ISO is the short name for International Organization for Standardization. International Organization for Standardization came into existence in the year 1946 in London. This organization was formed after a delegation of 65 members from 25 countries, met to discuss the future of International Standardization. In 1947, ISO was officially formed with 67 technical committees consisting of a group of experts focusing on a specific subject. ISO founders decided to give it an acronym ISO, which was based on the Greek word ‘isos’, which means ‘equal’.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed several standards relevant to the printing industry. These standards help ensure quality, consistency, and efficiency in various printing processes. Here are some of the key ISO standards in the printing industry:
- ISO 12647: This series of standards focuses on graphic technology and color management. ISO 12647 defines specifications for different printing processes, such as offset, screen, flexography, and digital printing, to ensure consistent color reproduction.
- ISO 2846: This standard specifies the color and transparency characteristics of four-color process printing inks used in the graphic arts and printing industry. It helps ensure that inks are suitable for achieving the desired color results.
- ISO 15311: This standard outlines the measurement and calculation procedures for print contrast using a densitometer or spectrophotometer. It’s useful for evaluating the print quality and consistency of printed materials.
- ISO 16759: This standard addresses the measurement of spectral reflectance of printed matter and substrates, helping to ensure that printed materials meet specified color requirements.
- ISO 2836: This standard specifies methods for determining the opacity of paper and board. Opacity is an important factor in printing because it affects the visibility and legibility of printed content.
- ISO 13660: This standard provides guidelines for the selection of printing materials and the setting of printing processes to achieve the desired optical density in printed output.
- ISO 3664: This standard specifies viewing conditions for graphic technology and photography, ensuring that lighting conditions are consistent when evaluating printed materials for color and quality.
- ISO 19375: This standard defines the XML-based job exchange format (JDF) used in the printing industry to exchange job information between different devices and software applications involved in the printing process.
- ISO 12639: This standard specifies the standardized exchange format (CxF) for spectral color data in the printing industry, facilitating accurate color communication and reproduction.
- ISO 15930: This standard defines the PDF/X format for the exchange of print-ready documents, ensuring that files are properly formatted for high-quality printing.
- ISO 20654: This standard focuses on process control for the production of half-tone color separations, proof and production prints, providing guidelines for achieving consistent and predictable results.
These ISO standards are important tools for the printing industry to maintain quality, consistency, and efficiency in various printing processes, from design and prepress to actual printing and quality control. Adhering to these standards can help ensure customer satisfaction and reduce waste in the printing process. It’s important to check for the latest revisions of these standards, as ISO standards are periodically updated to reflect technological advancements and industry best practices.
