ECI Press release "International standardization ISO 12647 secures worldwide high quality print production"
by press.en＠lists.callassoftware.com
=== Press release - For immediate release ===
The European Color Initiative (www.eci.org) - in cooperation with the
German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm, www.bvdm.org),
Graphic Technology Research Association (fogra, www.fogra.org), Ifra -
where publishing lives (ifra, www.ifra.com) and Swiss Center of
Competence for Media and Printing Technology (ugra, www.ugra.ch) -
herewith releases the press release listed below (see also attachments
with PDF and Word versions of the press release in English and German
language).
Olaf Druemmer
Chairman of the European Color Initiative
Contact:
European Color Initative
Olaf Druemmer
c/o
callas software gmbh | Schoenhauser Allee 6/7 | 10119 Berlin | Germany
Tel +49.30.44 39 03 10 | Fax +49.30.4 41 64 02
o.druemmer(a)callassoftware.com | www.callassoftware.com
=== Press release - For immediate release ===
International standardization ISO 12647 secures worldwide high quality
print production
The standardization of printing processes according to ISO 12647 is
established worldwide today. Ten years after first publication of the
ISO 12647-2 standard for offset printing, methods, applications and
tools are well introduced and used with great success by customers,
service providers and printers. For all printing processes,
characterization data and profiles adapted to the standard are available
as well as comprehensive tools for application at all process stages
from data generation to the print run. In addition to the
standardization of offset processes (sheet fed, web fed, continuous) the
standardization of newspaper printing (ISO 12647-3), of gravure
publication printing (ISO 12647-4) and of further printing processes was
successfully implemented.
Why standardization of printing process?
Communication of colour and production security
The standardization of printing processes according to ISO 12647, the
concepts and application tools are generally focused on one purpose: the
correct, process-optimized colour communication from creation to final
product. To achieve that, many process modules to be conducted and
carried out correctly by customers, service providers and printers, are
necessary. Examples are the evaluation and selection of materials
(papers, printing ink) correct colour management and data file
generation in applications (ICC profiles, PDF/X), the production of
contract proofs, the measuring control and visual appraisal under
standard viewing conditions of these proofs, the production of printing
forms and the print run in accordance with acknowledged guidelines.
The international standard series ISO 12647 and the tools and
applications developed on that basis enable secure, practice-proven
solutions for all process steps. The consistent application of these
means provides the maximum benefit for all parties involved - print
buyers, prepress service providers, printers: predictable and repeatable
colour results.
International cooperation to the benefit of users in globalized markets
The development of international standards in ISO Technical Committee
130 "Graphic Technology" and the implementation of such standards in
application concepts, guidelines, control tools etc., has been supported
for many years by national and international industry user associations
and by manufacturers (systems, materials) from Europe, Asia, North and
South America. Regional solutions, limited to a certain area, are no
longer accepted by print buyers and service providers in the age of
globalization.
In Europe a number of associations, such as German Printing and Media
industries Federation (bvdm), fogra Graphic Technology Research
Association, international newspaper association (Ifra), European Color
Initiative (ECI), European Rotogravure Association (ERA) and the Swiss
Center of Competence for Media and Printing Technology (ugra) have
constantly supported the ISO standardization work for many years to the
benefit of users. The associations are providing essential publications
and important application tools for practical use - many of these free
of charge. For example ICC profiles and characterization data, reference
prints and test data files, process- and media standards as well as
print control tools (wedges, strips), e.g. for the control of grey
balance. There are also projects for implementation of printing
standards in a number of European countries, supported by the associations.
Adaptation to the state of the art
International standards for printing and prepress technology are
regularly adapted to the current technical state of the art. Changes of
the standard are implemented quickly in practical concepts, user
guidelines, control tools, characterization data and ICC profiles.
