, Pamarco Proofer, QD Proofing System manufactured by Harper Scientific, or doctor blade coater (e.g. , doctor blade coater Erichsen K Control Coater 623). If, for example, the reference application method is an offset printing method, the reference substrate is an ordinary standard paper, and the reference hue information is a reference spectral curve for a wavelength range of 180 to 4000 nm, for example, a reference spectral curve for a wavelength range from 400 to 700 nm, and the ink manufacturer for quality control should simply print the appropriate number of units of his production lot on standard paper, register the spectral curve for the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, on the surface obtained in this way product dyed (i.e. standard paper provided with ink according to the specified formulation) and compare the spectral curve thus obtained with the reference spectral curve. If the two spectral curves differ from each other by no more than a factor within the specified allowable range, the production lot can be released. In addition, the use of standard paper has the advantage that it ages less and is more durable than conventional paper.

In the context of the present invention, a standard paper is a paper that has been standardized in a national or international standard. Examples of suitable standard papers are specified in DIN ISO 2846-1:2017. If, for example, liquid paints are applied to a transparent film, a standard paper can be placed under it before recording the spectral curve to ensure standardized conditions for recording the spectral curve.

In the context of the present invention, the expression "two or more identical shades" means that these two or more shades, viewed under the same illumination, preferably under the same standard illumination according to ISO 3664, or, for example, measured under the conditions M0, M1, M2 or M3 measurements that are indistinguishable to the human eye and, in particular, differ from each other by no more than ΔE ₀₀ equal to 0.5, and preferably no more than ΔE ₀₀ equal to 0.2. In addition, the term "two or more identical shades" preferably means that two or more shades differ from each other by a dH* value not exceeding 0.5, and very preferably by a dH* value not exceeding 0.2. The parameters ΔE and dH* are defined in DIN EN ISO 11664-6: 2014.

In accordance with the present invention, the reference application method is different from the application method information contained in the data set and/or the reference substrate is different from the substrate information contained in the data set. This includes three alternatives, namely: first, the reference application method is different from the application method information contained in the data set, but the reference basis is the same as the basis information contained in the data set. Secondly, the reference substrate is different from the substrate information contained in the data set, but the reference application method is the same as the application method information contained in the data set. Thirdly, the reference application method is different from the application method information contained in the data set, and the reference substrate is different from the substrate information contained in the data set. This means that the reference shade stored in the dataset will generally be different from the shade also stored in the dataset, which results from applying the stored ink recipe using the application method stored in the dataset to a substrate, data about which are stored in the data set, unless there is a case where, despite the difference between the application method and the reference application method or the difference between the base and the reference base, the same shade will be obtained in both cases.

In order to effectively use the advantages of the present invention, as a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, very preferably at least at least 95%, and most preferably, all datasets (in addition to the ink recipe, base, application method, and tint of the dyed product obtained after applying the paint according to the specified recipe using the base method) contained information at least one reference shade, as well as an associated reference application method and an associated reference base.

As a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that in the above embodiment, the same master substrate data be stored in all data sets in which master substrate data are stored, and/or the corresponding reference application method be stored in all data sets, in which the reference application method is stored. This allows the formula paint manufacturer to use the same reference base for all the formulas stored in the database for quality control.

The present invention is not particularly limited with respect to the number of reference shades contained in each data set. Thus, each of the datasets may contain information about a reference hue, an associated reference application method, and an associated reference substrate, and each of the other datasets may contain information about two or more different reference hues, as well as associated reference application methods and reference substrates. , each of which provides the same target shade using a different method of application and / or on a different basis.

According to the first variant of this embodiment, at least one data set in the database contains information about exactly one reference shade, as well as the associated reference application method and the associated reference base. Preferably at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, very preferably at least 95% and most preferably all datasets contain exactly one reference shade information , as well as the associated reference application method and associated reference base.

According to the second variant of this embodiment, at least one data set in the database contains information about two different reference shades, as well as the corresponding reference applications and reference bases associated with them, and the first reference shade is obtained when the paint according to the recipe, the information which is contained in the data set is applied using the first reference application method to the first reference substrate, and the second reference shade is obtained when the ink according to the recipe information contained in the data set is applied to the second reference substrate using the second reference application method, wherein the first reference application method is different from the second reference application method and/or the first reference substrate is different from the second reference substrate. Preferably at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, very preferably at least 95% and most preferably all datasets contain information on two different reference shades , as well as the corresponding reference application methods and their associated reference substrates.

According to a third variant of this embodiment, at least one data set in the database contains information on more than two different reference shades. Preferably at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 80%, also preferably at least 90%, very preferably at least 95% and most preferably all datasets contain information on more than two different reference shades.

According to the fourth variant of this embodiment, some of the datasets in the database contain information on exactly one reference shade, while another part of the datasets contain information on two or more reference shades.

In the context of the present invention, the information stored in the datasets about at least one reference shade is all types of information that uniquely characterizes the reference shade.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference hue information is spectral curve data obtained by applying the ink according to the recipe stored in the corresponding data set using the reference method of applying to the reference base, and then registering the spectral curve on the surface of the resulting dyed product with using a spectrophotometer in the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm. The recorded spectral curve is particularly preferably a spectral reflectance curve recorded in the wavelength range from 400 to 700 nm. The spectral reflectance curve can be recorded such that total reflectance, total reflectance, diffuse reflectance, or directional reflectance is measured. The spectrum of light is preferably emitted to the measured product to be dyed at a first angle, and the reflection is measured with a sensor at a second angle. For example, a light source may emit a spectrum of light at a 45° angle onto a painted product, and a sensor may measure reflection at an angle of 0°, with both angles measured relative to the vertical, i.e. a plane perpendicular to the surface of the painted product, so a value of 0° corresponds to the vertical . Alternatively, the light source may emit a spectrum of light at 0° to the colored product and the sensor may measure reflectance at 45°, or the light source may diffusely emit a spectrum of light onto the colored product and the sensor may measure reflectance at 0°, 8°, or any other angle. The spectral curve data in this embodiment of the present invention may be reflectance values for every nanometer in the measured wavelength range, reflectance values for every fifth nanometer in the measured wavelength range, reflectance values for every tenth nanometer in the measured wavelength range, or reflectance values in other intervals.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the reference hue information may also be values in a color space corresponding to the reference hue. According to this embodiment, the reference hue information is preferably laboratory reference hue values. Alternatively, values from other color spaces may also be used, such as LUV values, RGB values, LCh values, XYZ values, or the like.

