Category Archives: Basics

Why is the embedding of RGB profiles so important?

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A few days ago we received a call from a customer in the field of design, who sent open Adobe InDesign data in ISOCoatedV2 300% with contained RGB images to the production company for a complex CD production on the advice of the producing company (“The printing company still has a prepress stage, which can then prepare your data optimally…”). The result of the finished printed CD booklets and inlays did not correspond at all to the calibrated monitor image of our customer, the client was also unhappy and requested the print data about the production company from the print shop responsible for the print to troubleshoot. Data in the “US Web Coated” color space with 350% ink coverage came back from the printer. For troubleshooting, the customer then had a proof of his data created by us, but had chosen the settings “Convert to target profile (retain values)” as usual when writing the proof PDF; we thus received completely CMYK data, of which we produced a proof according to ISOCoatedV2 300%, which completely met our customer’s expectations. So it seems that the designer created the data correctly and printed the print shop incorrectly.

On closer inspection, our error analysis revealed two serious weaknesses:

  • On the one hand, the obviously wrong profile conversion of the print shop with InDesign CS2 to “US Web Coated”, a completely outdated profile never used in Europe, which was delivered with early Creative Suite versions and was probably never adapted due to a lack of competence on the part of the print shop.
  • On the other hand, the open InDesign file of our customer, which he had sent to the production company, contained RGB images without a profile (DeviceRGB), which cannot be safely interpreted.

In this case, a complaint of the designer to the printing company will of course be difficult, as on the one hand, non-profiled RGB data were sent to the production company, and on the other hand, no print PDF generated by the data creator in the correct output color space ISOCoatedV2 300% was supplied.

If this had been done, one could at least have argued that the expected color of the production print would have been comprehensively known. Thus, one can only refer to the fact that the printer would have had to ask the designer for RGB data without an embedded color profile, and should not have assigned the data somehow to a profile “blindly”. The fact that the print shop with its crude US Web Coated workflow certainly did not create a correct print file, but a wrong one for the output, can indeed be stated, but the print shop can always talk its way out to “systems with in-house standard”.

How do we deal with RGB data at Proof.de?

If we receive a PDF file that contains RGB images, the next step is to check if the file is a valid PDF/X-3 or PDF/X-4. If this is the case, we check whether all input RGB profiles are correctly marked with color space (sRGB / AdobeRGB / ECI-RGB-V2 etc.) and rendering intent, then we check whether the correct output color space was used as output intent and whether also contained CMYK data have the correct input profiles. If yes, then we proof the file with the settings: “Consider all input and output color spaces”.

In this case, the file is reproduced 100% exactly as our customer created and defined the color profiles. If he has made a mistake and e.g. marked an image with a wrong RGB profile, this will also be “incorrectly proofed” exactly as correctly.

If RGB data should not contain a profile, e.g. if they are created in Device RGB, we generate a “data incorrect” e-mail in which we explain our procedure as follows:

“Dear customer, the data check has shown that RGB elements are contained in your data. RGB elements can only be safely interpreted in the proof if they are marked with a color profile and a rendering intent. This is the case, for example, with correct PDF/X-3 and PDF/X-4 data. The correct output intent must also be specified.

At least one of these criteria does not seem to be the case for your file. The safest way would be to convert the contained RGB data to CMYK. This has the advantage that you have control over the conversion and can view the CMYK result again in Acrobat before uploading the file again for proofing. We can then reliably use your CMYK values for the proof. To do this, call up the current order in your customer account, delete the incorrect data and upload the corrected data.

If, for example, the RGB element should only be a small image that is not relevant for the overall impression of the proof, or if you do not have another file available for the proof, then of course we can also use your RGB data for the proof. If available, we use your RGB source profiles and rendering intents, otherwise we use the sRGB standard and the rendering intent “relatively colorimetric with depth compensation”, which in most cases will lead to correct proof results. If you would like us to proof the supplied RGB data in this way, please let us know. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Best regards, your proofing team”.

In our case, the CD production case would also not have occurred in the proof, as we reject RGB data not provided with an ICC profile with the error message mentioned above, and do not convert them, as we cannot predict precisely how our customer would have liked the data to be converted.

We are aware that our approach is not 100% the ultimate best approach in all cases, but to the best of our knowledge and belief it is best in line with market practice and the expectations of our customers.

However, we are also happy to accept your individual requirements and circumstances. Give us a call or send us an email and describe your processing requirements.

Colour Management Consulting and Expertise

Colourmanagement Consulting

Colourmanagement Consulting

By the way: We are happy to put our knowledge and data competence at your service: If you also have a problem, a question about print data, data preparation, or – as in the above example – a misprint has already occurred and you need external expertise and assistance for the complaint: Give us a call. We will be happy to advise you and help you where we can help. We will charge you for our advice and analysis at an hourly rate of EUR 90,- plus VAT, and you will be billed for 15 minutes each. An initial consultation and assessment is of course free of charge.

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How CMYK and RGB profiles are handled in proofing

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When we receive a file from you, the first thing we check is whether there are colors other than CMYK in the file. If the file is built exclusively in CMYK, it will be sent directly for proofing.

Handling wrong profiles with CMYK data / “Profile Mismatch
If we have only received CMYK data from you, we will ignore all input and output profiles and only use the CMYK values that we bring to the ordered output color space.

Example 1: Data in ISOCoated, proof in ISOCoatedV2 ordered, thus wrong or no CMYK profile embedded.

You send a file with the profile ISOCoated and a color area in CMYK 100/70/0/0 and order a proof according to ISOCoatedV2.
We ignore the ISOCoated profile and proof the pure color value 100/70/0/0 according to ISOCoatedV2.

