tasks involving variable or transactional document content. It defines three conformance levels - PDF/VT-1, PDF/VT-2

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1 ISO News 16 München, January 2014 International standardization for the printing industry The AUThORs ISO TC 130 ISO TC 130 represents the international standardization body for the printing industry. International experts, active in terminology, prepress, printing, post press, climate neutrality, materials and certification, met in Berlin (Germany) this October. Minutes from Dr Uwe Bertholdt and Dr Andreas Kraushaar. The following project descriptions cover the current status of the pertinent ISO standards. Please also consult earlier issues of ISO News, in particular the last one, for an explanation of the abbreviations such as WD, CD, DIS etc. Prepress (WG 2) PDF/X is getting variable Altona Test Suite for variable printing ISO (part 1 is known as PPML/ VDX) has been published. It specifies the methods for the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF) for the definition and exchange of all content elements and supporting metadata necessary for printing tasks involving variable or transactional document content. It defines three conformance levels - PDF/VT-1, PDF/VT-2 and PDF/VT-2s. A potential new project has been discussed. It deals with an addition to PDF/X-4 for live variable data printing. In some high volume printing scenarios it is an essential requirement that certain sensitive information must only exist inside the output system in the moment of being printed, and must never be stored on disk or inside a file. Such information would have to be retrieved over a secured online connection. Christoph Oeters from Sofha will compile a draft (ISO Dr Uwe Bertholdt Chairman ISO TC 130 Convenor WG 4 Dr Andreas Kraushaar ISO TC 130 Convenor WG 3 CONTACT Postal address Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.v. Streitfeldstraße München Germany Telephone Fax bertholdt@fogra.org kraushaar@fogra.org Next meetings March 2014 in London, England DOWNLOAD This publication can be downloaded as PDF and epub from Fogra s website free of charge: Standardization ISO News Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.v. Further information:

2 ISO News 16 Graphic Technology Variable data exchange - Use of PDF/X-4 for content substitution) which should be used to initiate a new work item at stage 0. Adobe, California Polytechnic State University Graphics Communications Department and XMPie rolled out a series of PDF/VT (more specifically, PDF/VT-1) application files. The Cal Poly Graphic Communications PDF/VT Test File Suite Version has been made available on the webpage of the PDF-Association for free download ( downloads). PDF/X-4 for packaging printing Requirements from the packaging market challenge the current PDF-X standards and hence blind exchange. In particular, content data needs to be associated with processing steps. PDF files typically contain page elements that are not intended to be printed but to be folded, cut, glued or embossed. Lieven Plettinck from ESKO will become editor of a new standard, termed Graphic Technology - Use of PDF to associate processing steps and content data. A new work item should be initiated (Stage 0). PDF/X Next PDF/X-4 and -5 have been published in 2008 and after a revision the 2010 versions have been recently published. In December 2011, the European Color Initiative (ECI) released the Altona Test Suite V2 (ATS) for validating PDF/X-4 compliance in conforming readers. It demonstrates some issues in most existing implementations as well as raising questions about the interpretation of the specification itself. The PDF working group within ISO TC171 currently revises the transparency chapter of ISO to remove the ambiguities. In addition, a technical report should be drafted that provides guidance on how to use current PDF 1.7 (ISO ) documents. In addition, it was discussed how to rename (e.g. PDF/X-6 or PDF/X-4:2015) and further develop PDF/X-4 and X-5. In light of a single instance PDF file being capable 2 to be used for different output channels many approaches have been discussed. That mostly relates to relaxing existing constraints such as allowing movies where a RIP might print a predefined preview image and updating terminology to align with ISO PDF 2.0. ISO PDF 2.0 Since the ISO timeline was exceeded, the project was cancelled and re-initiated again as a CD. The main aspects of ISO/ CD for the graphic arts are: 1. Facilitation of per object black point compensation 2. Page level output intents 3. Incorporation of CxF data, i.e. for spot colour measurement data 4. Associate the ink laydown order to the Output Intent, i.e. for better spot colour simulation 5. Improved structures for universal accessibility (Tagged PDF) 6. Integration of channel preservation mechanisms 7. Clarification of blending space inheritance (within blend groups) Black Point Compensation (ISO 18619) Inconsistencies within the Adobe black point compensation spec led to a major update of the specification, now to be published as an ISO Standard. The joint working group 7 (between ICC and WG 2) clarified the calculation and the document is currently under CD ballot. Unfortunately, the German delegation comments, namely to scope out the use of sparse measurements and the allowance of black point compensation for multicolour profiles, have not been accepted. The ballot will close in