Touch7 v2.1 earns 2026 Pinnacle Technology Award

Touch7 v2.1 automates neon and expanded-color-gamut separations inside familiar Adobe workflows. The 2026 Pinnacle Technology recognition gives the software a clear news hook, while the production claims remain attributed to Color-Logic and its supplied user examples.

The 2026 PRINTING United Pinnacle Technology Award gallery lists Touch7 Neon Color System v2.1 among its technology winners, a recognition that highlights the increasing focus on extended color gamut and neon workflow tools in commercial and industrial printing [1] . The product is distributed worldwide by Color-Logic Inc., which has published release notes and workflow material for the v2.1 update [2] .

The neon renaissance and its production gap

Neon and fluorescent inks have long been used to create high-impact embellishments, but integrating those inks into conventional digital production pipelines has been technically challenging. Industry commentary and vendor documentation identify hurdles such as complex ICC profile management and manual color mapping when converting CMYK artwork to separations that include neon or specialty toners [2] . Color-Logic's materials frame these obstacles as operational bottlenecks that can increase prepress time and require specialized technical expertise [2] .

The Touch7 v2.1 release positions itself as a response to those bottlenecks by automating neon separations and offering tools that operate inside widely used design applications. Color-Logic describes the update as introducing enhanced separation algorithms and new automation intended to streamline the creation of neon separations from standard RGB or CMYK artwork [2] . The PRINTING United recognition singled out the system in its technology showcase, indicating industry attention on software that simplifies extended color gamut (ECG) production [1] .

What the v2.1 update does

According to Color-Logic product documentation, Touch7 v2.1 adds a Source Color Removal feature, abbreviated SCR, that lets prepress operators selectively extract CMY components from images and substitute neon inks or toners in their place [2] . The vendor frames SCR as a way to avoid manual channel edits and to reduce reliance on ICC profile gymnastics when targeting neon-capable presses or white/fluorescent ink channels [2] .

Color-Logic also describes Touch7 as a software family distinct from its own Color-Logic metallic workflow tools. The company’s Quick Start material explains that Color-Logic products focus on metallic and foil effects while Touch7 tools address neon and extended color gamut effects, a delineation the vendor uses to guide users toward the appropriate solution set for a given embellishment strategy [3] .

Designer and prepress experience

One of the stated design goals for v2.1 is integration into familiar design environments. Color-Logic's release materials describe Touch7 as a set of plugins and automated actions that operate inside Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, a configuration intended to let designers and prepress operators apply neon separations without leaving their native tools [2] . The company characterizes this approach as lowering the technical barrier for creative staff to design with neon ink outputs.

Color-Logic also presents workflow aids and Photoshop toolsets to support the conversion process, and its documentation emphasizes automation of separation steps that would otherwise require manual adjustments. These are vendor claims about usability and learning curve reduction; independent reviews or formal usability studies are not linked in the vendor material provided here [2] .

Production implications and "plug-and-play" positioning

In its materials, Color-Logic positions Touch7 v2.1 as a production enabler by automating neon separations and thus reducing troubleshooting during print runs [2] . The vendor frames the system as a way to bring neon workflows into standard production schedules without complex color-management reengineering.

Host applications and workflow support

Color-Logic's release and technical pages list Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator as supported host applications for Touch7 toolsets and automated actions [2] [3] . Those same vendor materials describe Touch7 as working within conventional prepress workflows to create neon separations without requiring bespoke color profiles for every job, but the packet does not include an exhaustive compatibility matrix or a list of RIPs and press controllers that are certified to accept Touch7 output. For certification and driver support details, Color-Logic is the primary source listed in this packet [2] .

Early adopters and on-the-floor reports

Color-Logic's press release cites early adopter feedback that the v2.1 tools reduce troubleshooting time and simplify creative processes for neon files. Two named adopters in the release-YellowDog and MediaCo-are presented as examples of organizations that reported streamlined production when using the Touch7 v2.1 toolset [2] . Those accounts are vendor-sourced statements included in the product announcement; the packet does not include independent case studies or audited production metrics from those adopters.

Trade coverage and event recognition are consistent with the narrative that ECG and neon workflows are a growing area of interest for print providers, but this packet contains limited third-party performance data beyond the Pinnacle Award gallery listing and vendor materials [1] [4] .

What it means for print providers

For print providers exploring higher-margin finishing and embellishment services, software that automates neon separations can change how quickly jobs move from design to press. The elements that matter operationally include the ability to produce consistent separations, the time required for prepress setup, and the compatibility of software output with press drivers and RIP software. Color-Logic presents Touch7 v2.1 as addressing those factors by automating separations, delivering tools inside Photoshop and Illustrator, and positioning the software alongside hardware platforms used for neon-capable production [2] [3] .

At the same time, parties evaluating Touch7 should note that the publicly available materials in this packet are primarily vendor documentation, the Pinnacle Awards gallery listing, and trade reporting on related hardware consolidation. Independent benchmarking, detailed compatibility lists for RIPs and press controllers, and licensing specifics for combined hardware ecosystems are not included in the materials supplied here [1] [2] .

Sources

Touch7 v2.1 automates neon and expanded-color-gamut separations inside familiar Adobe workflows. The 2026 Pinnacle Technology recognition gives the software a clear news hook, while the production claims remain attributed to Color-Logic and its supplied user examples.