Amit Sharma of HarperCollins is awarded a PhD degree

Amit Sharma's doctoral thesis, An Empirical Study on the Effects of Coatings and Laminates Leading to Visual and Colour Shift on Printed Paper, investigates how various surface treatments alter the visual and colorimetric properties of offset-printed paper. The study addresses the lack of empirical data on the impact of coatings and laminates on colour shift across different paper types and ink tones, aiming to provide a measurable basis for controlling colour fidelity in post-print finishing.

The research hypothesised that different coatings and laminates would cause measurable shifts in hue, chroma, and lightness, influenced by paper type, print density, and ink coverage. The methodology involved applying eight different coating/lamination types to printed test charts on gloss and matt coated papers, measuring colour values using spectrophotometry, and analysing ΔE and ΔH values.

Key findings include that gloss lamination and UV gloss coating caused minimal hue shift, while matt laminates and pigmented coatings resulted in higher shifts, especially in mid-tone and grey areas. Blue and red tones showed higher perceptual shifts than yellow and black, and visual distortion was observed in laminated prints under different lighting angles. A ranking system categorised treatments by their visual impact: low shift (gloss lamination, UV gloss), moderate shift (aqueous neutral, UV matt), and high shift (pigmented aqueous, matt lamination).

Sharma's study concluded that surface treatments significantly affect perceived colour and appearance, with effects varying based on tone value, paper texture, and coating chemistry. Future scope includes industrial validation, expansion to digital printing, development of software simulation models, and cross-media comparisons.

Dr Amit Sharma's research was conducted under the able guidance of Prof (Dr) Ambrish Pandey and Col (Hon) Prof. Dr. Rajendrakumar Anayath, and marks a significant academic milestone in his journey as a printing and publishing professional.