The new newspaper printing process standard (from 1 July 2004)

The revised version of ISO 12647-3:2004, the standard for the newspaper offset
printing process, is largely complete. The most important change is that the
existing varying dot gain values for different processes have been replaced by
a single, process-independent dot gain. Agencies and ad suppliers can now
supply all newspapers worldwide (with the exception of the USA) with a single
CMYK data set, separated in accordance with ISOnewspaper26v4.

The existing profiles:

QUIZ (for Germany),
CINCO (for Spain),
CQ2 (for Italy),
KWIK (for the Netherlands)
ICONS (for India) and
ACER (for Latin America)

are no longer valid as of immediately.

The introduction of the process-independent dot gain and corresponding standard
newspaper profile on 1st July 2004 will make newspaper houses more customer-
friendly. However, the direct further processing/printing of CMYK data
separated in accordance with ISOnewspaper26v4 presupposes the conversion/
adaptation of the in-house processes at the newspaper operations on the basis
of DIS/ISO 12647-3:2004, or the adjustment of the data reception and following
aligning of all internal processes. The objective of the standardisation is to
obtain consistent colour printing at a high quality level in all newspapers.

The ZMG and IFRA newspaper printing quality initiative (QUIZ), a project
supported by the Federal German printing and media association (bvdm),
published a standard profile and two special profiles for international
newspaper printing for the first time in March 2001. Since then, the concept of
connecting printing standardisation based on ISO 12647-3 and colour management
has proven successful. Many newspaper houses and ad suppliers support it and
have used the published ICC colour profiles for newspaper printing for many
years.

IFRA has been able to build on the experience gained from numerous national and
international standardisation projects and incorporate its findings into the
new ISO newspaper-process standard. Thus the original QUIZ profiles from the
year 2001 were continually replaced by new and better adapted profiles.

The name of the new IFRA standard profiles for newspaper printing, valid with
effect from 1st July 2004, is:

ISOnewspaper26v4.icc, colour profile
ISOnewspaper26v4_gr.icc, grey scale profile

These profiles have been tested successfully in practice by various newspaper
operations. The new standard profile is available for downloading from this web
site with immediate effect.

The profiles correspond in principle to the existing standard profiles and the
visual results they achieve. All those who to date have used the standard
profile "Newspaper_QUIZ_22_02.03V2.icm" or "Newspaper_QUIZ_28_02.03V2.icm"
should use this profile in the future. It differs from the existing profile by
the following details:
Compensation of a dot gain of 26 %.
Orientation towards adapted primary and secondary colours of the new
DIS/ISO 12647-3:2004.
characterising data were recorded on a white measuring background.

Maximum GCRThe maximum total inking of the profile "ISOnewspaper26v4.icc" is
240 %. The maximum depth in an image is reproduced with Cyan 59 %, Magenta 45
%, Yellow 41 % and Black 95 %.

The file name "V4" stands for: Version 4 of the standard newspaper profile.

From this colour profile, a grey profile was additionally produced that is made
available under the name "ISOnewspaper26v4_gr.icc". For example, the grey
profile can be used for the automatic conversion of colour images into grey
scale images in image processing programs, preflight systems or colour servers.
Profile production
The production of the profile is based on the measured colour data from
different newspaper printing plants worldwide. For this purpose, in each case
prints made with the CMYK testforme ISO 12642 with 928 colour patches, also
known as IT8.7/3, were measured. Measurement was done in accordance with ISO
12647-1, 5.6, i.e.: 2° viewer, D50 light, geometry 45°/0°or 0°/45°, on a white
and black measuring background. The averaged measured data, on which the
profile production is based, are available with immediate effect on the ICC web
site: www.color.org.

ISOnewspaper26v4.icc was compiled taking into account the specifications and
recommendations of ISO 12647-3:2004. A maximum GCR was used for separating in
order minimise colour fluctuations in print (see IFRA_Special_Report_2.16). At
the same time care was taken to ensure that no greying occurs in sensitive skin
tones. Detailed separation parameters are included in "readme" attached to the
profiles.

ISOnewspaper26v4.icc is based exclusively on colour measurements on a white
measuring background. A black measuring background is, in accordance with ISO/
DIS 12647-3:2004, only permissible for process control in print. Targets and
tolerances for checking print against black and all additional process
parameters are listed in "DIS_ISO 12647-3_2004_e.pdf" (Important: reference
values for white backing have been slightly changed). The properties of the
white measuring background are standardised. See www.fogra.org for information
on which papers and materials are suitable as a basis for carrying out
standardised measurement on devices with black measuring table.
Proof printing with ISOnewspaper26v4.icc
We recommend the UGRA/FOGRA media wedge CMYK 2.0 as a suitable means of quality
control. This can be used to check a proof, on the basis of target values, for
the correct reproduction of the applied process. The media wedge must be
measured on a white background in order to obtain the correct reference values.
From FOGRA, you can obtain a package consisting of UGRA/FOGRA media wedge CMYK
as well as an Excel table with latest target values for colour-binding proof
output.

If possible, for measuring data for the production of profiles for proofing
instruments, a white background should also be used in order to ensure
compatibility with print profiles and colour matching conditions.
