Standards Australia has announced that three ISO standards have been approved as new Australian Standards for the graphic technology industry.
Whilst these may not have any importance to the bulk of our wide format readers in the sign and the textile production industries, those who produce proofs or use colour measuring devices may find the following information useful.
These three new standards – for proofing, measurement methods and validation printing with digital devices – will soon join the only current Australian ISO standard for Graphic Technology, AS ISO 12647-2.
Each proposal was extensively reviewed and assessed against set criteria for eligibility, including net benefit and stakeholder support. According to Jason Lazar from Standards Australia: “Standards Australia is committed to developing internationally aligned Australian Standards in the national interest.”
“The quality of submissions received was very high and the amount of stakeholder support was pleasing," he said.
colour standard koalaThe ISO 12647-2 standard for the process control of offset presses was adopted as the Australian Standard for print quality in 2008 in a move that has received widespread support from some of the most influential players in our market.
Despite the local success of this standard it is worth noting that the 12647-2 standard only relates to the actual printed product and does not specify other equally important aspects of the production chain such as proofing and measurement methods.
Australian TC 130 chairman Luke Wooldridge said that while it was a long time coming, the committee had always aimed to introduce more standards to the Australian Industry to complement the existing Australian standard.
“These three ISO standards are part of the 12647 group and are designed to be implemented with each other in order to achieve optimal print quality," he said.
The complete names of the three ISO standards that will be directly adopted by Standards Australia are:
ISO 12647-7:2007 Graphic technology — Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof and production prints — Part 7: Proofing processes working directly from digital data
ISO 12647-8: Graphic technology -- Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof and production prints -- Part 8: Validation print processes working directly from digital data (NOTE: THIS ISO STANDARD IS STILL TO BE RELEASED, and will only be eligible to become an Australian once it has been accepted at an international level which is expected in the coming months)
ISO 12647-1:2004 Graphic technology -- Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof and production prints -- Part 1: Parameters and measurement methods.
Printing Industries CEO Bill Healey congratulated the committee on its work and welcomed the approval of the new standards by Standards Australia.
“The decision enhances the link between the industry in Australia and the international printing community and is an excellent outcome for our Australian TC 130 committee members who committed a lot of time and research to make this achievement possible,” he said.
According to LIA Federal President, Grant Churchill: “The LIA recognises the importance of ISO printing standards as a competitive advantage for the Australian Printing Industry and is fully supportive of the achievements being made by Australian TC 130 Colour Standards Committee”.
Lithographic Insitute of Australia
www.lia.com.au