Why do we do this?
In our proofs, we try to reproduce the “lived reality” of the print as well as possible. In many conversations with printers we have seen that in almost 100% of the cases they do not convert profiles from CMYK to CMYK, but instead put a colour value of 100/70/0/0 on the plate without taking CMYK profiles into account, insert paper and print in conformity with the standards. So we also map this way, although it would actually be “more correct” to perform a color space transfer from ISOCoated 100/70/0/0 to ISOCoatedV2. However, this results in a different color value, for example 100/63/1/6 for relatively colorimetric conversion with depth compensation or 100/63/3/15 perceptively with depth compensation!

In practice:

One of our customers did not proof 30 slightly different, dark blue colour areas in ISOCoatedV2 on our premises, but on the premises of a colleague, under each of which the CMYK value was in black lettering, in order to sample the colour of a powder-coated surface. The customer defined a very well fitting CMYK colour value on the basis of the proofed colour areas, inserted it into his brochures and started the print jobs. Result: The dark blue was a distinctly different blue than on the reference proof, customer and agency were very dissatisfied and went on troubleshooting. Now the case came to us.
We received a file for proofing according to ISOCoatedV2 and compared it with our colleague’s proof. The colors with the same black CMYK values printed underneath were clearly different, but both proofs were provided with media wedges and measured correctly. After some troubleshooting, we came up with the idea of requesting the original proof from our colleague, which also existed. In this one there was a Fogra27Coated profile, thus an implementation of the old ISOCoated. A proof according to ISOCoatedV2 had been ordered at that time. Had it happened? The colleague had taken the input profiles into account, which resulted in a significant change in the CMYK values of the color patches, as mentioned above, due to a color space transfer from CMYK to CMYK. The black printed CMYK values under the color patches had of course not changed. The patterned CMYK value therefore did not correspond to the proofed value at all. Our customer fell from all clouds: “How, our CMYK values were not proofed”. This would not have happened with us, because we would ignore the embedded profile with CMYK data. In this case this would also have been our customer’s expectations.
After almost two hours, we had determined the “error” (or perhaps rather: the “difference”), created a proof for our customer that was “in line with expectations”, which he could use to determine the appropriate CMYK value in ISOCoatedV2, and solved the problem. Continue reading →

DIN SPEC 16699 “Open colour communication” shortly before publication

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DIN SPEC 16699 Open Color Communication Final Meeting Berlin. From left to right: Eric A. Soder, Jan-Peter Homann, Matthias Betz, Holger Everding

 

Last Monday, the authors Jan-Peter Homann, Holger Everding, Eric A. Soder and Matthias Betz took another milestone in the direction of free color communication in a final meeting at the German Institute for Standardization – DIN in Berlin: The last open points of DIN SPEC 16699 “Open Colour Communication” were discussed and approved. Now only the English version by Matthias Betz and Eric A. Soder and the final implementation and approval by DIN are missing. It is expected that DIN SPEC will be available for download in August. It is published free of charge as PAS – Publicly Available Specification by DIN in German and English.

In this DIN-SPEC we describe a procedure for precise color communication and color sample creation on the basis of open standards such as CIELAB, HLC, ICC and CXF file formats. We work with mathematical color models, high-precision color samples and exact spectral data as a basis for ink formulation at color manufacturers and service providers. Instead of mutually incompatible commercial standards, we show an open, and open-source approach to high-precision color communication.

Besides the DIN SPEC we are working at full speed on new projects and ideas and on different new versions of our free colour CIELAB HLC Colour Atlas.

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Update of the shop of Proof.de also with regard to the GDPR

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In order to implement the EU General Data Protection Regulation also in the shop in conformity, we have updated the shop in the last weeks, applied security patches and implemented important innovations for the protection of your personal data. We would like to briefly introduce some important changes:

  • Your passwords are now even more strongly encrypted in the shop
  • If you have forgotten your password, you will no longer receive a new password via email, but can change your new password via a shop page. You will still receive an e-mail, but now with a secure confirmation link instead of a password. This leads directly to an input mask where you can set your own new password directly.
  • The first time you visit the shop you will now be informed about our cookies and our data protection regulations and are asked to agree to these in order to enable the optimal use of the shop.
  • You can now explicitly specify with each order whether or not we should pass on your email address and telephone number to the shipping service provider. If you do not wish this, you will either not receive any tracking data, or you will only receive the data via our shop and not directly via DHL or UPS. If you would like to know more about your shipment, you are of course welcome to call us at any time or send us a short email.
  • The form of address is no longer a mandatory field.
  • If you enter a company name when registering, you can dispense with salutation, first name and surname. Thus, from the outset, no personal data of a natural person, but only the data of a legal person – the company – is recorded. If you now also use an e-mail address such as “prooforders@mycompany.com”, you will not provide us with any personal data.

Also for us the shop update offers some positive innovations. Following the discontinuation of DHL’s old Intraship service, we can now also create automatic shipping labels for parcels via the new “Send” feature of the DHL Business Customer Portal. Another new feature is that we can now digitally frank address labels for our DIN B4 envelopes using digital stamps and therefore no longer require normal stamps. This is particularly interesting for us when mailing abroad with registered mail, which used to be a tedious process at the online post office, which is now automated. And we can switch between orders more easily.

The next updates are already in planning. Especially the upload area is currently being technically replanned by an external developer, because with the next update the way of embedding extensions in the shop will also change. Probably later in summer the next update will be available as soon as the new modules are available and we have been able to test them thoroughly.

