ISO News 23

München, May 2018

International standardization for the printing industry THE AUTHORS

ISO TC 130
ISO TC 130 represents the international standardization body for the print-
ing industry. International experts, active in terminology, prepress, print-
ing, post press, climate neutrality, materials and certification, in Toronto Dr Uwe Bertholdt
(Canada) in June 2017, in Surakarta (Indonesia) in December 2017 and in ISO TC 130
Convenor WG 4
Berlin (Germany) in April 2018. 
A summary from Dr Andreas Kraushaar and Dr Uwe Bertholdt.

The following project descriptions cov-
er the current status of the pertinent
ISO  standards. Please also consult ear-
lier issues of ISO  News, in particular
ISO  News  13, for an explanation of the
abbreviations such as WD, CD, DIS, etc.
Prepress (WG 2)
Colour data exchange using XML
(ISO 17972)
ISO 17972 is a new standard that extends Dr Andreas Kraushaar
the storage of characterization data by ISO TC 130
providing a flexible schema to facilitate Convenor WG 3
colour and process data exchange with
the additional resources based on X-Rites
CxF3 Standard (Colour Exchange Format CONTACT

– www.colorexchangeformat.com). Part 1 Postal address

“PDF/X-6” will be the new PDF/X-4
(ISO 15930-9)
The final title of the document is: “Pre-
press digital data exchange using PDF
-- Part 9: Complete exchange of printing
data (PDF/X-6) and partial exchange of
printing data with external profile refer-
ence (PDF/X-6p and PDF/X-6n) using
PDF 2.0”.
PDF/X-6 standard will benefit from the
new features PDF 2.0 (ISO  32000-2) is
providing. For example, it will be pos-
sible to have different output intents on
different pages in the same PDF file. That
allows for print files that consist of parts
that are produced on different machines,
e.g. cover and content for a book. In Ber-
lin, it was agreed to start a second CD
ballot and go to DIS right after the next
Tokyo meeting in October 2018. So a final
publication can be expected for 2019.
was published in 2015. Part 2, covering  Fogra Forschungsinstitut für
scanner input target data, was published Medientechnologien e.V.
and will be referenced in the new stand- Einsteinring 1a
85609 Aschheim
ard ISO  12641-2. Part 3 covers output
Germany
target data and is intended to replace all
the existing formats (e.g. 12642 or 28178) Telephone
to save characterization data sets. This  0049 89 43182-212
 0049 89 43182-335
standard “Spot colour characterisation
data (CxF/X-4)” defines an exchange for- E-mail
mat for spectral measurement data of inks  bertholdt@fogra.org
to provide means to characterize spot col-  kraushaar@fogra.org
our inks and is expected to be supported
by many PDF/X workflows. It was pub-
lished in January 2018. NEXT MEETING
14 to 20 October 2018
Advanced IT.8 scanner target on its in Tokio, Japan
way (ISO 12641-2)
More than 1,000,000 targets, both light-
transmissive and reflective, have been DOWNLOAD
produced and used in the past decades for This publication can be down-
calibrating scanners. The standard was re- loaded as PDF and ePub from
vised and has been published. Fogra‘s website free of charge:
 Standardization ISO News

