The Euroscale, also known as the Euroscale or Euroscale, was a standardised colour model for four-colour printing (CMYK printing). This colour model was widely used, especially in Europe, and served as a reference for colour separation and the printing process to ensure consistent and predictable colour reproduction.
The term Euroscale referred to a specific set of printing colours – cyan, magenta, yellow and black (key) – that were intended for the European market. These colours were defined in such a way that together they could reproduce a wide range of colour tones. The advantage of the Euroscale was its standardisation: printers and designers could be sure that the colour output was consistent, no matter where in Europe the printing was done.
A key feature of the Euroscale was the precise definition of colour values. These were laid down in various standards such as DIN 16539 and ISO 2846-1, which described the properties and behaviour of printing inks, including their density, viscosity and transparency. Compliance with these standards ensured that printed products produced according to the Euroscale had consistent colour consistency.
The Euroscale also included the colour profiles and printing conditions used in the pre-press and printing process. This also included the definition of colour separation, which was based on the specific properties of the printing inks. In colour separation, an image is broken down into its four basic colours, which are then reassembled into a complete colour image during printing.
Another important feature of the Euroscale was its adaptation to different types of paper. As different papers have different colour rendering properties, there were specific profiles within the Euroscale for coated and uncoated papers. These profiles took into account the different absorption and reflection properties of the papers and ensured that the colours were always reproduced correctly regardless of the paper.
The use of the Euroscale in the printing process offered numerous advantages. For designers and printers, it meant reliable colour quality and consistency. This standardisation minimised misunderstandings and errors in communication between designers and printers, as everyone involved was working from the same colour standards. In addition, the Euroscale facilitated international cooperation, as colours could be reproduced according to the same specifications anywhere in Europe.
In summary, the Euroscale was an indispensable tool for modern four-colour printing. It provided a standardised colour palette and precise specifications that enabled consistent and high quality colour reproduction. By adapting to different types of paper and integrating into the entire print chain – from the design phase to the finished print product – the Euroscale ensured consistently high print quality and efficient production processes.
In early installations of Photoshop from the 1990s, numerous Euroscale or Euroscale profiles were installed, which still haunt some software today. In the UK in particular, the profiles still seem to be in widespread use.
However, its use is no longer recommended. Please switch to the current ISO standards, which you can download free of charge from the ECI website.