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DIN SPEC Business Plan “Open Colour Communication” published

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Currently, our freecolour.org DIN SPEC business plan was published for 4 weeks from 19.02.2018 to 19.03.2018 on the DIN website for comment.

In this DIN SPEC we will define tools and procedures for open and transparent color communication from design to finished product based on CIELAB color values, physical samples according to ISO12647-7 and spectral data in CxF3 format according to ISO 17972.

DIN SPEC describes both the way to create physical samples and CxF spectral data for any CIELAB color values by the user and the basic parameters of an open reference color system, which is available to all users without license costs under a Creative Commons license. The work equipment described in DIN SPEC is particularly suitable for tasks in which colours are defined in design for various production processes and communicated to manufacturing companies by means of physical samples and spectral data. The procedure described in DIN SPEC is intended to enable the production of matt, silk-matt and glossy colour samples on closed unstructured surfaces.

DIN Building at DIN Plaza, Berlin

DIN Building at DIN Plaza, Berlin

In a way, DIN SPEC is the little brother of the DIN standard. DIN writes: “DIN SPEC is a highly effective marketing instrument which, thanks to the recognized DIN brand, ensures a high level of acceptance among customers and partners. DIN ensures that DIN SPEC does not conflict with existing standards and publishes the standards, even internationally. A DIN SPEC can be the basis for a DIN standard.”

With DIN SPEC 16699 “Open Color Communication” we at freieFarbe e.V. would like to show that with open tools and procedures as well as Creative Commons licenses, in particular the CIELAB standard, ICC-based color management and ISO standards for spectral data, color communication is possible on a professional level.

Further information can also be found on freieFarbe.de

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CIELAB HLC Colour Atlas available in the Proof.de Shop

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It has taken almost a year, but we are all the more pleased now: The “CIELAB HLC Colour Atlas” is completed and can be ordered in our shop. The HLC Colour Atlas is a open source, high-precision colour system based on open standards.

The CIELAB HLC Colour Atlas offers professional users of colour three decisive advantages:

  • The CIELAB HLC colour atlas is based on open, non-proprietary standards that are free of copyrights and trademarks.
  • The colour atlas with all components is available to all users free of charge online and can be downloaded, used and passed on directly.
    It is released under an OpenSource Creative Commons license.
  • The printed reference of the CIELAB HLC colour atlas impresses with outstanding precision and, unlike some commercial products, the colour accuracy is extremely high with a DeltaE00 median of 0.3 and an average DeltaE00 of 0.5. In most cases, the deviation from the ideal colour reference and colour differences between two colour atlases can be measured, but not perceived by the human eye. Each atlas is produced on our best Fogra-certified high-end proofing printer on Fogra-certified paper. Each copy is delivered with an individual, colorimetric test report in accordance with ISO 12647-7:2016 to document the color accuracy of each individual color atlas.

The atlas consists of the following components:

  • A printed colour atlas master reference (A4, ring binder) with 2040 colours, based on the intuitive HLC colour model (Hue, Lightness, Chroma), with shades of 10 between the individual colours. This also includes colors that are not reproducible in normal CMYK workflows (jewelry colors). This component is produced with the greatest care in Tübingen. The colour atlas contains an introduction and instructions for use in German or English.
  • A free PDF-Master version of the color atlas, which also displays numerous other color spaces such as sRGB, Fogra39, Fogra51 and 52 etc. via layers in the PDF file.
  • Color palettes with all 2040 LAB values for Adobe software in ASE format. We provide this library in a timely manner also in the SBZ format of Swatchbooker as well as in sRGB versions for LibreOffice (SOC), GIMP (GPL) and Scribus 1.4. x (XML). Scribus 1.5. x already contains the SBZ-file and a sRGB-version is shipped with LibreOffice since version 5.4.4.4, as well as with the current stable version Scribus 1.4.6.
  • A table with color conversion values of all colors of the atlas according to sRGB, HEX and ISOCoatedV2 in two rendering intents.
  • Spectral data of all color fields in a CxF v. 3 file containing the color data of all color fields in spectral values. This file enables, for example, paint manufacturers to use all colours of the atlas with high precision spectral spectral data or to create their own reliable references – open source and without licensing fees. For example, an ink manufacturer can simply load the CxF3 file into typical color formulation software and create the right mix for its printing inks. This applies not only to offset printing, but also to coatings, textile inks and plastics.

All files are available for free download under a CC license. Only the HLC colour atlas printed by Proof GmbH is subject to a fee, as production is very labour and cost-intensive. The introductory price of EUR 99, – is valid until the end of April 2018, starting in May EUR 149, — plus VAT and shipping costs.

You can order the CIELAB HLC colour atlas here in our shop

We at FreieFarbe e. V. and Proof GmbH not only see the “CIELAB HLC-Farbatlas” as a genuine and open alternative to the hundreds of proprietary color systems, but we also believe that the highest quality standard of the printed color atlas can only be achieved by coating systems.

Since the beginning of January, we have also been working on converting our open colour system with the German DIN standards organisation into a DIN SPEC standard.

INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT HAVE BEEN:

Holger Everding (DPT Studio Oldenburg), Jan-Peter Homann (Homann Colormanagement), Eric A. Soder (pixsource. com), Peter Jäger (pre2media. ch) and Matthias Betz (Proof GmbH) as well as Christoph Schäfer and Gregory Pittman (Scribus Team).

WITH THE FRIENDLY SUPPORT OF:

freeFarbe e. V. also thanks for the support of ColorLogic GmbH with its software ZePrA for special color optimization and ColorAnt for the acquisition of spectral data, Epson Deutschland GmbH for support with ink and GMG GmbH & Co. KG for the support with certified proof papers and their color proofing software.