The above statements about the reference shade and the information stored in the datasets in the database apply equally to each of the shades stored in the datasets and to the target shade to be entered in step b) of the method according to the present invention. Thus, the information stored in the datasets about the hue or the target hue to be specified by the user in step b) may in each case be spectral curve data recorded in the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm, and preferably in the range wavelengths from 400 to 700 nm, for example, in particular, the spectral reflectance curve, or may be laboratory values of hue or the like.

In addition to information about at least one reference shade, the respective datasets contain information about the reference application method and the reference base, and the reference shade is obtained by applying paint according to the recipe information contained in these datasets using the reference application method on reference base. The reference application method information includes a specification of the reference application method such as web offset printing, a specification in the form of a numeric and/or letter code or text or the like identifying the reference application method, and the reference substrate information is, for example, specification of a reference substrate, such as a special standard paper, an indication of a numeric and/or letter code or text identifying the reference substrate, or spectral curve data recorded in the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, such in particular as a spectral reflectance curve or represents laboratory values for a reference base or the like.

The present invention is not limited with respect to the type of reference application method, information about which is contained in the data sets in the database. Thus, the reference application method can be any application method by which the formulation ink can be applied to a substrate. For example, the reference application method, information about which is contained in the datasets in the database, may be an application method selected from the group that includes printing methods, leather dyeing processes, textile dyeing processes, dyeing, rolling. , spraying, dipping, roller coating, pouring, screeding, powder coating, enamel coating and any combination of two or more of the above. The reference application method, information about which is contained in the datasets in the database, is preferably selected from flatbed printing, gravure printing, flexo printing, digital printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, pad printing, image transfer printing, sublimation printing, collotype printing, processes for applying a colorant to leather, processes for applying a colorant to a textile material, and any combination of two or more of the above. Examples of planar printing are sheetfed offset printing, web offset printing, stone printing, lithographic printing, and examples of digital printing are xerography and ink jet printing.

The above statements about the reference application method and information about it stored in the data sets in the database apply equally to the application methods stored in the shade data sets and to the target application methods to be entered in step b) of the method according to the present invention. Thus, the application method information contained in the datasets or the target application method that the user must specify in step b) can thus be an application method specification, a specification in the form of a numeric and/or numeric code or text, or etc., which identifies the method of application, and the method of application or target methods of application can be selected from the same group of methods as described above.

The present invention is not particularly limited with respect to the type of reference base information about which is contained in the datasets in the database. Thus, the reference substrate can be any substrate that can be inked according to the formulation using the application method. For example, the reference substrate may be a substrate selected from the group consisting of paper, quality board, packaging board, plastic film, leather, textile material, metal, wood, glass, ceramic, parchment, metallized surfaces, concrete, plastic cases, laminates. , composites and any combination of two or more of the above bases. The reference substrate is preferably selected from the group consisting of newsprint, uncoated paper, coated paper, quality paperboard, packaging board, corrugated board, plastic film (e.g. polyethylene (polyethylene, PE), polypropylene (polypropylene, OPP), polyamide). (polyamide, OPA), polyvinyl chloride (polyvinyl chloride, PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), polylactide film (polylactide foil, PLA)), felt, non-woven materials, plastic and aluminum film laminates, leather, textile material and any combinations of two or more of the above printing materials.

The above statements about the reference base and information about it stored in the datasets in the database apply equally to the bases that are stored in the hue datasets and to the target bases that must be entered in step b) method according to the present invention. Each of the substrate information contained in the datasets or the target substrate information to be specified by the user in step b) may be a specification of the substrate, such as a special standard paper, a specification in the form of a numeric and/or letter code, or text. , identifying the base, spectral curve data recorded in the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, such as, in particular, the spectral reflectance curve, laboratory values for the base or the like, and the base or target the base may be selected from the same base group as above. Alternatively or in addition to this, for example, the designation or trade name of the base can also be entered, or the spectral curve can be measured or read. The information about the respective bases stored in the datasets in the database is preferably spectral curve data, which was obtained by recording the spectral curve for the respective base with a spectrophotometer in the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm, and preferably in the wavelength range from 400 to 700 nm. Particularly preferably, it is a spectral reflectance curve recorded in the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm, and preferably in the wavelength range from 400 to 700 nm, for which a curve of total reflection, total reflection, diffuse reflection or directional reflection can be plotted. The measurement can be carried out, for example, at an angle of incidence/measurement angle of the sensor 45°/0°, at angles of 0°/45°, with diffuse irradiation/0°, with diffuse irradiation/8° or at other angles. In this embodiment of the present invention, the spectral curve data may be reflectance values for each nanometer from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, reflectance values for every fifth nanometer from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, values reflectance for every tenth nanometer from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, or reflectance values at other intervals.