Changes of material properties (printing paper and printing ink) or of
systems (measuring devices, monitors, standard viewing light, output
devices, software etc.) are clearly influencing the specifications of
process control. The increasing amount of optical brighteners (OBA) in
many papers, colorimetric properties and tolerances of printing inks,
technical differences and tolerances of colour measuring tools, device-
independent exchange of colour measuring data and metamerism are
examples for topics to be addressed properly in standards for process
control and measuring technology. To achieve this aim, all parties
involved are requested to co-operate. Comprehensive research work on
special topics is necessary and was started already in some cases. Thus,
the norm is always matching the current state of applications and is
able even to set standards for future developments. However, any short-
term changing of standards (e.g. due to changes of material properties)
is not recommended. The users need a reliable timeframe for standard
application.
Other concepts: no proof of practical usability
Since recently a concept for process control from IDEAlliance (GRACoL)
is hitting the international markets with major marketing efforts.
According to earlier statements of it is originators, GRACoL is superior
to the standardiza-tion according to ISO 12647-2 and therefore should
replace it. In the meantime, GRACoL has been described as an
"application of ISO 12647-2". This is wrong since GRACoL is built around
different basic requirements. Until today there is no final definition
of the GRACoL methodology and no final set of characterization data and
profile available.
ISO 12647 defines tone value increase (TVI) and colours of solid inks
(primary colours) as the most important process criteria. Further
important criteria are the properties of papers and printing inks. The
grey condition results from all these individual criteria. As visual
control device for grey balance in print run production the use of a CMY
grey wedge for process control according to ISO 12647 has worked
satisfactorily.
GRACoL makes almost exclusive use of grey balance (NPDC neutral print
density curve) and advocates a uniform tone value increase for all
printing conditions. Despite numerous attempts, up to now there is no
official GRACoL reference print, because all test print results to date
failed to satisfy the specifications of the GRACoL representatives. The
provisional GRACoL set of characterisation data originates from fogra
test data, modified in relation to tone value increase and grey balance.
Grey balance is not the sole process control criterion
Although useful for production run control, the exclusive use of the
grey balance and simultaneous neglect of tone value increase is a
questionable method.
The process proposed by GRACoL, i.e. to set out from the colour tone of
the paper white, migrate to a defined colour tone in the mid-tone area
and then to keep this tone constant into the shadow area, is very
complex, not adequately tested and can also lead to a grey perceived as
a colour cast.
There are frequent calls for a fixed grey condition of, for example,
50/40/40 of the colours cyan, magenta and yellow (in that sequence).
While theoretically possible, this causes variable solid coloration in
print (and therefore other ink layer thicknesses or densities
respectively). In that case, different tone value increase curves for
the colour inks are also necessary resp. must be allowed. Although if
combined with a correspondingly carried out separation this will lead to
a good grey reproduction, it will cause problems in the colours because
the coloration changes necessary to obtain the grey balance can lead to
a poorer colour reproduction. Either the ink layer thicknesses are
insufficient for a stable print or the layer thicknesses become too
great with resulting excessive tone value increases. Or the tolerances
for the coloration values are exceeded. Naturally, the individual
results depend on the inks and paper used. A safe, measurable process
control cannot be achieved in this way.
How to proceed: apply ISO 12647 and integrate new aspects
The proven and efficient process control in accordance with ISO 12647
should continue to be used. It is not recommended to replace ISO 12647
by a different concept whose effectiveness and reliability have not been
evidenced and that is clearly more complicated to implement in practice.
Instead, all available resources should be concentrated on resolving
important aspects that are still unsettled (e.g. how to deal with
optical brighteners in papers).
July 2006
German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm)
European Color Initiative (ECI)
Graphic Technology Research Association (fogra)
Ifra - where publishing lives. (ifra)
Swiss Center of Competence for Media and Printing Technology (ugra)
www.bvdm.org | www.eci.org | www.fogra.org | www.ifra.com | www.ugra.ch
---
If you do not want to receive this newsletter, please send an e-mail with the subject "unsubscribe" to mailto:press.en-request@lists.callassoftware.com or visit http://213.160.9.68/mailman/listinfo/press.en and unsubscribe your Email address.