December 2013 and the afore mentioned comments ought to be reconsidered. ISO test images (ISO /2/3/4/5) The ISO family defines test images and elements for different purposes and hence colour encodings. Parts 1 to 5 are published. The latest part (ISO Scene referred images) will be shipped together with 2 DVDs. It comprises 38 natural and 3 synthetic test images encoded as 16 Bit RIMM-RGB TIFF/IT files. Future colour data exchange using XML (ISO 17972) ISO represents a new standard that extends the storage of characterization by providing a flexible schema to facilitate colour and process data exchange with the additional resources based on X-Rites CxF3 Standard (Colour Exchange Format - The current parts of the family of Standards are: Part 1: Relationship to CxF3 Part 2: Storage of scanner targets (providing an exact mapping with ISO 12641) Part 3: Output target data such as ISO (ECI 2002, IT.8-7/4, Media Wedge or Multicolour targets) and ISO Part 4: Spot colour characterisation data (CxF/X-4) define an exchange format for spectral measurement data of inks to provide a means to characterise spot colour inks ISO has been accepted as DIS and will be send out for final publication to ISO/CS. ISO will be send out for DIS ballot soon. This also means that it can t be discussed during the upcoming London meeting. Parts 2 and 3 will be send out for CD ballot after the Berlin meeting. ISO ICC.1:2010 The recent ICC specification (V4) is now published as ISO In parallel, an identical document ( dual logo standard ) will be provided free of charge at the ICC homepage. The ongoing developments by the ICC Labs e.g. spectral PCS as part of V5 are not ready to be considered as a new standard project. I m p ri N T ISO News A publication of Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.v. Graphic Technology Research Association Streitfeldstraße 19, München, Germany Tel , Fax 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 ISO News 16 January 2014

3 ISO Long term archival using PDF PDF/A is an ISO standard using the PDF format for long-term archiving of digital documents. Since its publication in 2005, PDF/A has become the format of choice for archiving digital documents in a wide range of industries and applications. Both parts Document management Electronic document file format for longterm preservation Part 1: Use of PDF 1.4 (PDF/A-1) and Use of ISO (PDF/A-2)) have been published. Interestingly, the self-containment concept of PDF/A is now also adapted by AFP (Advance functional presentation, often used for transactional printing). The New Work Item has been approved as CD. Final publication of ISO Document management AFP/Archive can be expected at the end of ISO Specification of metadata The Adobe XMP-specification has been submitted to ISO/CS and was published as ISO in February Part 2 was balloted as a CD. This part of ISO specifies the use of RELAX NG for the description of serialized XMP metadata by using Relax NG and is under ballot until December Hence no discussion took place in Berlin. ISO Repeatable and defined visualization of RGB data This standard specifies requirements for a RGB workflow for graphic arts printing and provides guidelines on the creation of print-ready RGB images and simulation prints. The DIS ballot of Graphic technology Prepress data exchange PreparaISO News 16 January 2014 tion and Visualization of RGB images to be used in RGB-based graphic arts workflows closes in January 2014, hence no discussion in Berlin. Process control and related metrology (WG 3): ISO Metadata proposal for proofing workflow The standard has been published since For surface colours it comprises 4 different measurement modes: M0 makes provisions for light source A instruments ( de-facto standard in the graphic arts). Technically speaking, there is no requirement for the UV content. M1 makes provisions for illuminant D50 ( UV content as D50 ). M2 makes provisions for UV-cut measurements M3 extends M2 by provisions for measurements using polarisation filters. A draft document that was prepared by the Ghent PDF Workgroup was proposed to become an ISO document with the title Graphic technology Metadata for graphic arts workflow Part 1: XMP metadata for image and document proofing. The DIS-ballot will close at December 2013, hence no discussion in Berlin. ISO Tone response curve adjustment (RIP correction curve) The new work item was approved. An review was conducted and the comments have been resolved. The resulting draft is under CD ballot until December The standard is termed Tone adjustment curves exchange. The editor, Craig Revie, gave a brief status update. It should be useful to unambiguously communicate tone adjustment curves defined as nominal percentage between workflow systems with and beyond a printing plant. More information can be found at the LinkedIn group name RIP DGC communication. ISO Colour measurement standard to be revised soon Some issues were found regarding the definition of the white backer. A minor revision will be starting soon and JWG8 will be reactivated to do so. In addition, CIEDE2000 maths will be synchronized with the latest CIE references. The editor will be Dr. Danny Rich from Sun Chemical. ISO Certification of Contract Proofing systems and proofing sites The Contract Proofing standard is published and available for purchase at www. beuth.de. The open list of issues and comments that have been collected since the standard was published together with the outcome of the recent Fogra OBA project (No ) led to agreement within the group to start a revision. The neces3