In the context of the present invention, the term "ink formulation information stored in datasets" refers to all types of information that uniquely characterize an ink formulation. For example, this information may include details of all individual components or raw materials contained in the paint formulation, as well as their quantities. However, a paint formulation may also be specified as a mixture of semi-finished products, for example, a mixture of one or more compositions and one or more dyes. In addition, a paint formulation may be specified as a mixture of finished products, such as a mixture of two or more paints. In these cases, the information includes a specification of all semi-finished products contained in the paint formulation and data on their quantities, or a specification of all finished products contained in the paint formulation and their quantities. In addition, a paint formulation may be specified as a mixture of individual components or raw materials and semi-finished products, as a mixture of individual components or raw materials and finished products, as a mixture of semi-finished products and finished products, or as a mixture of individual components or raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products. Finally, the paint formulation may also be specified using a trade name or a code consisting of combinations of letters and/or numbers.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that at least one, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, very preferably at least 90% and most preferably all formulations paints, information about which is contained in the data sets in the database, consist of semi-finished products, namely preferably at least one dye and at least one non-staining composition. They very preferably consist of two to fifteen and very preferably two to ten semi-finished products. For example, they preferably consist of two to four dyes and a non-staining composition. For example, additional semi-finished products such as solvents or solvent mixtures, additives such as slip agents, wax additives or anti-foam agents, adhesion promoters, photoinitiators, stabilizers, desiccants, hardeners or the like may be added to specified dyes and non-staining components. In this embodiment, the paint recipe information stored in the datasets includes the specification of all semi-finished products contained in the paint recipe and data on their quantities. The non-staining composition may contain at least one component selected from the group consisting of binders, solvents, waxes, additives, reactive diluents, photoinitiators, hardeners, and any combination of two or more of these compounds. The at least one colorant is preferably a composition of pigments in solid, liquid or paste form or a composition containing one or more colorants in which one pigment or a mixture of two or more pigments is dispersed in a solvent, binder or solvent mixture and a binder. The dye may comprise, for example, at least one effect pigment, which is preferably selected from the group consisting of metallic effect pigments, pearlescent pigments, metal oxide coated mica, interference pigments, luminescent pigments, UV-absorbing pigments, IR-absorbing pigments. - rays of pigments, photochromic pigments, thermochromic pigments, piezoelectric pigments, magnetic pigments and any combination of two or more of the above types of pigments. Alternatively and/or in addition to this, non-effect pigments such as colored pigments, white pigments, black pigments and/or colorants can also be used. Preferably, at least one colorant additionally contains one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of additives, reactive diluents, photoinitiators, hardeners, and any combination of two or more of the above compounds. For example, at least one dye may contain a dispersant as an additive.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention it is provided that at least one, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, very preferably at least 90% and most preferably all paint formulations , information about which is contained in the data sets in the database, consist of finished products, namely preferably two to fifteen colors and very preferably two to ten colors. They may contain at least one coloring effect pigment, which is preferably selected from the group consisting of metallic effect pigments, pearlescent pigments, metal oxide coated mica, interference pigments, luminescent pigments, UV-absorbing pigments, IR-absorbing pigments. - rays of pigments, photochromic pigments, thermochromic pigments, piezoelectric pigments, magnetic pigments and any combination of two or more of the above types of pigments. Alternatively and/or additionally, non-effect pigments and/or colorants can also be used.

According to another alternative embodiment of the present invention, it is envisaged that some of the paint formulations contained in the datasets in the database consist of finished products, namely preferably two to five colors and possibly an additional neutral color component such as as a composition, while the other part of the paint formulations consists of semi-finished products, namely, preferably, from two to ten semi-finished products.

The present invention is not limited with respect to the type of paint formulations contained in the datasets in the database. Preferably at least one, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, very preferably at least 90% and most preferably all of the paint formulations contained in the data sets in the database is selected from the group consisting of printing inks, color coatings, powder coatings, leather inks and textile inks.

The input of the specification in step b) is preferably performed by the user who creates the entries in the computer program. In order for the user to enter the specification into the computer program in step b), it is proposed, as a further development of the concept according to the present invention, that the computer program contains GUI-selectable options for pre-selecting the parameters to be entered, namely the target application method, the target base and target shade. As an alternative, the input of the specification can also be carried out by transferring data, for example by transferring the corresponding data from a file stored on a storage medium or in a computer to a computer program.

In order to be able to specify the target application method in step b), it is preferable that the computer program contains pre-selection of application methods selectable using a graphical interface, from which the user can specify the target application method by selecting it in step b). Alternatively, the computer program may be programmed to allow the target application to be entered as text or as numeric and/or text codes that identify the target application.

As a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that the computer program be designed in such a way that in step b) the user can specify the target base in at least one, and preferably all of the following ways:

i) transferring to a computer program spectral curve data recorded with a spectrophotometer in the range from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, preferably a spectral reflectance curve and very preferably a spectral reflectance curve of the target base, measured as described above, in a computer program, e.g. directly (i.e. without using a data carrier), from a DVD, USB stick or the like,

ii) selecting with a pointing device a target base from a set of pre-selection options with different bases stored in a computer program,

iii) entering the values of the spectral curve, preferably the spectral reflectance curve and particularly preferably the spectral reflectance curve of the target substrate measured as explained above, into a computer program, for example by entering reflectance values for wavelengths from 180 to 4000 nm and preferably from 400 to 700 nm in 1 nm intervals, in 5 nm intervals, in 10 nm intervals, or in other intervals as numbers,

iv) inputting or transferring laboratory values for the target base or other color space values such as LUV values, RGB values, LCh values, XYZ values, or the like, into a computer program.

Further, preferably, the computer program should be designed such that, in step b), the user can specify the target hue in at least one, and preferably all, of the following ways:

i) transferring to a computer program spectral curve data recorded with a spectrophotometer in the range from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, preferably the spectral reflectance curve and very preferably the spectral reflectance curve of the target hue, measured as described above, in a computer program, e.g. directly (i.e. without using a data carrier), from a DVD, USB stick or the like,

ii) selecting, with a pointing device, a target hue from a set of pre-selection options with different hues stored in a computer program,

iii) Entering or reading the values of the spectral curve, preferably the spectral reflectance curve and particularly preferably the spectral reflectance curve of the target hue, measured as explained above, into a computer program, for example by entering reflectance values for wavelengths from 180 to 4000 nm and preferably from 400 up to 700 nm in 1 nm intervals, in 5 nm intervals, in 10 nm intervals or in other intervals as numbers,

iv) inputting, reading or transmitting laboratory values for the target hue or other color space values such as LUV values, RGB values, LCh values, XYZ values, or the like, into a computer program.

