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“FIRST in Motion”: ISO Standards

Design & Premedia

The ALC Group built the file with creations software using an .ase (Adobe Swatch Exchange) file for the pallet colors and CRPC6.icc for the CMYK color settings. In this case, the designer created the proofs using ISO 12647-7 and the proper measurement instrumentation and ISO viewing conditions.

Plates were measured for proper relief and resolution, per ISO 12647-6, as well as micro-enlargements verifying dot, structure and dot percent values—both linear and curves applied. CMYK and spot colors were verified, showing that proper curves were applied. Plate curves were communicated using ISO 18620. Micro enlargement and measurement on minimums, and 50 percent—all plate delivery.

It was determined that black L*a*b* values would be OK for the project.
Data courtesy of CGS’ CxF Toolbox

The designers were responsible to deliver and use:

The premedia team was responsible to deliver and use:

Printer

Inks were formulated with Pantone guide colors, and those were processed with ink formulation software that developed recipes for FTA Blue and FTA Red.
Data courtesy of CGS’ CxF Toolbox

PPT was responsible for optimization and characterization of the press, development of the plate curves, the workflow needed—either internally or using a premedia partner—and to print consistently. It was also charged with providing reporting of compliance to the brand owners’ aims.

After the optimization and characterization, the printer was aware using the selected ink set that it could not align all of the CMYK colors to the aim dataset. However, it’s good to note that the inks aligned to ISO 12647-6 ink requirements. Further optimization was discussed with our brand team and it was agreed that PPT’s magenta and black L*a*b* values would be OK for the project. This was discussed with the sender of the file and an agreement was made as to the new aim for the press. Press optimization was done using ANSI CGATS TR015 (G7 metrology), creating 4- and 7-color characterization datasets.

The printer team also performed process control and provided reporting back to the brand owners using ISO 20616-2 PQX files that could be read by other supporting readers. Note that this standard is currently in Draft International Standard (DIS) ballot. There is also a new ISO item in ballot that will provide ISO TS 21328 (Guidelines for Multi-Color Printing) and that describes the process for 7-color characterization using CMYKOGV(B).

PPT printed the job using all the same components used in the characterization, printed consistently and delivered reports required in ISO 20216-2 format.

The printer was responsible to deliver and use:

The tint ramps of the spot colors were calculated to deliver linear spot color tone value (ISO 20654 SCTV).
Data courtesy of CGS’ CxF Toolbox

Spot Color

Inks were formulated by using Pantone guide colors, processing those with and using ink formulation software that developed recipes for FTA Blue and FTA Red. Special care was given to ink development for lightfastness and ink migration in selection of pigments used. The files delivered were preliminary CxF files.

The spot colors required printed tint ramps on substrate over white and black. PPT offered, when optimizing, to develop the printed samples for the brand team to approve and digitize CxF/X-4 files for our brand owners, so the entire set of products would align. Color Team created reports defining color and tints, used for CxF/X-4 creation to communicate aims in Adobe creation software in the form of .ase files. The tint ramps of the spot colors were calculated to deliver linear spot color tone value (ISO 20654 SCTV).

This was a complete use of FIRST and FIRST-recommended standards, making producing this job from a desk anywhere in the world possible, while delivering exceptional work from a compliant supply chain.

Imagine if printers and suppliers could finally see the value of doing the “common sense,” simple things right—Imagine how much more potential business there is—and the freedom that would come with not being held hostage by “brand management companies” and other rather arbitrary print quality “hired guns (or pirates)!”

FTA Hall of Fame homepage Steve SmileyAbout the Author: Steve Smiley is a 40-year veteran from print, premedia and packaging brand solutions. He is a proud member of the FTA family, having participated in and spoken at Forum and Fall Conference, served on the team that edited all editions of FIRST and supported its Committee, chaired the Flexo Quality Consortium (FQC) from 2002 to 2006, and Fall Conference 2004 in Dallas, TX. Steve is currently FTA’s delegate for ISO TC130, ICC, ANSI_CGATS, and GWG, and has written numerous articles for FLEXO Magazine. He is the recipient of the Holzinger Award, FTA President’s Award in 2005 and the Clemson Top Cat Award in 2003. In 2017, Steve was inducted into the FTA Hall of Fame.

SmileyColor & Associates LLC is a solutions provider, working with CPCs and their supply chains to provide process control audits to ISO standards aligning supply chain partners. Using G7 and ISO standards, Steve audits and trains supply chain partners to assure consistent results globally.

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