ISO News 23 | May 2018 1

ISO News 23 www.fogra.org

Based on the input from LaserSoft Imag-
ing (Germany) the second part was con-
tinued. It is termed: “Advanced colour tar-
gets for input scanner calibration” and is
developed to achieve a better scanner col-
our characterization. The CD ballot com-
ments have been resolved and the stand-
ard will be ballot as a DIS, hence it will be
available outside the TC130 community
for anyone to purchase and comment.
Print Requirements and ISO 20616-2
Print Quality eXchange (ISO 20616-
1/2)
Brand owners and print buyers commis-
sioning physical printing require two
things: 1) print requirements describing
the intended printing (PRX: ISO  20616-
Committee work and Standardization
Standardization efforts of Fogra
DIN NA 017 (NDR)
NA 017-00-02 AA
Prepress and data exchange
Convenor: Dr Andreas Kraushaar (Fogra)
NA 017-00-03 AA
Process control and related metroloty
Convenor: Dr Andreas Kraushaar (Fogra)
NA 017-00-04 AA
Media and materials
Convenor: Dr Uwe Bertholdt (Fogra)
Other Standardization Committees
means of print requirements exchange,
which is termed PRX, and will be covered
in part 1 of this multi-part standard. The
first part (Print requirements exchange
(PRX) was under ballot so no discussion
took place in Berlin. Part 2: Print qual-
ity exchange (PQX) was approved as a CD
but with plenty of technical comments.
The nature of the comments dealt with
the XML implementation („How“) and not
with the content („What“). A third CD bal-
lot should be started.
In that respect an adhoc was formed to
meet and discuss the usage of xJDF and
JMF to facilitate communication of print
buyers expectations and corresponding
printing scores.
ISO TC 130 Graphic Technology
WG 2
Digital prepress data exchange
Fogra participation: Dr Andreas Kraushaar
WG 3
Process control and related metroloty
Convenor: Dr Andreas Kraushaar (Fogra)
WG 4
Media and materials
Convenor: Dr Uwe Bertholdt (Fogra)
WG 12
Print finishing
Fogra participation: Florian Hirschhalmer
Sandwich-printing
Detailed discussions about the printing
order to be used in PDF/X output intend it
was found that for some sandwich print-
ing modes (such as CMYK-White-CMYK)
it is not clear how to identify the right
side (recto or verso). An adhoc group led
by Martin Bailey (Global Graphic) will
work on this topic and provide feedback
at the coming Tokyo meeting.
Process control and related metrology
(WG 3, JWG 8, JWG 14):
Colour measurement standard
(ISO 13655)
The standard has been published in 2009
and updated in 2017. For surface colours it
comprises 4 different measurement modes
namely “M0”, “M1”, “M2” and “M3”. The
main change was the modification of the
white backing and the addition of M1 for
transmissive media.
Certification of Contract Proofing sys-
tems and proofing sites (ISO 12647-7)
The revision has been finished in Novem-
ber 2016. The certifications FograCert
Contract Proof Creation (CPC) and Con-
tract Proofing System (CPS) are reflecting
the changes, which also includes testing
the colour accuracy of spot colours. More
information can be found in Fogra Extra
36.

DIN NA 043-01-17-01
Test processes for identity cards
Fogra participation: Arne Müller
Overview of those committees, in which Fogra personell is currently active.
1) and 2) the results of the printing itself
(PQX: ISO  20616-2). These new stand-
ards are intended to facilitate the one-
way transmission of performance data
from print service providers to relevant
stakeholders and brand owners for one
or more printed samples from a single
press run. PQX is structured as an XML
message, which communicates colour,
registration, and observed defects.  PQX
takes advantage of the standard CxF for-
mat (ISO 17972-2) in order to communi-
cate colour. The communication from the
brand owner toward the print shop by
DIN NA 043-01-17-03 DIN NA 115-01-03-02 AK
Machine readable travel docu- Features for tamper evidence
ments medicine packaging
Fogra participation: Arne Müller Fogra participation: Arne Müller
iccMAX (ISO 20677)
iccMAX is the fifth version of ICC specifi-
cation. The IccMAX specification, submit-
ted via ISO  TC130 as ISO  20677 (Image
technology colour management -- Exten-
sions to architecture, profile format, and
data structure), has progressed to DIS sta-
tus. A final publication can be expected
for Summer 2018. More information can
be found online at: http://www.iccmax.
org.
The digital production printing stand-
ard (ISO 15311)
Part 1 of that multipart standard defines
metrics to measure important print image
quality attributes. This technical specifi-
cation was published as of 2016. In paral-
lel, the development version was further
discussed and developed. Here further im-
IMPRINT
ISO News | A publication of
Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.V.
Graphic Technology Research Association
Streitfeldstraße 19, 81673 München, Germany
Tel. +49 89 43182-0, Fax +49 89 43182-100
info@fogra.org
Chairman of the board: Stefan Aumüller
Responsible for the content: Dr Eduard Neufeld
Chief editor: Rainer Pietzsch
Photos: Fogra or see notes
ISSN 2194-6752 www.fogra.org

