Printing is no longer an art
Burki & Scherer Standards works with printing companies to implement the ISO 12647 standard.
Standardization Burki & Scherer is working with print shops to introduce the ISO 12647 standard, and a job is to be produced on a printing press. But even after hours of fine-tuning, the print result does not come close to the color reference proof. The result is perplexed faces and disappointment on the part of the advertiser and customer as well as a dissatisfied printer. Unfortunately, this is not a rare scenario - nor should it be. Standardized production, for example in accordance with ISO standard 12647 (see box), puts an end to this dilemma.
ISO standard versus in-house standardThe visual communication and media technology company Burki & Scherer AG in Oftringen has been working intensively on this topic for almost two years. They know from experience that the majority of print shops today work according to their own, so-called in-house standards. Although this leads to a more or less good control of the processes within the company, it is based on the fallacy that the print results meet absolute quality standards.
Another practical example: partial print runs are printed at different locations for an international campaign. In the end, the customer receives as many different print results as there were print shops involved in the execution. However, none of the contractors involved can provide clear proof that they have produced according to generally recognized and valid rules. This is where it becomes obvious that in-house standards are not enough.
Black art or quality? if the printing industry wants to take the step towards industrialization, it must abandon the idea that it has to continue the legacy of "black art". In view of the internationalization of competition, appropriate measures must be taken not only at an operational level. It is also necessary to take steps to rationalize the understanding of quality and to develop a basis of proof that will lead to the speedy processing of print orders on the one hand, and provide advertising agencies, print shops and customers with the certainty of reproducible and repeatable results on the other. For this reason, a generally applicable standard is desirable that provides clear guidelines from the reproduction of originals and the production of proofs to plate exposure and the printing process.
For the graphic arts industry, this standard is called ISO 12647 and was developed by the German Federal Printing Association, the German research association Fogra, the European Color Initiative ECI and the Swiss competence center for printing technology Ugra. The standard is based on the result on the printing press and defines the press-specific dot gain and the color space to be reproduced, depending on different paper classes (qualities/substance classes, P-quality). These predefined key data provide prepress, proofing, plate exposure and the print shop with an absolutely reliable basis for communication.
Cooperation with print shopsBurki & Scherer sees measurable quality as a holistic process. In order to meet this requirement right through to the printed end product, the prepress company seeks cooperation with print shops that have also aligned their processes with the ISO standard. The Oftring-based image specialists provide the print shops with their know-how and experience in implementing the standard. With specially developed control wedges, they also provide an incorruptible means of quickly detecting deviations from target values visually and verifying them metrologically. At the same time, the company acts as a "trustee" for its customers and monitors strict compliance with the process standard - from the production of the image data to the completed order.
Several print shops have already successfully introduced the standard with the support of Burki & Scherer. Ultimately, the customer benefits because both nationally and internationally active companies can be certain that the printed matter produced at different locations supports the uniform appearance of their brand - and that this is both visually visible and measurably verifiable.
No need to voteWW Mr. Scherer, what does ISO standard 12647 stand for?
Toni Scherer The ISO standard describes a globally recognized standard for the printing process and assumes the function of a means of proof; the colour reference proof is achieved on every printing press that produces within the standard.
Who benefits from the standard - and how is it accepted in Switzerland? Both the graphic arts industry and clients benefit from this standardization. Almost every industry worldwide works according to an ISO standard - the need for this ISO standard is finally being recognized in the Swiss printing industry.
Are other countries ahead of us here? In Germany, the ISO standard has long since been introduced. Here's an impressive example: a well-known car brand only places its print orders with selected print shops that work according to this standard. As a result, this leads to increased production reliability, improved quality and cost-effectiveness for both the client and the agency and print shop.
What is your goal and how do you intend to proceed? ISO standard 12647 must be implemented throughout the industry. We will continue to support print shops with the introduction of the standard and ensure compliance with the standard throughout the entire printing process for our customers. Regardless of whether printed matter is produced locally or partial runs are distributed worldwide, the print results must be measurably identical. This also eliminates the need for time-consuming and nonsensical coordination on the printing press. Interview: Jürg Marti
Burki & Scherer was one of the first prepress companies in Switzerland to introduce the ISO standard. The 25-strong company's customers include companies from the watchmaking industry, the food sector, the machine industry and advertising agencies. For almost two years now, production has been consistently in accordance with the ISO 12647 standard. The company's expertise begins in its own photo studio and ranges from the preparation of image data to advice on plate exposure and production of the print shops involved in order processing. (jm)
Printing standard The ISO 12647 standard is a globally binding standard for assessing print products according to objective quality criteria. This leads to a simple and economical overall process in print reproduction. The standard ensures a rational and reliable working method in the triangular relationship between agency, prepress and printing, as a corresponding proof is achieved on every printing press that produces within the standard. It is a benchmark and an instrument of proof in the production of printed matter. (jm)
Toni Scherer, owner and Managing Director at Burki & Scherer, is pushing the printing process in accordance with ISO 12647.