4 ISO News 16 sary changes have been made during the meeting and it remains to be seen if these changes are considered a minor or a major revision. For instance, updated permanence requirements are required to check ink on paper combinations instead of proofing paper alone. More information can be found on the Fogra webpage (Publications). ISO/CD The Softproofing systems standard continues The comments from a 4 week review were resolved. The revised document will be submitted for DIS ballot. This standard continues to reflect the FograCert Softproofing System requirements completely. Since the DIS ballot last 5 months the standard won t be able to be discussed at the coming London meeting. ISO/CD Display requirements for softproofing In analogy to ISO the comments from a review has been resolved. The revised document will then be submitted for DIS soon. As of the first version this standard reflects the FograCert Softproofing Monitor requirements. Since the DIS ballot will last 5 months, the standard won t be able to be discussed at the coming London meeting. ISO /2/3 Finally finished The FDIS ballots of all three parts were positive. All comments and issues were resolved. The final publication can be expected for the end of Details of the revision can be found in Fogra Extra 30. At the moment Fogra works together with German Printing And Media Federation 4 (bvdm) and ECI to provide the necessary ICC profiles and the practical guidance for a smooth transition and implementation. ISO Revision of the gravure standard All comments of the positive DIS ballot need to be incorporated. The revised document will be send to ISO/CS for final publication. ISO Flexographic printing prior to be published The publication is finished. However, in light of the lack of active participation from Germany, the German delegation abstained and continued to question the changes. ISO/DIS /2 - Printing of digital data, Part 1: Basic principles The DIS-ballot was negative. A split into two parts was done. The first part covers the principles and the second the characterization data sets proposed by the US delegation (based on a published national standard). The DIS ballot was positive (3 negative votes). The german delegation therefore considers to propose a third part that covers the characterization data sets that reflect ISO However, the original dream for a universal, internationally agreed upon set of characterization data continues to be a dream. Since the document is under ballot there was no discussion in Berlin. ISO The digital production printing standard is moving on The discussion in Berlin confirmed that ISO is the right approach for the standardization of digital printing. It was decided to proceed with Part 1, 2 and 3 as a TS track. The editors of the three parts will draft a revised version that incorporates the resolved comments. Details of the standards will be discussed within the DPWG (Digital Printing Working Group) mailing list. Interested persons can visit Fogra s webpage. ISO/TS Measurement of image quality The newly established joint working group (JWG 14) between TC130 and JTC1 SC28 WG4 has already the third time. It was agreed to accept the request of ISO TC42 WG5 ( permanence ) and make JWG14 a three party working group. This allows for a mutual exchange among all involved experts. At the meeting the new working items have been started, namely: ISO/TS Graphic Technology Measurement of visual attributes of printed materials: Method for computing and analysing colour gamut. Editor: Phil Green, London College of Communication ISO/TS 18621:21 Graphic Technology Measurement of visual attributes of printed materials: M-Score test method for evaluation macroscopic uniformity Editor: Andreas Kraushaar, Fogra ISO/TS Graphic Technology Measurement of visual attributes of printed materials: L-Score method for ISO News 16 January 2014

5 perceived resolution evaluation utilizing a contrast resolution target Editor, Thomas Liensberger, Barbieri So ISO/TS has the potential to become the first standard that comprises the most important print image quality attributes within one standard. And for sure, not only ISO x can make use of it. Media and materials (WG 4) Laboratory preparation of test prints liquid printing inks (ISO ) The preparation of a proposed text dealing with dry ink film thickness determination allows for the start of the revision of this standard. The proposals include either differential weighing after printing and washing off the ink by means of a solvent on plastic film substrates, or differential weighing of ten identically cut, homogeneously printed areas and ten unprinted papers serving as substrates. Colour sets for four-colour gravure printing (ISO ) The future of this part was challenged during the meeting in Berlin. The original intention of the revision of the standard has been to incorporate the ink set most used in Europe as a second set. Sound preparations were performed by Flintgroup and Fogra. But now the USA and Japan both report on either a very small or a very concentrated publication gravure market. With this, they see no use and no significance in revising and keeping the standard ISO The situation in Germany is diffuse: The European Rotogravure Association reported also marginal demand ISO News 16 January 2014 and a constant request for a variety of