Topic of your interest

CIELAB Plot F53 F51

Concept for the colour management based data preparation and reproduction in the publishing industry

Short name: Consolidating Standardisation

Fogra no. 10.057
Project leader: Dr. A. Kraushaar
Funding: BMWK (IGF) via AiF
 

Timescale: 1.10.2013 - 30.09.2015

Research Report

Objective and relevance

The consolidation of the international standardisation landscape in the print and media industry is of great importance. This project focuses on answering the following questions:

  • Exchange colour space: How can a compact set of characterization data or reference printing conditions be created that representatively covers the colour gamut of all current and future print output processes? 

  • Consistent Colour Appearance (CCA): How can colour predictability be achieved for printed products that differ significantly in the reproducible colour gamut? This is associated with the requirement for a consistent colour appearance between different print products (e.g. campaign or exhibition stand).

  • CMYK: How can graphic elements (so-called “technical tones”) that require dedicated CMYK basic colour mixtures (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) be prepared in a media-neutral way?

Fogra employee Andreas Kraushaar

Dr Andreas Kraushaar

Head of Prepress Technology

+49 89 431 82 - 335

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Your contact

I would be pleased to answer your questions about the project and look forward to exchanging ideas with you.

Solution steps

First, numerous test prints on coated and uncoated papers are designed and statistically evaluated. Different print parameters are varied with the aim of obtaining characterization data in conformity with the revised ISO 12647-2:2013. These include the printing presses used, the papers and manufacturers, the screens, the inks and manufacturers, etc.

The first Fogra exchange colour space (FOGRA53) is developed on the basis of colour gamut analyses. To this end, both digital printing systems with an extra-large colour gamut and the first candidates (ICC profiles) from established system manufacturers will be examined and compared. In the meantime, FOGRA53 (eciCMYK) is being replaced by FOGRA59 (eciCMYK V2) and many colour psychological experiments are necessary to prove the existence of the new evaluation procedure for the reproduction of colours. It is called “Common or Consistent Colour Appearance” (CCA) and evaluates several reproductions of an original regarding their colour coherence to each other.

A first approach is also presented on how to objectively measure the CCA using colour name databases. This idea has already been implemented and published in a follow-up project.

Proof findings april 2015

Achieved results

In this project, a novel evaluation method for the reproduction of colours was presented. It is called “Common or Consistent Colour Appearance” (CCA) and evaluates several reproductions of an original with regard to their colour consistency also know as togetherness. 

In addition, the colour gamut of modern, digital output processes was evaluated with the aim of developing a process-independent colour space for large colour gamuts. On the basis of several candidates an ICC profile was presented as an exchange colour space (FOGRA53, replaced by FOGRA59). Finally the key sheetfed offset printing conditions for standardised printing on coated (FOGRA51) and uncoated paper (FOGRA52) were validated for practical use.

Characterisation data