Process Control, ISO

12647-2 & ISO 15339

R. Chung, Professor
RIT • School of Media Sciences

Process control is to achieve accurate and consistent color

reproduction. Standards provide aims and tolerances.
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Contents
§  Printing process control

§  ISO 12647-2

–  Process dependent aims & tolerances for offset printing

§  ISO 15339

–  Process independent aims for analog and digital printing

§  ISO/TS 10128 for in-gamut color adjustments

§  ISO 12647-2 vs. ISO 15339

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What is Printing Process Control?

§  Monitoring and correcting a color printing device by
–  Defining process control aims and tolerances
–  Using test targets and measurement device to adjust the device
to produce conforming products

Disturbance

Manipulated Variables
Input Process
PROCESS Output

CONTROLLER Feedback
Signal

Reference

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Why Printing Process Control?

§  Verify stability of the device
–  Demonstrate process conformance

§  Detect device drifts and make necessary adjustments

–  Achieve quick press make-ready
–  Reduce pressroom waste
–  Ensure consistency of product quality

§  Make color management system work.

–  Matching color by “printing by numbers”

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Printing Process Control

§  The BIG Picture – To enable color management
–  Proof-to-print
–  Within-run
–  Run-to-run Process
Device_1 control
Optimization Test targets
Calibration Pr Color measurement
of
ile
Profile
Statistics
CMS Device_2
Optimization
ile
Device_3 Prof Calibration Device_n
Optimization Optimization
Calibration Calibration

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Printing Process Control

§  Test target & color measurement are common to
process control and color management.
–  Provide data for calibration
–  Provide data for profiling
–  Provide data for statistical process control
-  To correct for the device drifts

§  Repeatable color can be achieved through

–  Device optimization
-  Optimization often means promising of substrate-colorants-
screening-printer interactions
–  Device calibration

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Device Optimization
§  Hardware, software, and consumable are
comparable.
–  RIP, colorants, substrate, printer

§  Device performance

–  Spatial uniformity
-  Side-to-side
-  Head-to-tail
-  Front-to-back

–  Temporal consistency
-  From beginning to the end of the print production

–  Run-to-run repeatability

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Device Calibration
§  Adjusting a device’s behavior to achieve desired
outcome, e.g.,
–  %dot (in) equals %plate dot (out) in a CTP operation
-  Also known as device linearization
-  Adjust CTP gradation to achieve gray balance

–  Solid coloration and %dot are vs. TVI (tonal value increase)
curve conform to an industry standard, e.g.,
-  ISO 12647-2

-  SWOP or GRACoL

–  Color gamut of a printer conforms to a reference printing

condition.
-  CRPC (Characterized Reference Printing Condition)

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Calibration vs. Profiling

§  Calibration and profiling are separate processes
with different goals.
–  A device is calibrated or adjusted by taking colorant-substrate-
plate-printer into consideration.
–  A device is profiled by taking a snapshot of the device-to-color
relationship.

§  Device calibration precedes ICC profiling.

–  If a printer is uniquely calibrated, it requires profiling in order to
perform digital color exchange from design to the printer space.
–  If a printer has been calibrated to a specified CRPC, it can use the
standard ICC profile to perform color exchange from design to
print in prepress workflow.

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Printer Calibration & Profiling

§  A printer is calibrated to known solid ink density,
dot gain, or gray balance conditions.
–  Inking adjustments are made on conventional presses.
–  Transfer curves are applied to CTP devices or digital printers.

§  A printer is profiled with the use of a profiling target

with known CMYK digital values.
–  Printed patches are measured colorimetrically.
–  Printer (CMYK) values and colorimetric data are encoded into a
profile.

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Implementing Process Control

§  Identify key control parameters.

§  Implement real-time measurements and corrective

actions.

§  Conform to aim points.

§  Use structured problem solving techniques to

remove root causes.

