Color management at PRINTING United 2026: from fundamentals to certification
PRINTING United 2026 is offering multiple color-management learning paths, from general instruction to practitioner exchange and G7+ certification.
PRINTING United Alliance has organized a sequence of learning opportunities in 2026 that address color management for learners at multiple career stages [1] . The learning path is presented as distinct but connected tiers: an instructional curriculum aimed at students and educators, a practitioner forum for working professionals, and an expert-level certification workshop [1] .
The Foundation of Consistency
The introductory tier is the G7+ Foundations curriculum, delivered through the iLEARNING+ platform. That program is structured as a 14-week series of modules that introduce core concepts of color consistency and the practical context for G7+ methodology [2] . The iLEARNING+ materials identify the course audience as secondary and post-secondary students and educators, and the syllabus covers a progression from basic principles to applied aspects of G7+ practices [2] .
Because the curriculum emphasizes staged learning over several weeks, it is positioned to help learners develop a shared vocabulary and conceptual framework before they encounter production environments where color decisions are made [2] . The official course description lists module topics and learning objectives intended to bridge classroom instruction and shop-floor requirements [2] .
The Professional Forum
For active practitioners, PRINTING United schedules a peer-to-peer session called the G7+ Exchange. That session is set for September 22, 2026, in Room N109 of the Las Vegas Convention Center and runs from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, followed by a networking reception from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM [3] . The Exchange is described as a space for production-focused conversation in which attendees share real-world color challenges and practical notes [3] .
The Exchange lists industry sponsors and partners among its supporters. Public materials note sponsorship by suppliers such as BARBIERI Electronics and Colorcasters, and press materials in the packet reference a Barbieri Electronics sponsorship announcement ahead of the Expo [3] [4] . The session’s format and the immediate follow-on reception are intended to facilitate peer networking and topical discussion among working professionals [3] .
Mastering the Methodology
The most advanced tier in the PRINTING United program is the G7+ Expert Certification workshop. The official event page lists a two-day live training led by G7+ Trainer Ron Ellis on September 23 and 24, 2026, held in Room N108 of the Las Vegas Convention Center [5] . PRINTING United Alliance overview materials situate this certification as the program’s hands-on training component for practitioners seeking applied skills in G7+ process control [1] [5] .
Official workshop descriptions stress practical activities, including calibration work, press runs, and exercises that apply G7+ techniques across print and proofing workflows. Training materials for participants are described as including a library of print resources, G7+ test forms, and access to an online training library to support learning beyond the classroom sessions [5] .
The certification path prepares attendees for a web-based examination that serves as the credentialing step for G7+ Expert status, according to the event materials [5] . The event page lists registration details and a workshop fee, indicating that this element of the learning path is structured as a paid professional offering [5] .
Analysis
Taken together, the three tiers represent an organized progression from conceptual learning to practitioner exchange and applied certification. The foundation curriculum provides a paced educational framework aimed at young or novice learners, the Exchange creates a live forum for problem sharing among active shops, and the certification workshop focuses on hands-on process control and assessment [2] [3] [5] . Each tier emphasizes different learning modalities: asynchronous module work, facilitated group discussion and networking, and instructor-led practical calibration exercises respectively [2] [3] [5] .
Strategic Implementation
Print providers evaluating these options can view them as complementary tools rather than competing solutions. The structured curriculum can be a recruiting and onboarding resource for early-career staff by building a common language about color science and process expectations [2] . The G7+ Exchange offers a venue where production teams can surface recurring operational questions and compare experiences with peers and suppliers [3] . The Expert Certification provides a documented, instructor-led process for putting calibration and control techniques into practice and for assessing individual competency through a web-based exam [5] .
The program materials and session formats suggest a workflow in which an organization might introduce newcomers to G7+ concepts through the multi-week curriculum, send staff to the Exchange to identify practical issues and solutions under real-world constraints, and then enroll technical staff in the certification workshop to develop and document shop-level process control capabilities [2] [3] [5] . That staged approach aligns training intensity and cost with the responsibilities expected of different roles, although individual needs and organizational contexts will determine the appropriate mix of offerings [5] [2] .
Practical Notes for Attendees
Session logistics in the packet identify the Exchange as a late-afternoon, single-session forum followed by a reception, and the certification workshop as a multi-day, instructor-led training with associated course materials and examination access [3] [5] . Public materials list Ron Ellis as the G7+ Trainer for the certification workshop and enumerate the instructional focus on press calibration and process control exercises [5] .
Suppliers and sponsors are visible in the Exchange materials, which may influence the session focus toward topics of current supplier interest and practical tooling in the market [3] [4] . Attendees planning to use these sessions for strategic equipment or workflow decisions should treat the Exchange as a forum for comparative experience and the certification workshop as a capacity-building investment that documents individual skill in G7+ practices [3] [5] .
PRINTING United 2026 is offering multiple color-management learning paths, from general instruction to practitioner exchange and G7+ certification.