ISO 12647

ISO 12647-1:2004 specify parameters that define printing conditions for the various processes used in the graphic arts industry. Practitioners wishing to work to common goals may use the values of the parameters specified in the exchange of data to characterize the intended printing condition and/or for the process control of printing.

ISO 12647-1:2004

* defines vocabulary and establishes a minimum set of process parameters that uniquely determine a printed four-colour half-tone image (which are also referenced from other parts of ISO 12647). The parameters were selected based on the following process stages "colour separation", "making of the printing forme", "proofing", "production printing" and "surface finishing". These are directly applicable to proofing and printing processes that use colour separation films as input;
* is directly applicable to proofing and printing from printing surfaces produced by filmless methods as long as direct analogies to film production systems are maintained;
* is applicable to proofing and printing with more than four process colours as long as direct analogies to four-colour printing are maintained, such as for data and screening, for print substrates and printing parameters;
* is applicable to line screens and, where relevant, to those that do not have regular screen angles or regular screen rulings.

ISO 12647-2:2004 specifies a number of process parameters and their values to be applied when preparing colour separations for four-colour offset printing or when producing four-colour prints by one of the following methods: heat-set web, sheet-fed or continuous forms process printing, or proofing for one of these processes; or offset proofing for half-tone gravure.

The parameters and values are chosen in view of the complete process covering the process stages colour separation, film setting, making of the printing forme, proof production, production printing and surface finishing.

ISO 12647-2:2004 is

* directly applicable to proofing and printing processes that use colour separation films as input;
* directly applicable to proofing and printing from printing formes produced by filmless methods as long as direct analogies to film production systems are maintained;
* applicable to proofing and printing with more than four process colours as long as direct analogies to four-colour printing are maintained, such as for data and screening, for print substrates and printing parameters;
* applicable by analogy to line screens and non-periodic screens.

ISO 12647-3:2005 specifies a number of process parameters and their values to be applied when preparing colour separations for newspaper single or four-colour printing and proofing. The parameters and values are chosen in consideration of the complete process, covering the process stages: colour separation, film setting, making of the printing forme, proof production and production printing.

ISO 12647-3:2005 is applicable:

* to coldset offset proof and production printing and off-press proof printing processes on newsprint that use colour separation films rather than digital data;
* by analogy to press printing from printing surfaces produced by direct imaging methods and the corresponding proof printing processes.

ISO 12647-4:2005 specifies a number of process parameters and their values to be applied to four-colour publication gravure printing. The parameters and values are chosen in view of the complete process covering the process stages colour separation, making of the printing forme, proof production and production printing.

ISO 12647-4:2005 is applicable:

* directly, to publication gravure printing, including magazines, catalogues and commercial materials;
* directly, to halftone and continuous tone proofing processes that predict the colorimetric results of gravure printing;
* by analogy, to process-colour gravure package printing.

ISO 12647-6:2006 specifies a number of process parameters and their values to be applied to four-colour process printing by the flexographic printing process for packaging and publication, excluding newsprinting. The parameters and values are chosen in view of the complete process covering the process stages "colour separation", "film setting", "making of the printing forme", "proof production", "production printing" and "surface finishing". This covers printing on printing substrates which are nearly white or on films to which a white coating has been applied.

ISO 12647-6:2006 is directly applicable to:

* publication flexographic printing including magazines, catalogues and commercial materials, and packaging flexographic printing including labels, boxes and flexible packages;
* half-tone and continuous tone proofing processes that predict the colorimetric results of flexograhic printing.

ISO 12647-7:2007 specifies requirements for systems that are used to produce hard-copy digital proof prints intended to simulate a printing condition defined by a set of characterization data. Recommendations are provided with regard to appropriate test methods associated with these requirements. In addition, guidance with respect to the certification of proofing systems related to specific printing condition aims is also included.

ISO 12647-7:2007 is independent of the method used to produce a digital proof print.