According to the present invention, in step c), a database is searched by a computer program to determine if it contains at least one set of data that contains information about the paint formulation, after application of which using the target application method determined in step b ) on the target basis determined in step b), a colored product is obtained with a shade that corresponds to the target shade determined in step b), or deviates from it by no more than a certain tolerance. The tolerance is indicated in order to take into account the fact that the human eye is not able to perceive the slightest difference between two almost identical shades. Thus, setting the tolerance increases the chance of matching in step c) without having to allow unacceptable deviations from the given target hue.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tolerance for step c) is pre-set in the computer program.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the user can enter the tolerance in step c) in the computer program. To this end, the computer program may be designed to be able to set a constant tolerance, for example by entering a numerical value. In addition, the computer program may be designed such that a user can set the tolerance to the default settings specified in the computer program, such as by pointing to and accepting one of a plurality of tolerances defined in the computer program. Furthermore, the two embodiments can be combined by designing the computer program so that the user can decide whether to set the tolerance according to the default settings defined in the computer program, or by entering a numeric value, for example.

As a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed to set the maximum tolerance so that in step c) it corresponds to a Delta E value not exceeding 2, preferably not exceeding 1 and particularly preferably not exceeding 0.5, regardless of whether the pre-set this tolerance in a computer program or it is entered by the user. All common Delta E values can be used as Delta E values such as ΔE* _ab , ΔE94, ΔE ₀₀ , DIN99, DIN99 _o , CMC, Lübbe, Lübbe amended, CIECAM02. Preferably, ΔE ₀₀ is used. In principle, two different shades have a deviation of ΔE ₀₀ to 1, corresponding to a very slight shade deviation which can only be distinguished by the eye of a specialist. Deviations of ΔE ₀₀ up to 0.5 are generally considered indistinguishable, and deviations of ΔE ₀₀ up to 0.2 cannot be distinguished even by the eye of a specialist.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that in step d) only the ink formulation that provides the best target shade is displayed. If in step c) two or more sets of data are found that contain information about the paint formulation, after application of which, using the target application method determined in step b), on the target substrate determined in step b), a colored product with a shade is obtained, which corresponds to or deviates from the target shade determined in step b) by no more than a certain tolerance, thus according to this preferred embodiment, only the data set is displayed that provides a colored product with a shade that differs the least (i.e., with the smallest value of ΔE ₀₀ ) from the target shade.

As explained above, the ink formulation can essentially be defined as the formulation for the amounts of all individual raw materials. However, since such paint formulations are very complex, this means that all paints must be obtained in a very logistically complex manufacturing process, since all raw materials must first be purchased. Thus, it is preferable that the paint formulation be defined as a mixture of semi-finished products, for example, a mixture of one or more compositions and one or more dyes, or as a mixture of finished products, for example, a mixture of several colors, if necessary with additional admixture. For this reason, it is preferable that in step d) the composition of the paint formulation be specified i) as a mixture of semi-finished products, preferably as a mixture of two to fifteen semi-finished products and very preferably as a mixture of two to ten semi-finished products, or ii) as a mixture of finished products, preferably as a mixture of two to fifteen finished products, and very preferably as a mixture of two to ten finished products.

Thus, the display of paint recipe information stored in at least one data set, in these embodiments, includes the specification of quantities and the designation of the individual semi-finished products or finished products that make up the paint recipe.

As a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that in step d) at least one reference shade from at least one data set is also indicated. The user can then use it for later quality control, or save it as long as it is used to create a paint recipe, or pass it on to a service provider who will make the paint according to the recipe.

The at least one reference shade may be defined in any form that uniquely characterizes the reference shade. For example, at least one reference hue may be specified as laboratory values (or values for another color space, such as LUV values, RGB values, LCh values, XYZ values, or the like), as a spectral curve (in particular, a reflectance) for the range from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 180 to 4000 nm, or as spectral curve data (in particular the spectral reflectance curve) for the range from 180 to 4000 nm and preferably from 180 to 4000 nm.

The present invention is particularly suited to the use of databases with a large number of data sets. The database used in the method according to the present invention preferably contains more than 10 data sets, more preferably more than 100 data sets, even more preferably more than 1000 data sets, particularly preferably more than 10°000 data sets, particularly preferably more than 100°000 data sets, highly preferably more than 500,000 data sets and most preferably a million or more data sets.

After displaying the match found in step c) of the method according to the present invention, the user can make the ink according to the recipe found or request its manufacture from the service provider. In particular, if the ink according to the formulation determined in step c), according to the information contained in the database, after application using the target application method determined in step b), on the target substrate determined in step b ) provides a colored product with a hue that differs from the target hue determined in step b) within a certain tolerance, for example with an ΔE ₀₀ value of 0.5, preferably the user can visually evaluate the resulting hue before deciding , whether to accept it or not, and whether to make or receive a color, without first creating the paint according to the recipe. To facilitate the implementation of this action according to another very preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer program contains a test algorithm configured to simulate or calculate a hue, the simulated or calculated hue when printed using a computer on a test printer, i.e. in a different way from of the target application method determined in step b), on the test substrate, matches the shade obtained by applying the ink according to the formulation determined in step c), using the target application method determined in step b), on the target substrate determined in step b). In this embodiment, the computer program is preferably designed such that the user can specify the test printer and test substrate, for example by selecting, with a pointing device, the appropriate test printer and test substrate from a list displayed by the computer program, or by entering a numeric and/or numeric code or etc. that identify the test printer and test bed. The test printer is preferably a conventional and commercially available worldwide paper printer, sheet-fed offset printing press, screen printing press, or gravure printing press. The test printer is particularly preferably a conventional and worldwide commercially available paper printer, particularly preferably at least a 4-color paper printer, and particularly preferably at least a 7-color paper printer. In this context, at least a 4-color paper printer means a 4-color paper printer, a 6-color paper printer, or a paper printer capable of printing even more colors, and at least a 7-color paper printer in this context means a 7-color paper printer, an 8-color paper printer, a 9-color paper printer, or a paper printer capable of print even more colors. In this way, certain shades can be reproduced very accurately. Conventional 4-color printers typically use cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. According to the present invention, a suitable printer of at least 7 colors is preferably capable of printing in cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange, magenta and green. In particular, the paper test printer is a conventional and commercially available worldwide inkjet printer or laser printer, and most preferably at least a 7-color inkjet printer. The test substrate is preferably conventional and commercially available worldwide inkjet or laser paper. This embodiment allows the user to simply and inexpensively view and evaluate the shade obtained by applying the ink according to the recipe displayed in step d) of the method according to the present invention to the target substrate using the target application method, without having to apply the paint according to the recipe displayed in step d. ) the method according to the present invention on a target basis, which in some cases can be expensive, using a target application method, which in some cases can be complicated. This is because the hue calculated using the testing algorithm corresponds to the hue obtained when the ink according to the recipe displayed in step d) is applied to the target substrate using the target application method. Thus, this embodiment of the present invention allows the user to check very easily and quickly whether the ink formulation determined in step d) is suitable for his task. If the paint formulation is found suitable, the user can order it from the appropriate manufacturer, who can quickly and easily provide the paint according to the formulation, obtained as detailed above, with quality control by applying it using the reference application method to the reference substrate, and compare the resulting a tint with a reference tint that differs from the target tint and the test tint, such that it is not necessary for quality control to apply the ink according to the recipe in step d) of the method of the present invention to the target substrate using the target application method. Thus, this embodiment is highly preferable if the target application method is very complicated and costly, and the target base is expensive and difficult to obtain.