ink sets which is contradictive to standardization. But the DIN mirror committee favours a revision. Fogra will consolidate this situation prior to the next meeting. Therefore, a withdrawal of this standard seems possible. Colour sets for four-colour screen printing (ISO ) After the US delegation had confirmed the relevance of Fogra s research results about light-fast printing inks to its national market, a draft for the revision of this standard was prepared by the US delegation. During this it was recognized that the US also see no purpose in a revision and in keeping this part of ISO In Germany screen printing is predominantly used for industrial applications (e.g. markings on devices) and only to a small extend for four colour printing. Therefore, the request for well defined four colour process inks in Germany is also small. Other countries confirmed this. With this background the present experts agreed to withdraw ISO Colour sets for four-colour flexographic printing (ISO ) To revise this standard, the American delegation presented a concrete proposal with specific targets for the colour coordinates of various binder systems as well as further specifications for light-fast printing inks. Representatives of the German ink sector found this information incomprehensive, suggesting the specification of printing inks as curves in the colour space, similar to what has been proposed in the standard for gravure printing inks. Examination of the US proposal by German ink manufacturers showed in part significant deviations for the European market (e.g. for Magenta). The US representative reported increasing requirements of US flexoprinters to certify inks according to the new ISO In this light the general advantage of ISO to test ink sets on a single test substrate instead of on a large variety of print substrates seems to be lost. Continued testing on the test substrate would therefore result in unnecessary efforts. Fogra regrets the lacking significance of this Standard also in Germany. The benefit of this Standard was also questioned by all the other representatives of participating countries in WG 4. On this basis it is intended to withdraw this part of the ISO 2846 series. Since there is still a normative reference to ISO in the recently updated Standard ISO this last document should remove this reference prior to the withdrawal of ISO The general US desire to withdraw the whole series ISO 2846 including Part 1 for lithographic inks and Part 2 for news inks was rejected due to intensive use in all the other countries. APCO test paper for printing ink tests (all ISO 2846 standards) 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 manufactured. There is only some remaining stock. Test prints using sheet-fed four colour lithographic inks on both APCO and synthetic paper YUPO prepared by Leo Paper (Chi5

6 ISO News 16 na) and Fogra were evaluated. Meanwhile, the use of this quality (YUPO) as a general test substrate is disfavoured by the producer. Fogra will start a research project to identify a possible APCO successor and IGT (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) hopes to be able to deliver a new test paper free of optical brightener and with additional specified properties by the end of the year. Alkali resistance of labels (future ISO 12632) The DIN Standards about ink fastness have largely been included in ISO This does not apply to methods for assessing the alkali penetration of labels and alkali resistance of ink films, however, which means that the German Standards remain applicable here. A draft standard prepared by Germany has been presented and will be voted on soon. Tack measurement (ISO 12634) A new draft combining elements of the existing Standard with elements of a new US testing method has already been presented in Shenzhen and is intended to be voted on by the participating countries until the next meeting. Blankets (ISO 12636) The Japanese delegation had already proposed to include multi-spot measurements for the compressibility determination of blankets and measuring methods for surface topography. This would increase the standard measuring options for blankets without reducing the variety of blanket qualities. However, the US delegation has meanwhile presented another proposal. The two countries have agreed to prepare a consolidated version for the next meeting. Japan nominated an expert team for this cooperation. Measurement method for determining the radii of printing cylinders (ISO WD 15341) This project was finalized in Berlin and will be published soon. It contains a general measurement method for the determination of radii of cylinders and in addition a measurement device for flexo sleeves of a defined range of radii is specified as a first application. 