7:20 p.m.
Wiesbaden, February 16th, 2004
Altona Test Suite - Application Kit:
Valuable Instrument for Standard Process Control and Workflow Test
Altona Test Suite Application Kit is shipped by today. With the Application
Kit important new tools and data is provided to the user for standard
process control, quality check and and workflow test. The Application Kit
contains reference prints, test suite files, characterisation data and ICC
profiles according to the latest values of ISO 12647-2 Standard process
control (offset).
Altona Test Suite Application Kit is a joint project of German Printing and
Media Industries Federation (bvdm) Wiesbaden, European Color Initiative
(ECI), EMPA / Ugra St. Gall, Switzerland and FOGRA Graphic Technology
Research Association Munich, Germany.
The Altona Test Suite Application Kit is produced, published and exclusively
distributed by bvdm. The Application Kit consists of of a set of PDF files,
specially designed for testing digital output devices - in particular,
proofing solutions, conventional and digital printing systems. However its
use is not limited to output devices. The purpose of the Altona Test Suite
is to check PDF/X-3 compliance and color accuracy for all software and
hardware modules used in a composite PDF workflow for print production.
Important parts of the Application Kit are numerous reference prints and
color specimens (process color solids) which are carefully produced within
very small tolerances (a total of 16 variations for offset printing and
continuous printing). The Application Kit also includes a CD-ROM with the
accurately created Altona Test Suite files, characterisation data and ICC
profiles in accordance with the standard printing conditions under ISO
12647-2 [2].
A comprehensive documentation explains the elements of Altona Test Suite
Application Kit in detail, instructions for use (according to the terms of
use) and all necessary information related to the standardized process
control.
The comprehensive Altona Test Suite Application Kit can be used for a
variety of purposes: for process control, to check the PDF/X-3 compatibility
of workflow systems, to adapt digital proofing systems to the standard
process and as color specimen (process color solid). The central focus is on
a visual comparison of the reference prints of the Altona Test Suite
Application Kit with off-press proofs, on-press proofs and production prints
in order to evaluate the color quality of digital proofing systems and the
adaptation of production printing to the standard process. The Application
Kit is documented
in English and German and is available internationally. The Application Kit
is the first comprehensive set of reference prints, data files, control
wedges and information for systematic process control worldwide.
Altona Test Suite was developed, extensively used and evaluated in 2002 and
2003 at the Digital Proofing Shootouts organized by bvdm and ECI. In May
2003, the Altona Test Suite was the core element at the "digital proofing
shootout" of the IPA in Chicago, and in September 2003 it was used at the
"Seybold San Francisco 2003 PDF Workflow Shootout". Altona Test Suite has
gained a fine reputation - also internationally - and is now regarded as a
standard test instrument.
The Altona Test Suite Application Kit project of bvdm/ECI/ugra/FOGRA was
extremely complex to implement and required extensive preparations. Sponsors
and project partners from the supply industry were gained e. g. for papers
and printing inks used. There was close technical coordination with these
partners during the project. The materials, data and systems used (prepress,
printing form production, printing, process control, quality checking) were
comprehensively reviewed, optimized and adapted to each other. New and
additional systems for process control, measuring and control equipment were
developed in the course of the project and used for the first time. Special
test forms were developed for quality control in production printing and
statistically significant print production control. FOGRA specialized in the
subsequent quality control of production printing.
Extensive preliminary tests and harmonisation was carried out from the
spring of 2003 onwards. A special challenge was to keep narrow tolerance
limits for both tone value increase and solid tone values during the print
run of the reference prints. The deviations in the color of individual
papers from the paper types according to ISO 12647-2 and the printing inks
according to ISO 2846-1 placed further high demands on the practical
implementation.
Thanks to all participating experts from ECI, bvdm, FOGRA and ugra and to
the experts from the sponsors for their great commitment. The project could
not have been successfully completed without the untiring and often
unselfish contribution of these experts over many months.
Altona Test Suite - Applikation Kit (with serial number)
Art. No. 85230
16 numbered reference prints (size 297 x 420 mm) in 4 envelopes
7 color specimens (process color solid) (size 190 x 260 mm) in 1 envelope
15 Altona Test Suite data files on CD-ROM
6 Characterisation data on CD-ROM
6 ICC Profiles on CD-ROM
Documentation (PDF) on CD-ROM
Documentation 132 pages DIN A4, 4-color-print, english and german
All parts of Applikation Kit in black coverbox 245 x 325 x 25 mm
Regular price: EUR 480,00 plus VAT and shipping costs
Special price*: EUR 240,00 plus VAT and shipping costs
*The special price applies for members of the Printing and Media Industries
Associations (vdm) in Germany and for members of ECI, FOGRA and ugra.
Please order via website www.altonatestsuite.com
Note for the Press:
Please download product images and further images from
www.altonatestsuite.com/pressematerial
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Freundliche Gruesse - Kind Regards
Karl Michael Meinecke
Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V. (bvdm)
German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm)
Biebricher Allee 79 | D-65187 Wiesbaden
Postfach 18 69 | D-65008 Wiesbaden
Fon +49(0)611 - 80 31 68 | Fax +49(0)611 - 80 32 68
mailto:km@bvdm-online.de | URL www.bvdm.org
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