Proof. de offers proofs according to the latest tolerance criteria of ISO 12647-7:2016

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The ISO 12647-7 proofing standard was revised in November 2016 and the test criteria for FograCert contract proof creation were adapted. We have now incorporated these changed criteria into our proofing system and are now working to the stricter tolerances of the latest ISO 12647-7:2016.

Why hardly anything changes for our Proof customers

The good news is: you won’t notice that our proofs are now precisely produced according to the latest standards. Why? Quite simply: Because our demands on our proofing system, our FIERY proofing software, our EFI proofing papers and the X-Rite measuring decvices are already so high that all components of our proofing system – and of course our proofs themselves – have been meeting the new criteria of the revised November 2016 standard for years.

The most important new features of the new Proof Norm in brief

1. colour accuracy

The new standard brings the classical formula for the colour distance Delta-E from the traditional definition of 1976 (CIELAB 1976) to the updated version of 2000 (CIEDE2000). Since the values cannot be converted directly, new tolerances for the test report are introduced, which are valid immediately. These new tolerances and new criteria are also the only difference that you will notice on our proof when you take a closer look at it.

Why this change: Fogra used measurements from the 116 Contract Proof Certifications from 2016 to show that the old and new tolerances of the old? These colors have so far had a? E-value that is too high in relation to the visual assessment. The new Delta-E values, on the other hand, are much more “equidistant”, i. e. with the human assessment of the colour distance, which Fogra has also demonstrated in tests.

The deviations of the gray axis and hue are now also determined more precisely, the evaluation of the hue spacing? You can also see this on the test report. The Fogra writes:”Since HC mainly depends on the hue angle, the evaluation of neutral grey or similar colours with sometimes very large differences in brightness and saturation did not yield meaningful results. The measure?Ch now describes the actual distance of a color pair in the CIEa*b* plane and is therefore no longer suitable only for the evaluation of the colorfulness difference of very rich colors.

2. durability of proofing papers

The ageing tests for proof papers were clarified more clearly with the introduction of the new standard. All certified proof papers undergo the following tests:

room temperature
(24 h at 25° C and 25% rel. humidity)
hot and humid environment
(24 h at 40° C and 80% rel. humidity)
dry storage
(1 week at 40° C and 10 % rel. humidity)
fastness to light
(at least level 3 of ISO 12040)
A proof now has to pass through all of the above tests without any difficulty, whereby it is now regulated that a new proof is used for each test, i. e. not a copy has to pass all tests one after the other.

3rd Optical Brightning Agents (OBAs)

Three years ago, the offset standard already included the categorisation of the optical brightener content in the offset standard, the proofing standard is now following suit and uses the same classification. The brightener content of the proof paper should be similar to that of the used support paper or belong to the same category, similar to the gloss of the proof paper.

4. Spot colours such as PANTONE and HKS

The new revision of the standard also includes criteria for the evaluation of spot colours such as PANTONE, HKS or TOYO. These can now optionally be evaluated within the standard, which is then done via a separate media wedge with test report. For measured spot colours, the tolerance for colour deviation must be within Delta-E 2.5.

In the example shown here, a proof file consisting of colored squares with 4 additional PANTONE spot colors is output: PANTONE 7441 C, PANTONE 2995 C, PANTONE Bright Green C and PANTONE ORANGE 021 C. These spot colors are recognized by the RIP and assigned to the respective internal color values, which can be seen in the line in the job ticket.

Between Jobticket and UGRA/Fogra media wedge, an additional media wedge can now be printed on which the contained spot colors – in this case the four PANTONE colors – are mapped. The measured results of the special color deviations can then be output in a separate test report.

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Proof GmbH is a partner of FreieFarbe e. V.

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freeColor e. V. is a consortium of German and Swiss color experts who work to produce consistent color in all areas of application. Sounds reasonable? Exactly. That is the issue that is of central importance to our proofing customers. Therefore we are currently working in a project with the colleagues of FreieFarbe e. V. and are now also as Proof GmbH member and partner of FreieFarbe e. V.

FreeColor relies on open standards such as LAB and HLC, which have long been integrated in computer software and want to show: the computer is an ideal tool for color, it can make color free! The association FreieFarbe e. V. aims to promote colour communication without pursuing commercial goals.

freeColor e. V. would like to promote developments that…

  • Make coulor calculable
  • Make colour applicably
  • Make ink systems comparable
  • Simplify color communication
  • Have no license costs
  • Give Tips and hints for a correct cross-media colour workflow
  • make the multiple mysteries of color understandable

In recent months, Holger Everding, Peter Jäger, Eric A. Soder and Jan-Peter Homann have developed a completely new approach to this, which we were able to develop together with our colleagues into a product that we will present shortly.

We would like to take this opportunity to point out a great feature of the website of FreieFarbe. de: The colour database: Here you can look up the most important colour values for more than 300 colour systems and calculate colour comparisons of all kinds.

For the work within the association FreieFarbe e. V. the association is always looking for competent companions. If you, like us, are touched by the subject of colour in a variety of ways, there are many opportunities at fF to contribute with your knowledge and strengths. If you feel like our good cause, please contact us!

www.freecolour.org

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Proof GmbH: First Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 certified company worldwide

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Proof GmbH has again been certified by Fogra in September 2015, this time for the standards Fogra 51 (PSOCoated_v3), Fogra 52 (PSOuncoated_v3) and Fogra 39 (ISOcoatedv2).