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Process Control Tools

§  IT8.7/4 (ISO 12641)
–  Useful target for printer profiling
-  CMYK data
-  Large footprint (1,617 patches)

§  Color control bar

–  Useful for process control
-  Long and narrow
-  Positioned across the width of paper

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Process Control Tools

§  Pictorial reference images
–  ISO 12640 Standard Color
Image Data (SCID)
-  CMYK data
-  Memory colors of familiar objects
–  Skin tone
–  Highlights or pastels
–  Metallic surfaces
-  Large neutral background
-  High frequency contents

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Process Control Tools

§  Open-loop control
–  Feedback is often in the form of graphical displays.
-  Operators decide what to do with the visual information.

Heidelberg Heidelberg Harris M1000B

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Process Control Tools

§  Closed-loop control
–  Automatic adjustments without operator intervention
-  Artificial intelligence
-  Operators over-ride machine decisions.

MAN Roland web offset press

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Calibration vs. Process Control

§  Curling as an analogy
–  Curling is a game played on ice, in which two four-member
teams slide heavy, oblate stones towards a fixed mark in the
center of a circle at either end.

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Calibration vs. Process Control

§  Calibration is like launching the stone, it focuses
on the initial aiming of its target.

§  Process control is like sweeping, it focuses on the

efforts of guiding and correcting the process.

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Where are Printing Aims From?

§  From color separation films
–  Color separation and color proofing are standardized.
–  Printing is to match the color proof.
–  ISO 12647-2 defines solid coloration, TVI, and midtone spread.
–  ISO 12647-2 does not specify CRPC.

§  From CRPC

–  Printing or proofing conformance is about adjusting process
control parameters, including color management, so that print or
proof conforms to CRPC.
–  ISO 15339 specifies CRPC.

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Graphic technology - Process control for the
manufacture of half-tone colour separations, proof
and production prints
–  Started in ISO TC130 in 1991
–  ISO 12647-1 was published in 1996
–  Initially based on film workflow, now include digital data
–  ISO 12647-2 was revised in 2007 and 2013.

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Print substrates (PS1~PS4) specifications, 2013

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Print substrates (PS5~PS8) specifications, 2013

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Coloration description (CD1~CD4), 2013

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Coloration description (CD5~CD8), 2013

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Printing conditions (PC) specifications, 2013

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Tonal value increase (TVI), 2013

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ISO 12647-2 Process Control Aims

§  Colorimetric tolerances of process color solids
–  Deviation tolerances of the OK print
–  Variation tolerances of production samples

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ISO 12647-2 Workflow

§  How is it used?
–  Designer/client picks printing condition from ISO 12647-2 based
on paper and process to be used.

–  ECI publishes the Fogra datasets and ICC profiles for digital
data exchange.
–  Proofs based on aims of ISO 12647-7 as interpreted by non-
standardized characterization data from various trade groups.

–  Printer calibrates his press to achieve deviation conformity, i.e.,

solids and TVI for printing condition of ISO 12647-2.
–  Produce OK print to match the proof.

–  Control the print run to achieve production conformity (solids

and TVI).

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ISO/PAS 15339 Printing Aims

§  March/April 1999 issue of IPA Prepress Bulletin
–  “Reference Printing Conditions - What Are They & Why Are
They Important?”

§  Promises of the “Reference Printing Conditions”

–  Printing process agnostic
–  Simplify the interface between prepress and printing
–  Standardize characterization data, NOT process control data
–  Provide consistent tone reproduction and gray balance aims
across data sets
–  Provide some mechanism to “adjust” CRPC for modest paper
changes, including OBA.