Often the colored product desired by the user is not simply a base with a paint applied to it, but, for example, a corresponding colored product in which, after applying the paint according to the formula to a certain base using a certain application method, it is applied with a top coat or primer. . If the top coat or primer is not color neutral, for example in the case of matt paints, effect paints, tactile paints, scented paints, it will at least slightly change the shade of the colored product. Even if the top coat or primer is color neutral, the application of the top coat or primer will affect the gloss of the dyed product. To account for these effects in the method, it is preferred that at least some of the datasets, such as at least 10% and preferably at least 30% of the datasets, also contain topcoat or primer specifications, with the shade data stored in corresponding data set indicate the shade of the dyed product that is obtained by printing the ink according to the recipe stored in the data set, using the application method stored in the data set, on the substrate stored in the data set, and then applying a top coat or primer , whose data is stored in the dataset. This makes it possible to ensure that even when a topcoat or primer is used, the method of the present invention determines an ink formulation that, within a certain tolerance, produces the desired shade of the colored product containing the topcoat or primer.

For the above reasons, it is preferable that the computer program used in the method according to the present invention be designed so that the user can specify the top coat or primer and the amount of top coat or primer applied in step b), and search the database in step c) to determine if it contains at least one dataset storing an ink formulation that produces a specific shade with a given maximum tolerance when the ink formulation stored in the dataset is applied to the target substrate determined in step b), using the target application method determined in step b) and then applying the specified amount of top coat or primer determined in step b).

This embodiment is also highly preferred for printing inks, in which case the top coat is a lacquer top coat, the application method is a printing method, and the base is paper, cardboard, sheet metal or plastic film.

In addition to applying printing inks, the method according to the present invention is also very suitable for dyeing processes for leather and textile material, so that the application method may in particular be a leather dyeing process or a textile dyeing process, and the base may be leather or a textile material.

According to another very preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 75%, particularly preferably at least 90% and most preferably, all datasets also contain information about at least one of the following characteristics, from which the user can choose:

i) one or more halftones of a dyed product,

ii) gloss level of the colored product,

iii) different levels of gloss at different viewing angles of the painted product,

iv) tactile (i.e. tactile) properties of the colored product,

v) the scratch resistance of the colored product,

vi) tear strength of the colored product,

vii) tensile strength of the dyed product,

viii) lightfastness of the dyed product,

ix) temperature resistance of the colored product,

x) resistance of the colored product to gamma radiation,

xi) resistance of the colored product to chemicals,

xii) resistance of the colored product to pasteurization,

xiii) resistance of the colored product to sterilization,

xiv) resistance of the dyed product to moisture,

xv) resistance of the colored product to delamination,

xvi) absence of certain ingredients in the paint formulation,

xvii) the opacity of the colored product,

xviii) the slip properties of the colored product.

The dyed product, in turn, is the product obtained by applying the paint according to the recipe, information about which is contained in the corresponding data set, on the basis, information about which is contained in the corresponding data set, using the application method, information about which is contained in the corresponding data set. dataset.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, for a method of applying a dye to a textile material, it is provided that at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 75%, very preferably at least 90%, and most preferably, all datasets also contain information about at least one of the following:

i) antistatic finish,

ii) fire retardant finish,

iii) water repellency,

iv) oil repellency,

v) hydrophilization,

vi) fastening,

vii) finishing,

viii) air conditioning,

ix) waxing,

x) coating with fluorocarbon resins,

xi) lightfastness,

xii) wash fastness,

xiii) abrasion resistance.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, for a method of applying a colorant to the skin, it is provided that at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 75%, very preferably at least at least 90%, and most preferably, all datasets also contain information about at least one of the following:

i) polyurethane finish,

ii) aniline finish,

iii) nitrocellulose finish,

iv) impregnation,

v) embossing,

vi) oil finish,

vii) wax finish,

viii) coating (oil coating),

ix) coating (cold coating),

x) light fastness,

xi) abrasion resistance,

xii) dirt repellency,

xiii) gloss.

The last three embodiments presented make it possible, using the method of the present invention, not only to determine the paint formulation which, when applied to the desired target substrate using the desired target application method, produces a colored product with the desired target shade, but in particular also to determine the corresponding paint formulation, which has the desired additional properties, such as the required chemical resistance, and provides the desired gloss of the painted product, or the like.

To implement this embodiment, it is also preferable that the computer program used in the method according to the present invention be designed so that the user can additionally indicate in step b) at least one of the characteristics i)-xviii) for printing methods or i) -xiii) for textile materials and leather.

In order to achieve the advantages of this embodiment to a greater extent, as a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 75% , particularly preferably at least 90% and most preferably all data sets also contain information on at least three, preferably at least five, particularly preferably at least 10, very preferably at least 15 and most preferably about all features i)-xviii), and preferably the user can specify them in step b).

As a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, very preferably at least 95% and most preferably all the datasets contained in the database for three different angles, preferably for 20°, 60° and 85°, but at least for an angle of 60°, in relation to the surface of the painted product, contain certain gloss values and so that the user can indicate in step b) the target gloss values to be achieved at three different angles for the colored product. In this embodiment, it is highly preferred that the gloss values are graduated to at least a glossy, semi-gloss and matt appearance. For example, matte inks can have gloss values between 0 and 24, semi-matt inks can have gloss values between 25 and 50, and glossy inks can have gloss values above 51.