Fogra Certificate Proof GmbH for Fogra51 and Fogra52 Proofs (PSOCoatedV3 and PSOUncoatedV3 proofs)

The Proof GmbH has thus reaffirmed it’s quality by the strict criteria of Fogra. The tests Fogra conducted went far beyond the pure colorimetric readout of a media wedge. The special proofs for Fogra were evaluated among the following criteria:

  • Color accuracy of the Ugra / Fogra media wedge CMYK 3
  • Overall color accuracy and gamut
  • Uniformity and homogeneity of the proofsProof GmbH has again been certified by Fogra in September 2015, this time for the standards Fogra 51 (PSOCoated_v3), Fogra 52 (PSOuncoated_v3) and Fogra 39 (ISOcoatedv2).
  • Color and gloss of the proofing papers used
  • Tonal range and tonality
  • Register and resolution
  • Status information on the proof
  • Tonal values

The color matching our proofs submitted for the test was confirmed by Fogra with date of September 24, 2015. The Proof GmbH is thus the world’s first company that has certification for the production of contract proofs on a Fogra 51 and Fogra 52.

We are very pleased that our preparation and the efforts of the past few months were rewarded by a successful certification. You can order Fogra51/52 proofs in our proofing shop Order Fogra 51 / Fogra 52 Proofs (PSOCoatedV3 and PSOUncoatedV3).

The full, 12-page report from Fogra can be downloaded here:
Fogra certification report on Proof GmbH of 2015 No. 29712

Fogra 51 and 52: The new printing conditions start in September 2015

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With long delay, the new printing conditions Fogra Fogra 51 and 52 – PSOCoatedV3 and PSOUncoatedV3 – will be presented at the end of September and finally come into practice. The German bvdm invites together with Fogra and ECI to a joint “kick-off” of the new printing conditions in the “Hochschule der Medien” in Stuttgart.

On Wednesday, the 30th of September 2015 from 10 o’clock representatives of the associations will introduce in the university the innovations, Karl Michael Meinecke wrote of the ECI mailing list.

In this kick-off the new, jointly developed printing conditions and  to implement the ISO 12647-2:2013 are presented to printing and media professionals. Attendance is expected to be free, but registration with name and company to the email address ks@bvdm-online.de is requested. The event takes place at the HdM in auditorium i003 in the Nobel Straße 10, D-70569 Stuttgart (Vaihingen) in the Stuttgart Media University.

Fogra51 and Fogra52: A difficult start

The launch of Fogra51 and Fogra52 had been marked by delays and disruptions. Large series of measurements had to be discarded after testing, measurement technology as the new SpectroProofer ILS 30 or new proofing papers were delivered only with great delay. Several seminars on how to manage the change to the new ISO standards in the Fogra are running since late last year with numerous participants in full swing – only the new standards were still not in sight. Now there is at least the kick-off date at the end of September in sight.

Cirtainly, all involved representatives of associations and interested companies were often reminded of the negative model of the US standardization bodies:

The IDEAlliance had presented in 2013 probably too hastily developed new printing conditions for GRACol 2013 and SWOP 2013, but so far they hardly play any role in practice. Why? Even the IDEAlliance open most their publications on the new standards with the tenor: “If you are not extremely color-critical, there is no reason to change from the old standards to the new ones … Conclusion: Please stay with their established, old workflow with profiles from 2006 … we are currently working on numerous ‘supplements’ …”

PSOCoatedV3 and PSOUncoatedV3: What definitely comes

But it is clear: The new standards will bring many changes to companies in printing and prepress: The individual changes in detail: Continue reading →

New SWOP and GRACoL 2013 Profiles available for proofing

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idealliance_logo_webRecently Proof GmbH made available in their proof online shop the new US Proof Standards of SWOP and GRACoL with their 2013 profiles. Unlike the new Fogra51 and Fogra52 profiles from their Munich colleagues, the IDEAlliance have pushed their new standards forward and published new M1-based profiles already in 2013 – M1 meaning, that the new standards are measured in consideration of optical brightening agents (OBAs), and also contain a different white point than the previous SWOP and GRACoL profiles of 2006.

The release was perhaps a bit too early – even the Americans feel uneasy. So several documents of IDEAlliance regarding GRACoL 2013 and GRACoL 2006 almost discourages a necessity of a change towards the new profiles.

Ron Ellis and Don Hutcheson wrote: “The few minor changes are barely visible in most subject matter and should not significantly affect printers, designers or print buyers. […] In fact the differences are smaller than the typical variation between two good offset press runs “Not even image data or proofs must be adapted to the new standards”. The really good news Is that legacy image files and proofs produced using GRACoL 2006 Should not need to be adjusted or converted for printing or proofing to GRACoL 2013 (and vice-versa), except in rare situations.” GRACoL 2013 Guidelines

LAB values ​​of the primary colors, white paper and more have of course changed, therefore the reluctance can be explained only by a degree of uncertainty, as the Fogra and the ECI will implement their new Printing Conditions Fogra51 and Fogra52 at the end of September 2015. But ont thing is for shure: When it comes to dot gain and paper white, the American profiles are noticeably different from the new PSOCoated standards of the German Fogra.

The Proof GmbH has already implemented the new GRACoL and SWOP profiles and provides proofs with the new printing conditions.