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ISO/PAS 15339 Workflow

110

90

70

50

7
6
30
5
4
3
10
2
Design Content Data 1
Selects aim characterization Proofing -80 -60 -40 -20
-10
0 20 40 60 80

data based on expected

paper and printing process
-30
Content Data

CRPC
-50
(7 sets)
-70

Substrate
Printing Adjustment

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ISO/PAS 15339 Workflow

§  A new approach to Job Data
(3-channel or
4-channel)

printing aims ISO 15930

Reference Dataset
–  Using reference color (SWOP-3,
SWOP-3_SCCA)

characterization data
as printing aims ISO 3664

–  Process independent ISO 13655

ISO 15339-1
CGATS TR016
Color
Management
Color Management
(optional)

–  Providing data ISO/TS 10128

adjustment for Proof 3

variations in paper (SWOP-3_SCCA) Color Control Bar / RIP

color ISO 12647-2

G7 Pass/Fail

–  Process control is the Actual Printing Condition

responsibility of the
(G7 calibrated)
ISO 15339-1
CGATS TR016

printer.
Print Buyer and
Designer Printed Color

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ISO/PAS 15339 CRPCs

§  CRPC conformity ≠ process control conformity
–  Dataset is the whole.
–  Process control parameters are the parts.

§  Have a limited set of CRPCs that differ in gamut to

serve as common threads between design,
prepress, proofing, and printing.

§  Provide a mechanism to “adjust” CRPC for paper

color changes.

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ISO/PAS 15339 CRPCs

§  CRPC is the relationship
between input CMYK (or
virtual CMYK) data and
the color on the printed
sheet.
–  Color gamut is defined in terms
of 1,617 patches of ISO
12642-2 (IT8.7/4) target.
–  Gamut color is determined by
paper, ink, process capability.
–  In-gamut color is adjustable
using 4-D LUT or 1-D transfer
curves, (ISO TS 10128).

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ISO/PAS 15339 CRPCs

§  CRPCs are independent of printing process
(agnostic).
–  Since its creation in 1995, TR001 (SWOP) has applied to both
offset and gravure publications.

–  All proofing (regardless of proofing process) is based on

matching characterization data.
–  Packaging matches color across printing processes and multiple
substrates.

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ISO/PAS 15339 Substrate Adjustment

§  Tristimulus correction method (SCCA)

–  Uses CIE XYZ values of new substrate to adjust CIE XYZ
values of reference characterization data to predict what same
printing would be on the new substrate.
–  SCCA method works equally well for changes in substrate
resulting from a basic shade change or change in OBA level.

–  Provides new aims for all CMYK data points, including solids
and neutrals.
-  TVIs aims are not affected.

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ISO/PAS 15339 In-gamut Adjustment

§  ISO/TS 10128 Graphic technology — Methods of
adjustment of the colour reproduction of a printing
system to match a set of characterization data
–  Assumes outer gamuts are correct.
–  Adjusts within-gamut data by one of three methods:
1)  Matching of tone value curves to develop 4 1-D transforms
2)  Use of near-neutral scales to develop 4 1-D transforms
3)  Use of CMYK to CMYK multi-dimensional transforms (colour
management device link transform)
–  Can be used to support printing based on either ISO 15339 or
ISO 12647.

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Four 1-D TVI Transform

§  Enter two tone value curves, i.e., reference &
sample, for each channel.
1)  Find %tone value pairs yield equal density.
1.5
% AM 150Lpi FM 21µ 1.4
1 0 0.000 0.000 1.3 AM 150Lpi
2 3 0.030 0.018
1.2
3 7 0.070 0.039 FM 21µ
4 10 0.100 0.070 1.1
5 15 0.145 0.123 1.0
6 20 0.190 0.184 0.9
7 25 0.240 0.263
0.8
8 30 0.280 0.342
9 40 0.390 0.587 0.7
10 50 0.510 0.806 0.6
11 60 0.620 1.043 0.5
12 70 0.750 1.227
0.4
13 80 0.910 1.341
14 90 1.140 1.394 0.3
15 100 1.420 1.420 0.2
16 100 1.420 1.420
0.1
17 100 1.420 1.420
18 100 1.420 1.420 0.0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
19 100 1.420 1.420
20 100 1.420 1.420 % Dot Area
21 100 1.420
Copyright 1.420
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22 100 1.420 1.420
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Four 1-D TVI Transform

2)  Send transfer curve (%TV_in vs. %TV_out) to RIP to alter the
device values for each channel during the CTP operation.