Gloss values are measured according to DIN 67530/ISO 2813 and the colors are applied, for example, with a 6 µm doctor blade.

According to another highly preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, very preferably at least 95% and most preferably all data sets contained in the database included information about at least one semitone, this information containing at least information about the shade that a colored product has, which is obtained by applying to the target base the paint according to the formulation, information about which is stored in the corresponding data set, as halftones using the target application method. This allows you to get an idea of how the desired hue will appear in full tone and in individual gradations / semitones, respectively, or which spectral curves will be obtained. This is preferably required in order to be able to distinguish visually as well as spectrally in halftones identical shades which have been mixed from several different combinations of pigments. Full tones can look the same visually and spectrally, but if different combinations of pigments are present, different hues/locations of colors are obtained in the midtones.

In this embodiment, it is particularly preferred that the respective data sets include respective information of at least two semitones, preferably at least 4 semitones, and particularly preferably at least 6 semitones, the information of each of the at least two semitones containing at least information about the corresponding shade that the corresponding colored product has, which is obtained by applying the ink according to the recipe, information about which is stored in the corresponding data set, on the target basis in the form of the corresponding halftone using the target application method. The halftones contained in the corresponding data set preferably cover at least 25%, particularly preferably at least 50%, very preferably at least 75% and most preferably the entire range of halftones.

To implement this embodiment, it is also preferable that the computer program used in the method according to the present invention be designed so that the user can indicate (measure, read) values for both a full tone and at least one semitone in step b ).

In particular, at the beginning of the construction of the database used in the method according to the present invention, in which it does not yet contain data sets for all possible combinations of application method, base and shade along with any other additional characteristics i)-xviii) for printing methods or i )-xiii) for textiles and leather, it is likely that for a certain combination of target application, target base and target shade entered in step b), step c) will not find a suitable data set. In addition, in order to provide the user with a paint recipe with which, in this case, he can complete his project, as a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that the computer program include a recipe algorithm that allows you to calculate the paint recipe, after applying which using of the target application method determined in step b) of the method according to the present invention, on the target base determined in step b) of the method according to the present invention, a certain shade of the target colored product is obtained with a certain maximum tolerance.

The computer program is preferably designed such that the recipe algorithm that calculates the paint recipe is executed if no suitable data set is found in step c).

It is also preferable that, prior to executing the formulation algorithm that calculates the ink formulation, the appropriate components for the ink formulation according to the user's specifications are passed from the computer program to the formulation algorithm in accordance with the user's specifications, from which the formulation algorithm (solely) calculates the ink formulation. The components of a paint formulation include raw materials, semi-finished products and/or finished products that are stored in a database along with their properties and paint properties. This embodiment makes it possible to calculate an ink formulation with which the user obtains the desired shade and which, in particular, also provides additional defined characteristics, such as one or more characteristics i)-xviii) for printing methods or i)-xiii) for textiles. products and leather. If, for example, the user specifies in step b) a certain chemical resistance, for example to acids, to be achieved, the computer program only transfers data on the ingredients, i. chemical resistance.

In the above embodiment of the present invention, it is also preferred that the components of the ink formulation passed from the computer program to the formulation algorithm, in particular, satisfy at least one, preferably at least three, more preferably at least five, particularly preferably at least ten , highly preferably at least fifteen, and most preferably all criteria i)-xviii) defined by the user for printing methods or i)-xiii) for textiles and leather.

According to another highly preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, particularly preferably at least 40%, more preferably at least 60%, very preferably at least 80% and most preferably all datasets also included information on the spectral curve of the surface of the first colored product obtained, which was obtained, for example, by spreading a portion of the first production batch of ink according to the ink formulation determined in step d) onto white-coated paper and recording spectral curve, particularly preferably a spectral reflectance curve from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm on its surface, using a spectrophotometer. In addition to the screed coating application, the first production batch can also be applied to the substrate, preferably paper, using any other application method such as, for example, lab proof printing or doctor blade broaching. This embodiment facilitates the implementation of quality control for each successive production batch produced. For each additional production batch, a portion of that subsequent production batch of the ink formulation can then be coated by a screed method on the same coated paper for quality control, and the spectral curve obtained in this way can be recorded on the surface of the painted product under the same conditions. , as for the first production batch. The spectral curve obtained in this way then only needs to be compared with the spectral curve stored in the data set. If the deviation resulting from said comparison is within a certain acceptable range, the lot can be released. Otherwise, it must be corrected by adding one or more components until a shade is obtained that is within the acceptable range for the reference color product made using it.

As a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that in this embodiment at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, particularly preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 60%, very preferably at least at least 80% and most preferably all datasets also contained the spectral surface curve of the second color product obtained, which was obtained, for example, by spread-coating a portion of the second production batch of paint according to the formula defined in step d) on white paper with coating and registration of the spectral curve from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm on its surface using a spectrophotometer. In addition to said screed coating, a second production batch can also be applied to a substrate, preferably paper, using any other application method such as, for example, lab proof printing or doctor blade broaching.

Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the data sets include, in addition to the spectral curve of the second colored product obtained, the spectral curve of the colored product obtained using a backup sample from the first production batch, which was obtained by coating in the flattening a portion of a backup sample from the first production batch of ink according to the formula indicated in step d) onto coated white paper, and recording a spectral curve from 180 to 4000 nm, preferably from 400 to 700 nm, on its surface using a spectrophotometer simultaneously with application to in the form of coating by the leveling method, as well as recording the spectral curve for part of the second production batch of paint according to the recipe indicated in step d). Simultaneous screeding of both samples on the same coated white paper and comparing them further increases the accuracy of quality control.

Another object of the present invention is a database for determining a paint formulation, after application of which, using a certain application method on a certain base, a colored product with a certain shade is obtained, and the database stores a plurality of data sets, each of the data sets contains at least information about the paint formulation, the base, the method of application, and the shade of the dyed product obtained after applying the paint according to the specified recipe using the method of applying to the base. According to the present invention, at least one of the data sets also contains information about at least one reference shade, one reference application method and one reference base, and the reference shade is obtained by applying the paint according to the recipe, information about which is contained in the data set, on the reference a substrate defined in the data set using a reference application method, wherein the reference application method is different from the application method information contained in the data set and/or the reference substrate is different from the substrate information contained in the data set.