6 Communication of graphic paper properties (ISO CD 15397) Graphic technology Postpress Requirements for bound products This FDIS voting on this document has just closed successfully one day before the meeting. Expecting the requirement of delivering measurement data for every paper batch the USA voted No. This misunderstanding was resolved by an improved wording and the USA were asked to reconsider its negative vote (which anyhow will not affect the future process). The Standard will anyhow be published soon and from the printers perspective represents a significantly improved version of the recommendations Paper passport of the German Forum Druck und Papier. This comprehensive draft is characterized by a conflict between its title indicating a description of requirements and the scope and content containing process descriptions. The document is almost a textbook on book binding. Experts of Fogra successfully suggested to the delegates to switch the content of the future Standard to a collection of usable and verifiable quality requirements of intermediate and end products and to leave the way to achieve them to the bookbinder. This also ensures the unrestricted use of new technologies instead of the possibly unnecessary rigid process requirements like e.g. definite viscosity ranges for glues. Large parts of the meeting were used to redraft the document. Environmental aspects of graphic technology (WG 11) Graphic technology Quantification and communication for calculating the carbon footprint of print media products (ISO 16759) This Standard has been published in 2013 and is a specific adoption of the work performed to develop a general Standard to calculate and communicate the carbon footprint for products of the printing industry. It serves to compare different graphic products with respect to their carbon footprint. In addition, Fogra suggested developing an independent Standard for pull tests. Printing conformity assessment requirements (WG 13): ISO Requirements for management systems to be used to certify print service providers Work on this new project is planned in cooperation with IEC TC 100/TA 13 Environmental aspects in the field of audio, video and ICT equipment and aims to develop fundamentals to compare different technologies with respect to their carbon footprint. The certification working group (WG13) is still in its infancy. The group mostly discussed the concrete requirements to be specified. At the meeting two parts of ISO have been discussed, namely Graphic Technology Conformance Assessment and management system requirements for colour reproduction quality: Part 1: Printing workflows tests conditions Part 2: Conformity testing conditions Package printing workflow Postpress (WG 12) TC 130 General Graphic Technology Postpress General Requirements TF 3 - Developing a workflow standards roadmap This future Standard shall ensure information exchange of postpress requirements (e.g. folding and cutting schema) to all responsible for print job planning and preliminary production steps. Another meeting of ISO TC130/TF 3 was held in Berlin. A first draft of a technical report (ISO/PDTR Graphic technology Relationship of graphics technology standards supporting business and manufacturing workflows) was presented and discussed. Due to the ISO timeline Graphic technology Quantification and communication for calculating the carbon footprint of print e-media ISO News 16 January 2014

7 for technical reports, this report might be published in the middle of Plenary meeting The ISO Central Secretariat assigned the TC 130 Secretariat to China. Chine applied for it after the termination of this service by DIN last year. The German Chairman of TC 130, Dr Uwe Bertholdt, offered his resignation in favour of an expert of the new secretariat country already during the last year. Dr Bertholdt anyhow was asked by the Chinese delegation to remain Chairman for the moment. Besides resolutions to adjust already existing Standard projects and to start new projects (e.g. non-graphic information in PDF documents and development of a pull test method) the cancellation of the ISO TC 130 Resolution 435 from 2011 was achieved. This resolution is obsolete since the revision of ISO , -2, -3, -4 and the development of ISO , -2 are almost finished. ISO News 16 January

8 Information Colour Management Symposium The future of colour Fogra s Colour Management Symposium has become one of the leading international events in the area after three successful and well attended symposia in the past years. We welcome you to register for our fourth Colour Management Symposium in Munich. Nowadays print service providers need to cope with an increasing complexity due to a large amount of channels for visual communication that is constantly growing. Furthermore we face an increasing number of additional parameters that are hard to control. This begins with the supplied artwork and extends to the different viewing conditions where both mobile devices and printed products are consumed. The exhibitors of the symposium: Original: Aussteller / Exhibitors Alternatives depending on background: Alternativen je nach Hintergrund: Int Original: Black&white: Alternatives depending on background: Alternativen je nach Hintergrund: iqip impakt medien ba s i c c The symposium is aimed at decision-makers, managers and service providers looking for ways to communication the visual information in a reliable and colour accurate way and focuses on signage printing. We will present and discuss solutions for current and future challenges of colour management for small- and large-format digital printing as well as for conventional printing in seven sessions. The accompanying exhibition is ideal to gain important information and for networking. Based on the symposium scheme Science meets colour, the participants can improve their skills in one of four parallel workshops (90 minutes). On the evening of the first day a colourful stage show will provide great entertainment and a pleasant atmosphere for networking. Marti Maria Saguer (HP) will be our keynote speaker. 8 iqip impakt medien bas ic c o l o r ISO News 16 December 2013 o l o r