ISO News 23 | May 2018 2

ISO News 23
age quality aspects are covered such as
media relative colour accuracy with black
point compensation, metamerism, water
resistance, scratch resistance or multiple
aspects of mis-registration. The candidate
will be balloted as DTS followed by a fi-
nal publication whereas the nature of a
development document was continued to
cover further sophisticated but premature
metrics
Part 2 (commercial printing applications)
now has finally been published. The
break-through, 7 years after its presenta-
tion by Fogra Digital Printing Working
Group (DPWG), was achieved by remov-
ing any normative tolerances and point-
ing to the agreement between the buyer
and user of the machine. However, the
proposed PSD (PSD-2016) quality levels
(commercial (A), semi-commercial (B) and
newspaper-like printing (C) will be added
as examples in an informative annex D.
Another example The IDEAlliance digi-
tal print certification program will also
be added in the same fashion for sug-
gestion. Finally it was agreed to add the
word „digital“ back into the tile to read:
„Graphic technology -- Print quality re-
quirements for printed matter -- Part 2:
Commercial print applications utilizing
digital printing technologies“. This was
remove during the discussion for various
reasons.
The specification for part 3 (large for-
mat signage printing) also originates
from work of the Fogra Digital Printing
Working Group (DPWG). The status is un-
changed. So interested persons can access
the free of charge Fogra specification at
https://www.fogra.org/en/fogra-stand-
ardization/digital-printing-2-48/digital-
printing-standardization.html and report
their feedback in the DPWG (Digital Print-
ing Working Group).
Measurement of image quality attrib-
utes (ISO/TS 18621 family)
The joint working group (JWG 14) between
TC130, JTC1 SC28 WG 4 and WG 42 met
in Berlin and discussed the further devel-
opment of four on-going projects. These
are the computation of gamut volumes
(-11), the evaluation of graininess (-12), of
macroscopic uniformity – M-Score (-22)
ISO News 23 | May 2018
and perceptual resolution – L-Score (-31).
The latter one is soon to be published (af-
ter a final DTS ballot) and will be the first
final outcome of this joint working group.
Defining meaningful dot gain curves
for spot colours (ISO 20654)
The standard covers a perceptual uniform
way to calculate tone values for spot col-
ours (between substrate and colour) where
the Murray Davies formula is known not
to work correctly. It was published in
summer 2017 with the title “Management
and calculation of spot colour tone value
(SCTV)”. In particular, SCTV will be used
for process calibration of additonal pri-
maries in multicolor printing.
Offset printing (ISO 12647-2)
Although the ballot outcome allows for
a DIS ballot of the amendment proposed
by the German delegation (to match the
change in solid coloration when going
from a „CIEb*=-4 paper“ to a „CIEb*=-6
paper“) it was agreed to cancel it. In light
of the coming systematic revision (re-
quired by ISO after a 5-year period to ei-
ther confirm, revise or withdraw a stand-
ard) it was discussed to add and revise the
substrate categories. In this regard, a mu-
tually exclusive tolerance schema should
be materialised that allows for both an
unambigious assignment of a substrate
category and also to reflect state of the art
coated and uncoated stock ranging from
yellowish to bluish tints.
The further discussion about the future of
ISO  12647-2 revealed different assump-
tions about the intended audience. While
some experts insist to address a process
control centric „printing according the
numbers“ approach other want to address
a closer proof to print match by also using
modern colour management tools such as
paper adaptation. Although there was no
decision to make the majority favoured
the first approach while adding the men-
tioned tools into another standard such as
ISO/TS 101also 28 subject for a system-
atic revision. It remains to be seen if the
action item experts deliver the requested
paper categorisation data.
www.fogra.org
Newspaper printing
The newspaper industry is quite happy
with the standard, but wants to improve
it. The requested changes are concerning
the tone value sum, grey balance and a
new sampling method. Manfred Werfel
(WAN-IFRA) also explained that a new
(M1 based) ICC profile is needed for those
changes.
Flexo-printing (ISO 12647-6)
The discussion of the CD ballot comments
revealed some technical comments. Due
to the lack of German experts, the discus-
sion will only be observed by identifying
obvious failures. The core of the revision
is to define SCTV behaviour as the default
tonality behaviour for process calibration.
Validation Printing (ISO 12647-8)
The standard is used successfully in the
industry such as the popular FograC-
ert Validation Printing System certifica-
tion. In light of the on-going systematic
revision, the group agreed to solicit and
maintain a list of potential changes. This
is to check on a regular basis if a revision
is really needed. The main changes so far
are the colour accuracy tolerances, which
should be dE00 instead of dE76.
Offset printing for metal decoration
(ISO 12647-9)
Based on an initiative of Sun Chemical
a new project was started. The Working
Draft has been distributed for comment-
ing. The document focuses only on white
