A method of matching a digital printing press with the color characteristics of a designated plate-based press platform, the method comprising the steps of: (a) calibrating the designated plate-based press platform to meet Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) standards, comprising: (i) creating a calibration test of the digital press, (ii) calibrating (275, 277) the digital printing press to meet Specifications for Web Offset Publications, SWOP, standards, the calibration of the digital printing press yielding digital press calibration test files, (iii) imaging the digital press calibration test files onto a first set of printing plates for the designated plate-based printing platform, (iv) measuring the dotgain and density of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK) utilizing a four color greyramp from said imaged printing plates, (v) determining if recalibration of step (iii) is required, and if recalibration is required, recalibrating the imaging process of step (iii), (vi) imaging the digital press calibration test files onto a first set of printing plates for the designated plate-based printing platform with compensation curves applied, (vii) printing the calibration test on the designated plate-based printing platform using the imaged printing plates, (viii) measuring the dotgain and density of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK) utilizing a four color greyramp, and (ix) comparing the measured dotgain and density of CMYK to SWOP standards, where if the measured dotgain and density of CMYK do not meet SWOP standards, adding a compensation curve to the imaging process of step (vi) to compensate for the deviation in dotgain and density from SWOP standards; (b) creating an International Color Consortium profile for the designated plate-based press platform; (c) applying the ICC profile to the digital printing press; and (d) managing (261, 269) the color formulation properties of the digital printing press. (a) calibrating the designated plate-based press platform to meet Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) standards, comprising: (i) creating a calibration test of the digital press, (ii) calibrating (275, 277) the digital printing press to meet Specifications for Web Offset Publications, SWOP, standards, the calibration of the digital printing press yielding digital press calibration test files, (iii) imaging the digital press calibration test files onto a first set of printing plates for the designated plate-based printing platform, (iv) measuring the dotgain and density of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK) utilizing a four color greyramp from said imaged printing plates, (v) determining if recalibration of step (iii) is required, and if recalibration is required, recalibrating the imaging process of step (iii), (vi) imaging the digital press calibration test files onto a first set of printing plates for the designated plate-based printing platform with compensation curves applied, (vii) printing the calibration test on the designated plate-based printing platform using the imaged printing plates, (viii) measuring the dotgain and density of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK) utilizing a four color greyramp, and (ix) comparing the measured dotgain and density of CMYK to SWOP standards, where if the measured dotgain and density of CMYK do not meet SWOP standards, adding a compensation curve to the imaging process of step (vi) to compensate for the deviation in dotgain and density from SWOP standards; (i) creating a calibration test of the digital press, (ii) calibrating (275, 277) the digital printing press to meet Specifications for Web Offset Publications, SWOP, standards, the calibration of the digital printing press yielding digital press calibration test files, (iii) imaging the digital press calibration test files onto a first set of printing plates for the designated plate-based printing platform, (iv) measuring the dotgain and density of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK) utilizing a four color greyramp from said imaged printing plates, (v) determining if recalibration of step (iii) is required, and if recalibration is required, recalibrating the imaging process of step (iii), (vi) imaging the digital press calibration test files onto a first set of printing plates for the designated plate-based printing platform with compensation curves applied, (vii) printing the calibration test on the designated plate-based printing platform using the imaged printing plates, (viii) measuring the dotgain and density of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK) utilizing a four color greyramp, and (ix) comparing the measured dotgain and density of CMYK to SWOP standards, where if the measured dotgain and density of CMYK do not meet SWOP standards, adding a compensation curve to the imaging process of step (vi) to compensate for the deviation in dotgain and density from SWOP standards; (b) creating an International Color Consortium profile for the designated plate-based press platform; (c) applying the ICC profile to the digital printing press; and (d) managing (261, 269) the color formulation properties of the digital printing press.