Jürg Marti
ISO standard versus in-house standardThe visual communication and media technology company Burki & Scherer AG in Oftringen has been working intensively on this topic for almost two years. They know from experience that the majority of print shops today work according to their own, so-called in-house standards. Although this leads to a more or less good control of the processes within the company, it is based on the fallacy that the print results meet absolute quality standards.
Another practical example: partial print runs are printed at different locations for an international campaign. In the end, the customer receives as many different print results as there were print shops involved in the execution. However, none of the contractors involved can provide clear proof that they have produced according to generally recognized and valid rules. This is where it becomes obvious that in-house standards are not enough.
Black art or quality? if the printing industry wants to take the step towards industrialization, it must abandon the idea that it has to continue the legacy of "black art". In view of the internationalization of competition, appropriate measures must be taken not only at an operational level. It is also necessary to take steps to rationalize the understanding of quality and to develop a basis of proof that will lead to the speedy processing of print orders on the one hand, and provide advertising agencies, print shops and customers with the certainty of reproducible and repeatable results on the other. For this reason, a generally applicable standard is desirable that provides clear guidelines from the reproduction of originals and the production of proofs to plate exposure and the printing process.
For the graphic arts industry, this standard is called ISO 12647 and was developed by the German Federal Printing Association, the German research association Fogra, the European Color Initiative ECI and the Swiss competence center for printing technology Ugra. The standard is based on the result on the printing press and defines the press-specific dot gain and the color space to be reproduced, depending on different paper classes (qualities/substance classes, P-quality). These predefined key data provide prepress, proofing, plate exposure and the print shop with an absolutely reliable basis for communication.
Cooperation with print shopsBurki & Scherer sees measurable quality as a holistic process. In order to meet this requirement right through to the printed end product, the prepress company seeks cooperation with print shops that have also aligned their processes with the ISO standard. The Oftring-based image specialists provide the print shops with their know-how and experience in implementing the standard. With specially developed control wedges, they also provide an incorruptible means of quickly detecting deviations from target values visually and verifying them metrologically. At the same time, the company acts as a "trustee" for its customers and monitors strict compliance with the process standard - from the production of the image data to the completed order.
Several print shops have already successfully introduced the standard with the support of Burki & Scherer. Ultimately, the customer benefits because both nationally and internationally active companies can be certain that the printed matter produced at different locations supports the uniform appearance of their brand - and that this is both visually visible and measurably verifiable.
No need to voteWW Mr. Scherer, what does ISO standard 12647 stand for?
Toni Scherer The ISO standard describes a globally recognized standard for the printing process and assumes the function of a means of proof; the colour reference proof is achieved on every printing press that produces within the standard.
Who benefits from the standard - and how is it accepted in Switzerland? Both the graphic arts industry and clients benefit from this standardization. Almost every industry worldwide works according to an ISO standard - the need for this ISO standard is finally being recognized in the Swiss printing industry.
Are other countries ahead of us here? In Germany, the ISO standard has long since been introduced. Here's an impressive example: a well-known car brand only places its print orders with selected print shops that work according to this standard. As a result, this leads to increased production reliability, improved quality and cost-effectiveness for both the client and the agency and print shop.
What is your goal and how do you intend to proceed? ISO standard 12647 must be implemented throughout the industry. We will continue to support print shops with the introduction of the standard and ensure compliance with the standard throughout the entire printing process for our customers. Regardless of whether printed matter is produced locally or partial runs are distributed worldwide, the print results must be measurably identical. This also eliminates the need for time-consuming and nonsensical coordination on the printing press. Interview: Jürg Marti
Burki & Scherer was one of the first prepress companies in Switzerland to introduce the ISO standard. The 25-strong company's customers include companies from the watchmaking industry, the food sector, the machine industry and advertising agencies. For almost two years now, production has been consistently in accordance with the ISO 12647 standard. The company's expertise begins in its own photo studio and ranges from the preparation of image data to advice on plate exposure and production of the print shops involved in order processing. (jm)
Printing standard The ISO 12647 standard is a globally binding standard for assessing print products according to objective quality criteria. This leads to a simple and economical overall process in print reproduction. The standard ensures a rational and reliable working method in the triangular relationship between agency, prepress and printing, as a corresponding proof is achieved on every printing press that produces within the standard. It is a benchmark and an instrument of proof in the production of printed matter. (jm)
Toni Scherer, owner and Managing Director at Burki & Scherer, is pushing the printing process in accordance with ISO 12647.
Jürg Marti