printed metal substrates. It was agreed to
send it to ISO/TC 130 for CD ballot. The
concerns so far referring to the handling
of the different process parameters, the
variation of white precoating and the re-
sulting effects on solid coloration.
Multi primary printing (ISO 21328)
The pros and cons of the extended gam-
ut printing (ECG) were discuss in Berlin.
The focus lied on 7C process independent
printing (CMYKOGV). A list of issues has
been discussed. This starts with the defini-
tion of an agreed upon 7C-testchart (grid),
analogue to the established ECI2002 or
IT.8/7-4 charts. This is part of an expert
group outside WG3. Further needs have
been identified by agreeing on a stand-
ardized nomenclature, requirements for
3
ISO News 23
data exchange, process control and quali-
ty assurance. An expert group was found-
ed that works on a helicopter perspective
for multi colour workflows including the
information on how a potential scope of
ISO 21328 fits to that picture.
Assessment and validation of the
performance of spectrocolorimeters
(ISO 23031)
The discussion showed that some ex-
perts would like to see tolerances and
performance categorizations such as in-
ter instrument and inter model agree-
ment. However the editor, Danny Rich,
explained why no handheld devices in
the industry meets the CIE criteria (as of
2004) to collect spectral data at least with
71 bands (5 nm bandwidth requirement,
380  nm : 5 : 730  nm). It was agreed to
change the developing track from a tech-
nical specification (TS) into a technical
report (TR), which is not allowed to have
tolerances. The document will be edited
to reflect these changes and will be dis-
cussed by WG3 experts soon.
Modelling wet-dry print behaviour
(dry back)
Elie Khoury (Alwan) was also reporting
about the findings of the performance of
different models prediction the wet dry
behaviour. Don Schroeder (FujiFilm) vol-
unteered to compile the findings into a
technical report (TR). This should be pre-
sented at the coming Tokyo meeting.
Media and materials (WG 4)
Ink set for four colour printing in
lithography (ISO CD 2846-1 rev.)
The APCO II/II test paper was used for
many years to test the colour coordinates,
transparency and film thickness ranges
of process inks. It is no longer manufac-
tured. There is only some remaining stock.
IGT (Amsterdam) has developed and or-
dered the production of a successor paper
which is now in stock. All colour aims for
process inks developed for APCO II/II are
still valid for the new substrate. The pro-
ject was finished with the publication of
the new standard in August 2017.
ISO News 23 | May 2018
Tack measurement (ISO DIS 12634
rev.)
A new draft combining elements of the
existing standard with elements of a new
US testing method was discussed contro-
versially and intensively. Proposals of the
German ink industry were only margin-
ally considered. This project also was fin-
ished with the publication of the revised
standard in September 2017.
Blankets (ISO CD 12636 rev.)
This standard defines requirements and
test methods for blankets. Its focus is on
the producers. A new section on com-
munication requirements for printers was
added. The project is also finished. The
publication date was January 2018.
Sample preparation for decorative
laminates (future ISO 22909)
The European Rotogravure Association
prepared a new project for the prepara-
tion of laminates from decorative prints.
Colour matching of decorative prints uses
simulated products. These are prepared
from the prints by impregnating them
with a resin and subsequent lamination
onto substrates (e.g. chipboard) using
heat and pressure. The process parameters
influence colour and therefore requires
standardization. The draft document has
been accepted as a Working Draft without
comments but received intense comment-
ing during the CD-vote. A German printer
requested a significant extension of the
future Standard. A comprehensive check-
list has been prepared to be the core of a
future first part of a multiple part docu-
ment as a Technical Report. The original
draft will be transferred into the second
part as International Standard.
Communication of ink properties (fu-
ture ISO 22934)
This new project results from the exten-
sion of DIN 16526 into an International
Standard and was proposed from Fogra. It
was initiated by the occurrence of foreign
sheet fed offset ink cans lacking property
information typically given in Germany.
Relevant ink properties should be given
on the labels of ink containers in future.
This includes among others usability, dry-
ing mechanism, light and chemicals fast-
ness. The draft has been accepted as a
www.fogra.org
Working Draft and will be improved for
the next meeting since there are doubts
that all information is needed for all
kinds of ink. The US delegation however
is comfortable with the current document.
Rub tests (ISO 18947 rev.)
This standard of the photographic indus-
try aims on the permanence of photo-
graphic prints (conventional and ink-jet)
and therefore may also be relevant for
the graphic industry. Basing on a Fogra
research project a revision proposal was
prepared aiming to a broader and more
practical application. In the future not
just a single US device (besides two Japa-
nese) but also English and a German de-
vice might be used. The experts of the
photographic industry already agreed to a
joint revision and Fogra has prepared an
