What’s New With GRACoL: April/May 2013

G7 SHEETFED USERS: FOLLOW BEST PRACTICES AND MAKE SURE YOU USE THE G7 TARGETED QUALIFICATION KIT AND CHECKLIST DURING YOUR QUALIFICATION/REQUALIFICATION.

The GRACoL Committee is currently working on multiple projects

Expanded Gamut Printing for Offset Printers
We have started a project to explore using G7with expanded gamut offset printing. At the August Print Properties meeting Don Hutcheson proposed formal work on an expanded G7 calibration procedure for an expanded gamut G7 dataset. Most good sheetfed printers are capable of increasing the quality and gamut of their print condition using their normal CMYK inks. The GRACoL committee is supporting this effort and will develop a set of procedures and best practices to be used by offset printers to calibrate to an expanded gamut G7 calibration in their shops. This project is being discussed during upcoming GRACoL committee calls, and we will begin conducting test runs in the next few months.

Long term development of M1 workflow 
We are beginning to work on the development of an M1 Workflow. The new M1 measurement standard offers great potential, but there is now proven workflow that uses M1 for use by printers to obtain a proof to press match. We anticipate that this will be a long project. The first phase of this effort is to review current efforts and procedures by members who have been working on this problem.

Development on calibration method for spot color units (to be used with G7 calibration)
At the August Print Properties meeting Don Hutcheson proposed a method to be used for calibration of spot colors by offset printers. Currently when we perform a G7 calibration we omit any specific calibration for the spot units. We will be supporting the development of a calibration method to be performed on the spot units during the G7 calibration.

New Control Target in the Works

IDEAlliance, in partnership with Munsell will be releasing a target to be used for instrument quality and consistency checking. The target should be available in the Spring of 2013. Watch this page for updates.

G7 Master Pass/Fail Guidelines Finalized

The G7 Master Pass/Fail Guidelines have now been published and are available for download. The G7 Master Pass/Fail describe detailed pass/fail requirements for pressheets submitted to IDEAlliance and their auditor for G7 Master and G7 PC Qualification. After a 18 months of review and editing this document is finally complete! All G7 Experts and G7 PC Experts should be familiar with this document.

• http://www.idealliance.org/downloads/g7-g7-process-control-pass-fail-guidelines
• http://www.idealliance.org/downloads/substrate-relativity-calculator-kit-20120606
• http://www.idealliance.org/downloads/g7-master-printer-qualification-submission-procedures-rit
• http://www.idealliance.org/downloads/g7-process-control-master-qualification-submission-procedures-calpoly

IDEAlliance releases Print Guidelines:

IDEAlliance®has released its 12th Edition of Printing Guidelines, categorizing the latest best practices and specifications for printing. The 44-page guide addresses the demands of evolving customer needs, the new challenges of acting globally, and the latest changes in technology. From specifications such as GRACoL® and SWOP® to updates in lighting and measurement, and the addition of the G7® specification TR015, this publication addresses the latest best practices in printing in North America and Internationally. The guide is available at www.idealliance.org/print-guidelines12.New Lighting Standard –  ISO 3664:2009

There has been a great deal of discussion about the new lighting standard and best practices for use with the new bulbs. We are working on GRACoL Committee recommendations for printers who need a proof to press match.

4. We have scheduled a GRACoL calls for April and May. Watch your email for an agenda as well as dates and times.

Other News

GRACoL calls take place frequently. We are always looking for feedback – please contact us – ron@ronellis.us and send us your thoughts.

Ron Ellis, Jeff Collins, Mike Rodriquez

In 1996, a graphics arts task force was formed by the Graphic Communications Association (now IDEAlliance) to develop a document containing general guidelines and recommendations that could be used as a reference source across the industry for quality color printing. Since that time, the GRACoL Working Group has developed, maintained and published printing guidelines that have since become de facto standards on many pressrooms. The mission of GRACoL is to improve communications and education in the graphic arts by developing best practices that reflect the influence and impact of new technologies in the workflow of commercial offset lithography. GRACoL is a registered trademark of IDEAlliance.  

To search for G7 Expert Consultants or G7 Master Qualified Proof & Print Providers, click on this button:

 Top GRACoL & G7 Downloads:

Adobe Color Suite Settings

G7 & GRACoL Pre-Qualification Kit for Sheetfed Offset

G7 & GRACoL Qualification Kit for Sheetfed Offset

IDEAlliance ISO 12647-7 Color Control Wedge 2009

G7 Definitiions

SWOP & GRACoL ICC Profiles

SWOP & GRACoL Datasets

G7 Master Pass/Fail Requirements Doc Draft

DEER Printing Guidelines Poster

 More GRACoL & G7 Downloads can be found under resources/downloads at the top of the page 

The downloads under resources/downloads include the Prequalification Kit, Qualification Kit, Test forms, GRACoL, SWOP and Beta Characterization Data Sets, P2P forms, Tolerance Documents, Production Proofing Guidelines, Press Operators Guide, and other important information.

SWOP & GRACoL SPECIFICATIONS
FOR D50 LIGHTING

Please be advised that SWOP & GRACoL have adopted new Specifications to comply with ISO standards in lighting.  Prepress Professionals, Advertisers, Publishers, Printers, and Photographers who evaluate color under standardized D50 lighting in the Graphic Arts Industry are affected by this change.

When is this going into affect?

SWOP & GRACoL have already made the change to include the updated ISO 3664:2009 standard.  The lighting manufacturers GTI and JUST Normlicht are now manufacturing their light bulbs to comply to the updated ISO standard.

When do I need to change by?

As an industry we all need to do our part to make the switch together.  Therefore SWOP has made the mandate that everyone is using updated D50 light bulbs by January 1^st, 2012.

What do I need to do to be compliant with the new ISO Standard?

GTI and JUST Normlicht no longer manufacturer, stock or ship bulbs  conforming to the outdated standard. If you are using expired light bulbs in your viewing booths, simply purchase new ones from your normal suppliers and be sure to ask for bulbs that comply with the ISO 3664:2009 Standard.

In some cases the luminaire lens may block enough UV energy as to require replacement in order to comply with the new standard – please check with the manufacturer of your viewing system to verify this.  

We recently bought new bulbs, how do I know if they are for the old standard or the new one?

You can tell by looking at the label on the bulbs or packaging they come in. 

GTI: Look for the three-character code printed on the bulbs.  The important thing you want is that the LAST character of the code is an “E”. The old standard had an “X”. If you do not have an “E” then you need to purchase new bulbs.  Source:  www.gtilite.com

JUST Normlicht: Look for the imprinted ISO standard ISO 3664:2009. If this is not printed on the bulbs then you must purchase new bulbs.  Source:  www.just.de/us

What else do I need to do?

Inform your clients, vendors and customers about using the new ISO compliant bulbs. If someone’s light booth is different from yours, there is a good chance that color evaluation may be different. Be sure all light booths are using ISO 3664:2009 D50 light bulbs .

Below are example images of the new bulbs.