The database preferably contains more than 10 datasets, more preferably more than 100 datasets, even more preferably more than 1000 datasets, particularly preferably more than 10000 datasets, particularly preferably more than 1000000 datasets, very preferably more than 5000000 datasets and most preferably one million data sets or more.

As a further development of the concept according to the present invention, it is proposed that at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, very preferably at least 95% and most preferably all datasets contained information on at least one reference shade.

Another object of the present invention is a system for determining the formulation of paint, after application of which, using a certain method of application on a certain basis, a colored product with a certain shade is obtained, in particular, for carrying out the method described above, comprising:

a) the previously described database,

b) a computer program that is programmed in such a way that the user can enter data about the target application method, the target substrate and the desired target shade for the resulting dyed product obtained after applying the paint according to the recipe using a specific target application method on a specific target substrate, into a computer program,

c) wherein the computer program is also programmed to search the database to determine if it contains at least one set of data that contains information about the paint formulation, after application of which using the target application method determined in step b), on the target base determined in step b), a dyed product is obtained with a shade that corresponds to the target shade determined in step b), or differs from it by no more than a certain tolerance, and

d) wherein the computer program is also programmed such that if at least one suitable data set is found in step c) it displays to the user the ink formulation information stored in the at least one data set.

Claims (71)

1. A method for determining the paint formulation and controlling the quality of the resulting paint according to the specified formulation, after applying which, using a certain application method on a certain base, a colored product with a certain shade is obtained, including: a) providing a database in which a plurality of data sets are stored, each of the data sets in each case containing at least information about the ink formulation, the base, the method of application, and the shade of the dyed product obtained after applying the ink according to the specified formulation with using the method of applying to the base, b) indication by the user of the target application method, the target substrate and the desired target shade obtained in the final dyed product after applying the paint according to the recipe using a specific target application method on a specific target substrate, c) performing a database search with a computer program to determine if it contains at least one set of data that contains information about the paint formulation, after application of which using the target application method determined in step b), on the target substrate , determined in step b), a colored product is obtained with a shade that corresponds to the target shade determined in step b), or deviates from it by no more than a certain tolerance, and d) displaying, if at least one suitable data set is found in step c), the ink formulation information stored in the at least one data set, characterized in that at least 80% of the data sets also contain information about at least one reference shade, reference application method and reference base, and the reference shade is obtained by applying paint according to the recipe, information about which is contained in the data set, on the reference base using a reference application method, wherein the reference application method differs from the application method information contained in the data set and/or the reference substrate differs from the substrate information contained in the data set, wherein the reference substrate is a standard paper defined in DIN ISO 2846-1: 2017, and the method also includes: e) making an ink according to said recipe; and i) applying the thus made ink according to said recipe to a standard paper using a reference application method, and then comparing the hue of the reference dyed product thus made to the reference hue information contained in the dataset. . 2. A method for determining the paint formulation and controlling the quality of the resulting paint according to the specified formulation, after applying which, using a certain application method on a certain base, a colored product with a certain shade is obtained, including: a) providing a database in which a plurality of data sets are stored, each of the data sets in each case containing at least information about the ink formulation, the base, the method of application, and the shade of the dyed product obtained after applying the ink according to the specified formulation with using the method of applying to the base, b) indication by the user of the target application method, the target substrate and the desired target shade obtained in the final dyed product after applying the paint according to the recipe using a specific target application method on a specific target substrate, c) performing a database search with a computer program to determine if it contains at least one set of data that contains information about the paint formulation, after application of which using the target application method determined in step b), on the target substrate , determined in step b), a colored product is obtained with a shade that corresponds to the target shade determined in step b), or deviates from it by no more than a certain tolerance, and d) displaying, if at least one suitable data set is found in step c), the ink formulation information stored in the at least one data set, characterized in that at least 80% of the data sets also contain information about at least one reference shade, the reference application method and the reference base, and the reference shade is obtained by applying paint according to the recipe, information about which is contained in the data set, on the reference base using a reference application method, wherein the reference application method is different from the application method information contained in the data set and/or the reference substrate is different from the substrate information contained in the data set, wherein the reference substrate is a standard paper defined in DIN ISO 2846-1: 2017, and at least 80% of all data sets also contain information on the spectral surface curve of the first obtained painted product, which was obtained by applying part of the first production batch of paint according to the recipe indicated in step d), on white coated paper and recording a spectral curve in the range from 400 to 700 nm on its surface using a spectrophotometer, and the method also includes: e) making an ink according to said formulation; and ii) applying the thus prepared ink according to said formulation on coated white paper, recording on the surface of the thus obtained colored product a spectral curve in the range of 400 to 700 nm using a spectrophotometer, and comparing the thus obtained spectral curve with the spectral curve stored in the dataset. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least 90%, preferably at least 95% and most preferably all data sets contain information about at least one reference shade, as well as about the associated reference application method and related reference basis. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the information about at least one reference shade contains data of the spectral curve, which were obtained by applying paint according to the specified recipe stored in the corresponding data set, using the reference method of applying to the reference base, and then recording the spectral curve on the surface of the resulting colored product using a spectrophotometer in the wavelength range from 180 to 4000 nm and preferably from 400 to 700 nm. 5. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that (i) in step d) the composition of the paint formulation i) is indicated as a mixture of semi-finished products, preferably as a mixture of two to fifteen semi-finished products, and particularly preferably as a mixture of two to ten semi-finished products, or ii) is indicated as a mixture of finished products, preferably as a mixture of two up to fifteen finished products and particularly preferably as a mixture of two to ten finished products, or iii) listed as a mixture of semi-finished products with finished products, or iv) listed as a mixture of semi-finished products with separate components, or v) listed as a mixture of finished products with separate components, or vi) listed as a mixture of semi-finished products, finished products and single ingredients, or vii) listed as a mixture of single ingredients and/or (ii) at least one, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, very preferably at least 90%, and most preferably all datasets in the form of paint formulation information contain specifications for the individual components contained therein and their quantities, and/or a specification for semi-finished products contained therein and their quantities, and/or a specification for finished products contained therein and their quantities. 