updated proposal for a general applica-
ble future first part of a series of rub test
documents. The original Document will
be the future special use case for photo-
graphic prints.
Ink opacity
This new activity aims on a measurement
method for ink opacity and was started
with psychophysical experiments on test
prints. An English expert proposed a draft
to be voted as working draft until the next
meeting.
Resistance of prints and inks
The test methods for the resistance of inks
and prints against various chemicals (e.g.
alkali and solvents) is defined in ISO 2836.
The USA and The Netherlands suggested a
revision of this Standard during the sys-
tematic review. This is also supported by
Germany preparing a revision proposal
for the next meeting.
Preparation of test prints for lithog-
raphy
ISO 2834-1 is in use since several years.
Now it turned out it is not only used for
sample preparation for colour measure-
ment and resistance testing but also for
subsequent printability testing. This how-
ever requires additional specification for
these applications. The Netherlands will
lead the revision.
4
ISO News 23
Printing plates
Nowadays a wide variety of plate dimen-
sions exists fitting the different printing
systems. Therefore warehousing for plate
manufacturers and vendors are challeng-
ing. In addition cutting to size results
in large amounts of waste. To overcome
these problems Fuji proposes a stand-
ardization of plate sizes for future de-
velopments. This proposal by nature was
agreed by the plate manufacturers. On the
other side it probably will raise invest-
ments for printers if besides a new press
also new plate handling equipment has to
be bought. Therefore both Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen and KBA were sceptic on
the proposal. There will be an investiga-
tion on plate dimensions of the market to
be presented at the next meeting.
Requirements on ink jet substrates
UK and Japan wishes to support High
speed ink jet printing by defining sub-
strate requirements and its testing in a
new standard. However knowledge in the
industry seems not as elaborate as to start
a project immediately. Therefore an expert
meeting on this particular topic was held
in parallel to the WG 4 meeting. Differ-
ent research institutes, paper and press
manufacturer presented their state of
knowledge on the interaction of ink and
paper. It turned out that even the com-
bined knowledge of the experts present
was insufficient to fully understand all
aspects of interaction between ink, press
and paper. Experts from the ink jet press
manufacturers will continue discussing
the topic in Tokyo.
Environmental aspects of graphic
technology (WG 11)
Guideline for the measurement of
energy efficiency of digital printing
presses (ISO 20690)
Based on the findings of the Fogra re-
search project 35.006, the standard was
finally published in January 2018. The
procedure has been added to the FograC-
ert programme and the first companies
use it already.
ISO News 23 | May 2018
www.fogra.org
Energy consumption for office Plenary meeting
printers (ISO 21632)
During the meeting, new developments
Based on the work completed for within the ISO-organization and changes
ISO 20690, it was agreed by a TC130 in- of personnel within ISO/TC 130 were an-
ternal  committee  ballot to separate Total nounced. The working groups reported on
Energy Consumption (TEC) calculations their activities and future plans. The com-
out of the document. A new project cov- mittee released a new Scope of its work
ering all operational modes required to after thorough discussion. All convenors
calculate TEC was started and is now were reappointed. However, the situation
complete. ISO  21632 is with ISO  being in JWG 12 (see above) resulted in the re-
readied for publication. jection (for the very first time ever) of the
English convenor of WG 11, also very ac-
Postpress (WG 12) tive in JWG 12 by France. Germany and
the Netherlands abstained during her re-
Pull test method (ISO CD 19594) appointment.
Fogra developed a draft for the Standardi-
zation of the pull test basing on the results
of its research project 70.004. It deals with
upwards pulling devices only. The project
was finished with the publication of the
new standard in February 2017.
Adhesive tape test
Fogra has developed a test device for ob-
jective adhesive tape tests several years
ago and sells these devices as “LHT”. The
proposal to standardize both the device
and the method was accepted by the
experts and the first draft of the future
ISO  23395 was accepted as a working
draft. The desire to enlarge the testing
area could not be accepted within this
project. A CD-vote and a round robin will
be performed until the next meeting.
Additional future projects
The Chinese convenor of the group will
prepare a new draft on die cutting basing
on Chinese standards for the next meet-
ing.
Deinking (JWG 12 mit ISO/TC 6)
Deinking potential (future ISO 21331)
This project was initiated within TC 130
and is now under joint development with
the paper industry. The aim is to give
guidance to print buyers with respect to
the deinking potential of planned printed
matter. There has been conflict between
representatives of digital press manufac-
turers and the paper industry right from
the beginning. This situation may pos-
sibly be resolved at meetings in Boulder,
USA and Seoul, Korea.
5