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USA Print Standards Update

USA Print Standards Update. USA print specifications. SWOP (publication) Uses ISO 2846 inks GRACoL (commercial) Uses ISO 12647 (but darker K) FIRST (Flexo) Inks similar to ISO SNAP (newspaper) ?. The standards problem (USA).

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USA Print Standards Update

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  1. USA Print Standards Update

  2. USA print specifications • SWOP (publication) • Uses ISO 2846 inks • GRACoL (commercial) • Uses ISO 12647 (but darker K) • FIRST (Flexo) • Inks similar to ISO • SNAP (newspaper) • ?

  3. The standards problem (USA) • ICC-based users find today’s print specs and standards inadequate • Compared to ICC color matching • Technically-savvy users will not wait for standards to catch up • They’ll use whatever works best for them • GRACoL decided to take action

  4. Print standards need to… • Catch up with latest user-trends like ICC, CtP, digital proofing, etc. • Learn to adapt more quickly to new technologies and expectations • Promote themselves better to get wider adoption • GRACoL’s answer: • Enhanced implementation of ISO 12647-2

  5. Exciting opportunity • While up-dating standards, why not design-in some “Shared appearance” between different processes? • Similar ink hues • Similar gray balance • Similar visual lightness and contrast • Reduces danger of “accidental re-purposing” - simplifies file exchange

  6. Shared appearance testing • New SWOP run (September) using GRACoL process • Looked very similar to GRACoL sheets, (except contrast, of course) • Flexo test run (December) • Close match to SWOP and GRACoL sheets • First newsprint tests (January) • Very encouraging first results

  7. How Shared Appearance looks • Similar overall appearance (within gamut and paper limits) GRACoL 2006 SWOP 2006

  8. GRACoL7 Quick Review

  9. Gray Balance • One of the most vital visual parameters • Traditionally defined as the color of a 50% black ink tint, or the color of paper • Too ambiguous for reliable “appearance” match • New GRACoL7 definition: • 50C, 40M, 40Y = a* 0.0, b* -2.0 • Other paper colors? • Point for discussion

  10. “NPDC” (Neutral Print Density Curve)

  11. NPDC • Controls lightness better than TVI curves • Mimics typical CtP press • Averaged from many “uncalibrated” CtP runs plus FOGRA and Japanese data • Close to average of ECI profiles’ NPDC • Automatically adapts to different dynamic ranges with constant visual lightness

  12. Highlight Range (HR) • Neutral density (ND) of a mid-tone gray patch minus paper ND • HR = 0.54 (constant) • Easier to monitor than TVI, but more visually useful • K50 vs. C50,M40,Y40 ND? • Same? Darker? Lighter? • This is a point for debate!

  13. International agreement? • ISO should define CMY gray balance? • Use same ink colors in all countries? • With new 2-color overprint values • Aim for “shared appearance” between different print standards?

  14. Remaining Questions • Gray Balance basis? • Paper? K ink? Arbitrary a*b*? • Same or different for different-colored stocks? • TVI vs NPDC? • How to specify both without conflict? • K50 vs. C50,M40,Y40? • Lighter? Darker? Same? • K ink solid? • Darken to match industry trends?

  15. Long-term question • How can international printing standards adapt more quickly to new technologies or changing “best practices”?

  16. Testing the GRACoL7 ideas • FOGRA test run Feb 20-21 • Try it yourself • Download GRACoL7 beta packet (targets, docs, graphs, etc.) at www.gracol.org • Answer the questionnaire on PAB list by Elie Khoury and Mike Rodriguez

  17. Thank You SWOP 2006 GRACoL 2006

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