6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the computer program is designed so that in step b) the user can specify the target base in at least one, and preferably all of the following methods: i) transferring to a computer program data of the spectral curve of the target base, recorded using a spectrophotometer, in the range from 180 to 4000 nm, and preferably from 400 to 700 nm, ii) selecting, using a pointing device, a target base from a set of pre-selection options with various bases stored in a computer program, iii) entering or reading spectral curve values of the target base, iv) entering or reading laboratory values for the target basis, and/or so that, in step b), the user can specify the target hue in at least one, and preferably all, of the following ways: i) transferring to a computer program data of the spectral curve of the target hue, recorded using a spectrophotometer, in the range from 180 to 4000 nm, and preferably from 400 to 700 nm, ii) selecting, with a pointing device, a target hue from a set of preselections with different hues stored in a computer program, iii) entering or reading spectral curve values for the target hue, iv) entering or reading laboratory values for the target shade. 7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the computer program is designed in such a way that in step b) the user can specify the target base in at least one, and preferably all of the following methods: i) transferring to a computer program data of the spectral curve of the target base, recorded using a spectrophotometer, in the range from 400 to 700 nm, ii) selecting, using a pointing device, a target base from a set of pre-selection options with various bases stored in a computer program, iii) entering or reading spectral curve values of the target base, iv) Entering or reading laboratory values for the target basis and/or so that, in step b), the user can specify the target hue in at least one, and preferably all, of the following ways: i) transferring to a computer program the data of the spectral curve of the target hue, recorded using a spectrophotometer, in the range from 400 to 700 nm, ii) selecting, with a pointing device, a target hue from a set of preselections with different hues stored in a computer program, iii) entering or reading spectral curve values for the target hue, iv) entering or reading laboratory values for the target shade. 8. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer program for step c) is preset with a tolerance and/or the user sets step c) for a constant tolerance or tolerance in accordance with default settings, with the maximum tolerance for step c) corresponds to an E ₀₀ value of at most 1, preferably at most 0.5 and particularly preferably at most 0.2. 9. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer program comprises a test algorithm configured to calculate a hue, wherein the calculated hue is printed on a test paper base using a computer and using a test printer to print on the paper, .e. in a different way from the target application method determined in step c) and the same shade is obtained as when the ink according to the formulation determined in step c) is applied using the target application method determined in step b) on the target substrate, determined in step b). 10. The method of claim. 9, characterized in that the computer program is developed in such a way that the user can define a test printer for printing on paper and a test paper base. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the computer program is developed in such a way that the test printer for printing on paper is at least a 4-color printer for printing on paper, preferably at least a 7-color printer for printing on paper. printing on paper, and particularly preferably at least a 7-color ink jet printer. 12. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 75%, very preferably at least at least 90% and most preferably all datasets also contain information about at least one of the following characteristics, from which the user can choose: i) one or more semitones, ii) gloss level of the colored product, iii) different levels of gloss at different viewing angles of the painted product, iv) the tactile properties of the colored product, v) the scratch resistance of the colored product, vi) tear strength of the colored product, vii) tensile strength of the colored product, viii) lightfastness of the dyed product, ix) temperature resistance of the colored product, x) resistance of the colored product to gamma radiation, xi) resistance of the colored product to chemicals, xii) resistance of the colored product to pasteurization, xiii) resistance of the colored product to sterilization, xiv) resistance of the dyed product to moisture, xv) resistance of the colored product to delamination, xvi) absence of certain ingredients in the paint formulation, xvii) the opacity of the colored product, xviii) the slip properties of the colored product. 13. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer program contains a recipe algorithm that allows you to calculate the paint recipe, after application of which, using the target application method determined in step b) of the method according to the present invention, on the target substrate, determined in step b) of the method according to the present invention, a certain shade is obtained on the target colored product with a certain maximum tolerance, and the computer program is designed in such a way that the recipe algorithm that calculates the paint recipe is executed if a suitable data set is not found in step c) , and prior to executing the formulation algorithm that calculates the ink formulation, the appropriate formulation ink components based on user specifications (solely) from which the formulation algorithm calculates the ink formulation are passed from the computer program to the formulation algorithm. 14. A system for determining the paint formulation and quality control of the resulting paint according to the specified formulation, after applying which, using a given application method on a given base, a colored product with a given shade is obtained, to perform the method according to at least one of paragraphs. 1-13 containing: a test printer designed to print test samples, a spectrophotometer designed to obtain spectral curves of colored products, and a) a computer containing a database for determining the paint formulation and quality control of the obtained paint according to the specified formulation, after application of which, using a given application method on a given base, a colored product with a given shade is obtained, and the database stores a plurality of data sets, each of of the data sets contains at least information about the ink formulation, the base, the method of application, and the shade of the dyed product obtained after applying the ink according to the specified recipe using the method of applying to the base, in which at least 80% of the data sets also contain information on at least one reference shade, one reference application method, and one reference substrate, wherein the reference shade is obtained by applying the ink according to the recipe information contained in the data set to the reference substrate using the reference application method, the reference application method being different from the application information contained in the data set and/or the reference substrate differs from the substrate information contained in the data set, where the reference substrate is a standard paper defined in DIN ISO 2846-1:2017, and where the database contains over 100 datasets, b) and the computer also includes a computer program that is programmed to allow the user to enter data about the target application method, the target base and the desired target shade for the final dyed product obtained after applying the paint according to the specified recipe using a certain target application method on a certain target basis, in a computer program, c) wherein the computer program is also programmed to search the database to determine if it contains at least one set of data that contains information about the paint formulation, after application of which using the target application method determined in step b), on the target base determined in step b), a dyed product is obtained with a shade that corresponds to the target shade determined in step b), or differs from it by no more than a certain tolerance, and d) wherein the computer program is also programmed such that, if at least one suitable data set is found in step c), it displays to the user the paint formulation information stored in the at least one data set.