New edition of ISOCoatedV2 in M1 in sight?

Even almost 9 years after the introduction of the successor colour space PSOCoatedV3, ISOCoatedV2 / FOGRA39 is still the most widespread colour space in Europe. We at Proof GmbH count around 200 jobs from time to time for the German Printing and Media Industries Federation, among others. In the last count, proofs in ISOCoatedV2 accounted for around 68% of all proof jobs at our company. This is a clear sign of the continued widespread use of the colour space.

ISOCoatedV2: From the classic colour space to the beacon of the industry

In addition to the print proofs for offset printing on image printing paper, numerous other applications also come to mind: ISOCoatedV2 is also used for many other, non-standardised or less standardised printing processes and is used as an exchange colour space: From digital printing in exhibition stand construction to packaging printing in flexo and gravure printing: almost all major players in the market rely on the power of ISOCoatedV2.

At the Fogra 2024 colour management symposium in Munich, we heard a lot about how companies and large print service providers from printing processes other than offset printing also rely on ISOCoatedV2 as a colour space reference for their applications. They are virtually following ISOCoatedV2 from the “master standard” and simply orienting themselves to the “largest ship in the colour space sea: ISOCoatedV2”, which is well established among all players in the market such as agencies and designers. Over the last few years, this has turned a successful colour space into a de facto standard.

Updated and future-proof? ISOCoatedV2 is “growing up”

It is therefore not surprising that there has been a call to provide the less popular PSOCoatedV3 with a modernised older brother: An updated FOGRA39/ISOCoatedV2, which, at the age of almost 18 years, can leave the most important legacy issues behind in order to perform its lighthouse function even better as a renewed replacement colour space.

The advantages of a new ISOCoatedV2 in M1:

  • Adaptation to the new measurement condition M1 in force since 2015 and the new standardised light D50 in accordance with ISO 3664:2009
  • Conversion of the old GDMI Gretag-Macbeth measuring base to the new XRGA for better comparability of measured values and higher precision
  • This improves process control thanks to updated H values for full tones for cyan and magenta
  • Retention of the white point of LAB 95/0/-2 and the proof on papers with few optical brighteners (OBA)
  • Classic ISOCoatedV2 proofs would still be valid, but with the new ISOCoatedV2 M1 printing condition, “new” proofs could produce more consistent and better results
ISOCoatedV2 / FOGRA39 Relaunch in M1?

Jürgen Seitz from GMG already presented this outlook at the last DPWG meeting of Fogra in Aschheim and already presented a new FOGRA39 data set in XRGA M1 for discussion. We in the proofing sector could then print a classic FOGRA39 proof on low-lightener proofing paper and measure it with M1 (like all new standards) – with the best results. However, the overriding aim is not so much to update an existing printing condition, but rather to make an exchange colour space fit for the future. The proposal for the profile name of the ICC profile for the ECI: ISOCoated_v2_M1.icc.

What speaks against an updated ISOCoatedV2?

Colour management expert Jan-Peter Homann from Berlin points out: “Users use characterisation data for separation, proofing and controlling the printing process. However, a new characterisation data set would not be suitable for print process control due to the white point with M1. The small but still existing differences to the classic ISOCoatedV2 FOGRA39 data set could unsettle users and make communication between prepress, proof and print more complicated and cause misunderstandings. Jan-Peter Homann therefore fears that an updated ISOCoatedV2 would be ignored by the market.

Proof GmbH 2020 once again Fogra and Fogra “Spot Cert” certified

Proof.de Proof GmbH Fogra Certification 2020 according to Fogra Spot Cert for ISOCoatedV2, PSOCoatedV3, PSOUncoatedV3 and eciCMYK-v2
Proof.de Proof GmbH Fogra Certification 2020 according to Fogra Spot Cert for ISOCoatedV2, PSOCoatedV3, PSOUncoatedV3 and eciCMYK-v2

This year we have again submitted proofs for Fogra certification. We thus prove that we not only deliver excellent proof quality through internal quality controls and checks, but that the quality of our proofs is also confirmed by an external body. We have therefore had proof prints certified for the seventh year in a row. Already in 2019, we have also been certified for the representation of spot colours (“Spot-cert”), and in 2020 we were the first company ever to add the Fogra-59 certification:

  • We were certified for the new Fogra 59 eciCMYK-V2 standard for the first time
  • We have again carried out a certification for PANTONE spot colours for all four printing conditions, the “Spot cert”. We certified the spot colours PANTONE 2270 C, PANTONE 151 C and PANTONE Cool Gray 6 C for the proof standards ISOCoatedV2, PSOCoatedV3 and eciCMYK-V2 and PANTONE 2270 U, PANTONE 151 U and PANTONE Cool Gray 6 U for the standard PSOUncoatedV3.

The quality of our prints and our spot colour reproduction of PANTONE colours has been confirmed to us by Fogra for all four proof standards.

You can download the complete 14-page test report from Fogra here. 

We have implemented the new certifications on the current software revision Fiery XF 7.1.3 and on the papers EFI Gravure Proof Paper 4245 Semimatt, EFI Proof Paper 8245OBA Semimatt and EFI Proof Paper 8175OBA Matt.

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

fogra cert logo and pdf-x-ready logo

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

Proof GmbH: Fogra certified for ISOcoatedv2 (Fogra 39) and PSOUncoated (Fogra 47)

Proof GmbH Fogracert Contract Proof Creation 28651

Proof GmbH Fogracert Contract Proof Creation 28651The Proof GmbH has again successfully completed Fogra certification for the production of contract proofs – Contract Proof Creation.

The certification proofs have been produced both on EPSON 7900 and EPSON 9900 proof printers with SpectroProofer measuring instruments. Our two proofing papers were included in the certification process. Proof GmbH is therefore certified for the most frequently used Proofing Standards.

Fogra Zertifikat 2014 der Proof GmbH TübingenThe requirements for the Fogra certification go far beyond simply measuring the media wedge. So the proofs are analyzed according to the following criteria:

  • Compliance with the tolerances of the Fogra Media Wedge CMYK 3
  • Determination of color accuracy [ISO 12642-2 test chart], the color gamut and gray balance
  • Gloss measurement in accordance with ISO 8254-1 [TAPPI]
  • Tone value
  • Register and resolution
  • Status information
  • Tone value
  • homogeneity

In parallel to the measurements, control measurements were carried out with a second X-Rite meter in order to eliminate measurement errors.

The conclusion of the Fogra: “The proofs of the company Proof GmbH are as color accurate and binding in the following combinations:

1. Fogra 39 / ISOCoatedV2
Software Fiery XF 5.2.2
Proofing Substrate: EFI Gravure Proof Paper 4245
EPSON Stylus Pro 7900
Fogra 39

2. Fogra 47 / PSOUncoated
Software Fiery XF 5.2.2
Proofing Substrate: EFI Proof Paper 9120 XF matt
Epson Stylus Pro 9900
Fogra 47

The Fogra certification and the full 11-page report from Fogra can be downloaded here::

Fogra certificate 2014 Proof GmbH Tübingen
Fogra certificate 2014 Proof GmbH Tübingen

Full 11-page report of the Fogra Certification of Proof GmbH Tübingen 2014
Full 11-page report of the Fogra Certification of Proof GmbH Tübingen 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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