Specifically, we have included the following proof profiles:

SWOP 2013 C3
Profile: SWOP2013_CRPC5.icc or SWOP2013C3-CPRC5.icc
The profile is measured in M1 mode in consideration of optical brighteners and is printed on proofing papers with optical brighteners.
Maximum Ink coverage: 260%
GCR: Medium +
Maximum Black: 100%
Dot gain: CMY 16% K19%
Paper: Grade # 3 paper
Reference profile: CGATS21-2-CRPC5

SWOP 2013 C5
Profile: SWOP2013C5.icc
Based on CGATS-21-2 CRPC5, with adaptation (SCCA) on US Grade5 coated paper. White paper in LAB: 90/0 / -4
The profile is measured in M1 mode in consideration of optical brighteners and must be printed on proofing papers with optical brighteners.
Paper: Grade # 5 paper
Reference profile: SWOP2015C5

GRACoL 2013 Uncoated
Profile: GRACoL2013UNC_CRPC3.icc
The profile is measured in M1 mode in consideration of optical brighteners and must be printed on proofing papers with optical brighteners.
Maximum Ink coverage: 260%
GCR: Medium +
Maximum Black: 100%
Dot gain: CMY 16% K19%
Paper: N.N.
Reference profile: CGATS21-2-CRPC3

GRACoL 2013
Profile: GRACoL2013_CRPC6.icc
The profile is measured in M1 mode in consideration of optical brighteners and must be printed on proofing papers with optical brighteners.
Maximum Ink coverage: 320%
GCR: Medium +
Maximum Black: 100%
Dot gain: CMY 16%, K19,1%
Paper: N.N.
Reference profile: CGATS21-2-CRPC6

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New Proof papers for Fogra51 and Fogra52 in use

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Three weeks ago, we have introduced two new proofing papers for the proof of Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 Beta standard and other color standards, that require proof papers with optical brighteners:

EFI Proof Paper 8245 OBA Semimatte
EFI Proof Paper 8175 OBA Matte

A proof for coated papers with optical brighteners, we offer on semi matte EFI 8245 OBA semimatte with 245 gr / sqm. The EFI Proof Paper 8245OBA Semimatte has been specifically designed for proofing white and brightened, coated papers. The white point of this semi matte paper is very close to the values ​​of the FOGRA51 profile and thus allows proofing of FOGRA51 with virtually no paper white simulation at all. It is also well suited for simulating paper conditions PC1 according to ISO 12647-2:-2013.

EFI Proof Paper 8245 OBA Semimatt

Weight: 245 g / sqm
Thickness: 245 microns
Opacity:> 95%
Gloss: 22%
CIE L * a * b * (M0): 95.8 | 0.9 | -4.3
CIE L * a * b * (M1): 96.0 | 1.1 | -5.6

For Proofs on uncoated papers with optical brighteners, we offer proofing on matte EFI 8175 OBA matte with 175gr / sqm. The EFI Proof Paper 8175OBA Matte has been specifically designed for uncoated proof standards. It is highly brightened and very suitable for proofing of Fogra52.

EFI Proof Paper 8175 OBA Matte

Weight: 175 g / m²
Thickness: 230 microns
Opacity: 97%
Gloss: 5%
CIE L * a * b * (M0): 96.8 | 2.5 | -7.7
CIE L * a * b * (M1): 97.0 | 3.0 | -10.8

Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 Beta Proofs available

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By switching to the new Fiery XF 6.1 and the use of the new X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS-30 measuring instruments, we are now able to proof the current beta versions of the new printing standards Fogra 51 and Fogra 52.

Since the current proofing profiles are available only in preliminary beta versions, the versions are of course not color binding and legally binding. Nevertheless, interested agencies and printers can get a picture of the current state of development and evaluate the coming changes of the OBA proofing papers used better match the colors of the new proofing standards.

We have created a new category in our Proof.de Store:
Fogra 51 / Fogra 52 Beta Proofs

The Fogra 51/52 Beta proofs are listed as follows:

Proof profile Coated:
PSO_Coated_v3_ECI Practice Fred15_Oct2014.icc

Proof profiles Uncoated:
PSO_Uncoated_v3_eci_Fred15-July2014.icc
PSO_Uncoated_blueish_v3_ (ECI) -Fred15-July.icc

Software: Fiery XF 6.1
Proof printer: EPSON 7900/9900
Measurement: Epson / X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS30
Measuring standard: M1 with UV

Proof Paper Coated: EFI Proof Paper 8245OBA Semimatt 245gr / sqm
Proof Paper Uncoated: EFI Proof Paper 8175OBA Matt 175gr / sqm

 

Proof.de Introduced new measuring technology: X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS30

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With the new SpectroProofer ILS30 made by X-Rite, Proof GmbH has created the basis for automated measurements and Proof verifications according to M1 standard. Proofs with optical brighteners (OBAs – Optical Brightning Agents) can now be measured. Contrary to earlier announcements, the new SpectroProofer are also able to measure the current proofing standards as before in M0 measurement standard.

Because of the new ILS30 SpectroProofer, the layout of the Ugra / Fogra media wedge was slightly modified. For a comparison between old and new media wedge, see the image below.

Detailed X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS30 measuring head compared with X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS20

Detail Spectroproofer ILS30 front, ILS20 at the back

X-Rite Spectroproofer ILS30 Packaging

X-Rite Spectroproofer ILS30 Packaging

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Even more safety: shop.proof.de now with strong SSL encryption

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We have used the past few weeks, to protect our proof Store shop.proof.de with a SSL certification (EV). Thus the whole communication between you and the shop is protected with a high level of encryption.
shop.proof.de: SSL Verschlüsselung ist sofort sichtbar

You recognize the active encryption by slight green bar in the browser. If you click on the lock, you will get more information about the certificate and the issuing body GeoTrust. And you can see at first glance: you are really connected to the Proof GmbH in Tübingen.
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Affordable Proof Shipping, now worldwide.

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Proof GmbH has now even more attractive shipping terms for domestic and international shipping. In addition, proofs can now be sent via Express and standard shipping worldwide.

