As a long-standing member of FOGRA and an early pioneer in color management, the FOGRA Colour Management Symposium (CMS) has always been an important date on the calendar for CGS ORIS. In 2026, we were once again proud to support the event as a sponsor.

This year, our colleagues Stefan Höfs, Marcus Brune, and Leonard Dürr represented CGS ORIS on site in Munich. They engaged in inspiring discussions, reconnected with industry partners, and contributed to the vibrant exchange that makes the symposium so valuable every year.

What Makes the FOGRA CMS Unique

One of the defining characteristics of the FOGRA CMS is its clear focus on practical user presentations rather than product pitches. Real-world workflows, real challenges, and real solutions take center stage.

With only a few exceptions, this principle once again shaped the event in 2026. This strong user-focused approach clearly distinguishes the FOGRA CMS from many other industry events and is a key reason why it continues to attract such a dedicated and knowledgeable audience.

Our Focus: Spectral Color Management, CxF Data, and ECG Printing

At our booth, we focused on two highly relevant topics:

• Spectral color management using CxF data
• Extended Color Gamut (ECG) printing

The level of interest was remarkable. Many visitors were particularly interested in how spectral data and CxF-based workflows enable more precise color communication across complex production environments. This is especially important when consistency, substrate variability, and brand color accuracy are critical.

ECG printing also sparked lively discussions. Participants were especially interested in its potential to improve production efficiency while maintaining reliable brand color reproduction in packaging and commercial print.

We were delighted by the strong interest and the depth of the technical conversations at our booth.

A Special Moment: Stepping in for the Keynote

One memorable moment during the symposium came when we had the opportunity to step in for keynote speaker Alexandra Gerhardy during the traditional Bavarian evening event.

We used this occasion to present a topic that is particularly important to us: “Proofing – More Than Just Color.”

Our presentation highlighted that accurate proofing involves far more than simply matching color values. To create a truly realistic preview of the final production result, several additional factors must be considered:

• Substrate characteristics
• Surface texture and material properties
• Print finishing effects and embellishments

Only when these physical and visual properties are integrated into the proofing workflow can a proof realistically represent the final printed product. The session sparked thoughtful discussions and reinforced how essential a holistic view of proofing has become in modern production environments.

The 2026 edition of the FOGRA CMS once again demonstrated why it remains one of the most respected color management events in the industry. The focus is not on marketing noise. It is about shared expertise, practical insights, and meaningful exchange.

For CGS ORIS, being part of this community from the very beginning and continuing to actively contribute remains both a privilege and a responsibility. We are already looking forward to the next FOGRA Colour Management Symposium.