Transfer curve 100

AM 90
150Lpi FM 21µ
1 0 0.0 80
2 3 5.3
3 7 10.0 70
4 10 12.8
5 15 16.8 60
6 20 20.4
7 25 23.5 50
8 30 26.1
9 40 32.0
40
10 50 36.9
30
11 60 41.5
12 70 47.4
20
13 80 54.4
14 90 65.3 10
15 100 100.0
16 100 #N/A 0
17 100 #N/A 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
18 100 #N/A
19 100 #N/A Refrence Dot area
20 100 #N/A
21 100 #N/A
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22 100 #N/A
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Four 1-D Gray Transform

1)  Print and measure the pre-defined triplets and a
K-only ramp (P2P target).

3C

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Four 1-D Gray Transform

2)  Assess tone reproduction and gray balance of the
initial printing condition using Curve2 s/w.

∆L* for cmy (orange), ∆L* for k (gray)

%da

%da

∆a* (red), ∆b* (blue), ∆Ch (green)

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Four 1-D Gray Transform

3)  Determine gray balance and tone reproduction
requirements based on paper white and neutral
print density.

4)  Derive transfer curves for each channel via Curve2

s/w.

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Four 1-D Gray Transform

5)  Assess gray balance and tone reproduction of the
G7 calibrated printing condition.
∆L* for cmy (orange), ∆L* for k (gray)

%da
Before After

%da

∆a* (red), ∆b* (blue), ∆Ch (green)

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Multi-dimensional Transform
§  Four 1-D transfer curves assume similar color and
transparency of the inks between the reference
printing condition and the initial printing condition.
–  Applicable to conventional printing where CTP is used.

§  The above assumption is not required when ICC

device-link profiles are used to implement CMYK-
to-CMYK transforms between the reference
printing condition and the initial printing condition.
–  Applicable to digital printing

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Multi-dimensional Transform
§  Device link uses a pre-defined four-
dimensional transform to convert CMYK data
of the reference space to the sample space
while preserving the integrity of single
channel data.
Standard
Press

STD CMYK

My Press
Custom CMYK

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ISO 12647-2 vs. ISO 15339

ISO 12647-2 ISO 15339
Printing mechanism Real ink-paper-press Virtual CMYK (a family
(process dependent) of 7 CRPCs)
Aims and tolerances Process dependent; process independent;
substrate dependent substrate corrected
Process control ISO/TS 10128 - TVI ISO/TS 10128
(printer’s
responsibility)
Conformance Match solid, TVI, and Match selected CRPC
midtone spread

§  A key performance difference is the print-to-proof

match under the influence of OBA.

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ISO 12647-2 vs. ISO 15339

§  CRPC derived solid coloration and TVI are not
identical (but in tolerance) to the ISO 12647-2
aims.
–  ISO 15339 uses equal neutrality and tone reproduction as the
design criteria for all CRPCs.
–  ISO 12647-2 uses equal TVI as the design criteria for all
process control aims.

§  Different printing certification schemes will evolve.

The market will decide if they fit.

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Summary
§  Process control is aimed at achieving accurate and
consistent color.
–  Standards provide aims and tolerances.
–  Test targets and color measurement devices are tools to make it
happen.

§  Process control is the routine efforts in keeping the

device stay calibrated.
–  It requires real-time measurement and corrective actions in
order to achieve device consistency in a print production
workflow.

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References
§  ISO 12647-2 (2013) Graphic technology — Process control
for the production of halftone colour separations, proof and
production prints — Part 2: Offset lithographic processes

§  ISO/PAS 15339 (2014) Graphic technology — Printing from

digital data across multiple technologies — Part 1: Principles

§  McDowell, David, “Reference Printing Conditions - What Are

They & Why Are They Important?” IPA Prepress Bulletin,
March/April 1999

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Thank you.
Q/A Bob Chung, Professor
Email: [email protected]
RIT • School of Media Sciences

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