Throughout Germany shipping costs for packages from Proof A3 were reduced to only 9,-€.

In international shipping, costs were partially reduced by almost 50%. Proofs can now be sent quickly and conveniently wordwide. shipping costs and options are directly calculated in the shop so that a quick and direct proof order is possible. Express delivery in the EU is now from 35, – €, Switzerland and the United States from only 45, – €. Even for Afghanistan and Nigeria, shipping costs for DIN A0 proofs are only 75, – €.  In international express, delivery time is between one to four days…

The exact prices and per country can be seen here:

Countries and shipping cost for proofing on shop.proof.de

Please note: Express delivery and standard delivery to countries in located in different shipping zones. So the standard shipping in the US through DHL is nearly as “expensive”, as the express delivery. So express delivery for only 10 Euro more certainly is the more attractive option for time-critical goods such proofs.

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Fogra Fogra 51 and 52: No Start in sight.

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Fogra Fogra 51 and 52, optical brighteners and the new standards for offset printing and proofing are currently on everyone’s lips. In the proof area we still see only announcements and beta versions, but no real solutionsby now. In 2013 the reorganization of ISO 12647-2 was adopted for offset printing, but according to ECI the earliest “expected recommendation on the implementation of the new ISO 12647-2 as well as the provision of appropriate handouts and instruments’ will be in 2015. The current status of Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 from our perspective:

Color profiles:

  • Fogra Fogra 51 and 52 have completed the beta phase at the Fogra in May 2014 and were forwarded to the ECI. The there in the project “fred15” compiled information and downloads are but from March, July to October 2014, but since then there has been no more news on the new standards. So there is currently no date for the release of the final profiles, handouts and tools foreseeable. Fogra, ECI, bvdm and UGRA continue to work together on the new standards.

Proof Papers:

ONE Technologies: The proofing paper for Fogra 51, already announced in May is still not available today.

ONE Technologies: The proofing paper for Fogra 51, already announced in May is still not available today.

  • ONE Technologies announced in May 2014, the certified proofing paper “ONE Proof Paper 51 SATIN” on … that in November is not yet available anywhere.
  • GMG announced in October, the proofing paper “GMG Proof semimatte 250 OBA”, which to this day is also available anywhere.
  • Also working on new  proofing substrates is EFI, but naming, pricing and release dates are not known.

Measuring technology:

  • Epson announced in August to deliver from 1 September 2014 all Epson SpectroProofer measuring devices with the new measuring head ILS 30 only. Unfortunately, the new SpectroProofer is not yet commercially available as an accessory.
  • While all previous sources reported that the new SpectroProofer –  Although Fogra 51 and 52, ie M1 and M2 capable, can not measure ISOcoatedv2 or M0. EFI with Fiery XF 6.1 and the SpectroProofer ILS 30 support all measurement modes, ie Fogra 51 and 52 and ISOcoatedv2 simultaneously … unfortunately is neither Fiery XF 6.1. previously available nor the SpectroProofer … but according to EFI they are currently testing all 3 modes … M0, M1 and M2 with the new SpectroProofer … that sounds promising. Continue reading →

Is a proof possible on special paper such as publication paper?

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“We print 135gr/sqm on a Berberich Allegro. Can you make us a proof on this paper? Can you proof on our final publication paper?”

Our telephone support often asks for a proof on publication paper. Unfortunately, we always have to answer the question negatively. I would like to briefly explain the reasons for this in the following article.

Proofing on publication paper is still technically impossible.

All proofing systems currently certified by Fogra are based on an inkjet printer as a test printer, mostly from Epson, Canon or HP. These printers are characterised by a large colour space, good resolution and excellent homogeneity and colour stability – all characteristics that are absolutely necessary for a proof printing system. The Epson systems used by the majority of proof printers are based on 11-colour pigment inks, which can reproduce a significantly larger colour space than e.g. ISOCoatedV2. However, the prerequisite for this is the use of special papers optimized for inkjet printing, in which the pigments and inks are optimally emphasized. This requires special coatings that are optimized for optimum reproduction, fast drying, good abrasion resistance and high UV stability of the print. On an image printing paper without these coatings, the ink would run, hardly dry and would not be smudge-proof. The color space would also be impossible to achieve. A proof would therefore not be possible from this point of view.

Stamp once on a coated printing paper. You can easily wipe off the stamping ink even after many days. The situation is similar with inkjet inks. And even colour laser printers are no solution. The toner applied to the paper in these systems and then liquefied by heat to bond with the paper cannot penetrate the closed coated surfaces. This means that the print is not fused and the toner can be wiped off the surface directly after printing.

Modern digital printing systems such as the iGen from Xerox are also capable of neatly mapping color spaces such as ISOCoatedV2. Some of these systems are also able to print offset papers properly, although here too special papers optimized for digital printing are used. However, despite major improvements in recent years, these digital printing systems are still not capable of reproducing the small color deviations required for a true color-accurate proof, a “contract proof in accordance with ISO 12647-7”. Even after a complete recalibration and re-profiling on the paper used, these systems only achieve “Validation Print” quality according to ISO 12647-8.

“Validation Prints” are not “contract proofs”, they are not color-binding and not legally binding, since the permissible color deviations of Validation Prints may be significantly higher than those of real proofs. The result would therefore only be a “print”, which is not binding for a print shop as a result, not “color-binding” but only “colored goods”. And it is precisely this commitment that must be achieved with a proof. In addition, the color stability of these systems is predominantly so critical that even with a new profiling in the morning in the afternoon, even the lax validation print tolerances can no longer be achieved and the system again has to be recalibrated and profiled.

The only solution: the classic proof. If it wasn’t for the cost.

Here, real offset printing with real colours produces the real print later in an edition of one piece. Since the proof is printed in real offset printing, production paper can also be used here without any problems. The downside? The price. Depending on the format, a proof on circulation paper costs several hundred euros. Since press proofs are still predominantly film-based printed today, but the real printing is usually via computer-to-plate printing plates, there is no 100% precision of the press proof for the production print today either. CTP is also available from proofing companies, but at an even higher cost. A little postcard, a slim fanfold? This is not economically viable in proof printing.

So don’t use circulation paper for shorter print runs. Especially with ISOCoatedV2, a classic proof offers you true color accuracy and stability at very low costs. Just lay the cover paper next to it. We are sure that this is the best way for you to imagine what the subsequent printing will look like, in the “most colour-accurate” and also at the best price. And in comparison to Validation Print digital printing, it is legally binding and binding in colour.

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New packaging at Proof.de

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Proof.de has introduced new packaging for proofs up to DIN A4+ and from A3.

The new A4+ packaging are made of high quality Chromosulfatcardboard with 450gr/m² weight and provided with a pull tab. They can be fitted on the front either with an adress label and postage stamp or for express shipments with a DHL Express label, as shown in the picture below. For shipping abroad we use to send via world letter large with registered mail, which is now directly printed as an adress label with stamp.

Die neuen Proof Verpackungen von Proof.de: Ab sofort sind Ihre Proofs noch besser geschützt.

The new cardboard shipping sleeves are slightly slimmer than before and also provided with a comfortable pull-tab. The new address labels are easy to recognize as of Proof.de. For the different formats between Proof DIN A3 and DIN A0 + they are available in various lengths and are each used appropriately according Proof size. They are used with DHL shipping labels for the standard shipping and express delivery.

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Reproduction of anaglyph images and line drawings

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Already a few weeks ago we received an unusual request: The musician and aspiring art student Tobias Weh from Osnabrück experimented with line drawings based on anaglyphs and achieved very good results on the monitor. He created superimposed line drawings, which then delivered a different image when viewed through the left eye than when viewed through the right eye. The question was whether this could be reproduced better with the high color range of a proofing system than with a simple domestic inkjet printer.

Since such questions are of course very interesting at first sight, we were quickly prepared to support Mr Weh in his work. To get closer to the matter, we use an i1 Pro 2 and BabelColor Color Translator & Analyzer to measure the spectra for the two films, which are transmitted through standard anaglyph glasses.

Anaglyphenbrille - Durchgelassenes Spektrum der beiden FolienActually a very satisfactory result. By choosing two colours as printing in the spectral ranges of 450 to 500 nanometres for blue and 650 to 700 nanometres for red, it should actually be possible to achieve quite a good result. The first idea was to use the LAB values measured by BabelColor to create the respective red and cyan color in the print. Unfortunately, however, this does not really work; the measured printed colours could unfortunately not be spectrally matched at all with the desired colour.

Anaglyphen-Druck_der_gemessenen_LAB_WerteSo we continued to experiment and found two colors that should actually harmonize very well spectrally with the transmitted spectra of the glasses.

Anaglyphen-Druck: Gewählte Farben für TestBut even here the result of the visual inspection was devastating. A strong ghosting in both colours was permanently predominant, a clear colour separation was not possible. Also a look through the foils of the anaglyph glasses on different Pantone fans in order to find by a visual color selection a color as suitable as possible did not bring any result. In red the glasses worked quite well, in the cyan area none of the Pantone colour fields disappeared even approximately in front of the human eye.

Blick durch die blaue Anaglyphenbrille auf rote Pantone Farben Blick durch die rote Anaglyphenbrille auf rote Pantone Farben

Amazing was also the effect that the Pantone neon colors like the Pantone 811 C delivered visibly brighter color results for the eye and even for a camera than the pure white paper. The two pictures above are snapshots of an iPhone camera through the two filter films of the anaglyph glasses. The red area clearly shows that some Pantone colours disappear completely through the film, while all Pantone colour strips are completely visible in blue.

As the only pragmatic solution we finally developed a compromise: We brightened up the colours red and cyan to prevent ghosting and coloured the background of the paper slightly light grey instead of white. This minimized ghosting, especially in the cyan area, so that the desired visual effect of the anaglyph image was achieved.

Even with intensive research on the Internet, we were unable to produce any other or better result. In several articles by a Frenchman Eric Dubois, the dilemma is quite well outlined, but his results did not really help us with our problem of line representations.

Some important links about anaglyph printing that we stumbled across during our research:

http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~edubois/anaglyph/

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/377398

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaglyph_3D

Tobias Weh fragte auch im Typografie-Forum nach Erfahrungswerten an.

http://www.typografie.info/3/topic/31883-anaglyphe-bilder-drucken-rot-grün-3d/

But here, too, there was no further evidence of a better approach.

Conclusion: The anaglyph area seems to work very well on screen. This is supported by a large number of Kindle eBook publications, which Amazon sells for little money. This is where the anaglyph effect really works, a high quality monitor is not necessary. However, this high-quality result cannot be reproduced in printing.

The hardcopy books currently available on the market with anaglyph images are mainly filled with historical stereographic images, which are based on a two-colour and thus grey background. This probably has two advantages: The two-tone grey minimizes ghosting, and in historical images our human tolerance threshold is simply higher than in modern photographs or line drawings.

If you have an idea how to produce a ghosting-free anaglyph image with modern printing systems, please contact us. We look forward to receiving further input and feedback on our deliberations.

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