SIST ISO 12647-6:2014

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12647-6
Second edition
2012-12-15
Graphic technology — Process
control for the production of half-
tone colour separations, proofs and
production prints —
Part 6:
Flexographic printing
Technologie graphique — Contrôle des processus de confection de
sélections couleurs tramées, d’épreuves et de tirages —
Partie 6: Processus flexographique
Reference number
©
ISO 2012
© ISO 2012
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Material input requirements . 2
4.3 Printing aims. 4
5 Reporting . 8
Annex A (informative) Communication of spot colour data . 9
Annex B (informative) Printing curve for non-colour managed workflows .10
Annex C (informative) Information exchange .11
Annex D (informative) Determination of quality parameters of half-tone dots on a colour
separation film .13
Bibliography .15
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 12647-6 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 130, Graphic technology.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12647-6:2006), which has been technically
revised. This revision of this part of ISO 12647 has changed the intent of the document from a process
control definition to a specification of the way to exchange the information necessary to define the
printing characteristics of the desired product. To do this it has built on colour management technology
and the exchange of colour characterization data.
ISO 12647 consists of the following parts, under the general title Graphic technology — Process control
for the production of half-tone colour separations, proofs and production prints:
— Part 1: Parameters and measurement methods
— Part 2: Offset lithographic processes
— Part 3: Coldset offset lithography on newsprint
— Part 4: Publication gravure printing
— Part 5: Screen printing
— Part 6: Flexographic printing
— Part 7: Proofing processes working directly from digital data
— Part 8: Validation print processes working directly from digital data
iv © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Historically the ISO 12647 series of International Standards established the process control parameters
and their aim values and tolerances for the most important professional printing processes of the graphic
arts industry. The initial concept was that the groundwork for the series was laid down in ISO 12647-1.
This part of ISO 12647 differs from that concept because flexographic printing has changed significantly
since ISO 12647 was initially conceived.
This edition of this part of ISO 12647 differs from the earlier edition by not defining specific printing
condition aims but instead requires that a specific reference printing condition (characterization data
set) be specified. Flexographic printing differs from other printing procedures by using a variety of
printing machine architectures, ink sequence, ink types, anilox rollers, substrate types, etc. Each of these
involve different printing condition and process control aims. This part of ISO 12647 requires that the
colour of the printed product match a characterization data set or a printing condition agreed upon by
the provider and the receiver and specifies minimum requirements and tolerances to be communicated
and produced.
The purpose of a proof is to simulate the visual characteristics of the finished printed product as closely
as possible, which often becomes a contractual agreement between provider and receiver. In order to
visually simulate a particular printed product, off-press proofing processes might require values for
various process control aims (e.g. solid tone colouration, tone value increase) which are different from
those of the printing process they are meant to simulate. This is caused by differences in phenomena
such as gloss, light scatter (within the print substrate or the colourant), ink trap or overprint efficiency,
metamerism and transparency. Such differences are likely for those off-press proofing processes in
which the print substrate, the colourants and the technology for applying them are significantly different
from flexographic printing. In such cases the user or the supplier needs to ensure that appropriate
corrections are specified.
Although this market uses colour proofing on electronic displays, and it was the intent of the authors to
reference the requirements for such proofing techniques, ISO/TC 130 has not yet defined a standard in this
area that can be referenced. It is hoped that such work will progress and be available in the near future.
In addition, work has started on ISO 17972, Graphic technology — Colour data exchange format.
ISO 17972-4 will include exchange specifications for spot colour characterization data to facilitate the
communication of spot colour data.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12647-6:2012(E)
Graphic technology — Process control for the production of
half-tone colour separations, proofs and production prints —
Part 6:
Flexographic printing
1 Scope
This part of ISO 12647 specifies the requirements for the exchange of data and information necessary for
the definition of the aims for four-colour flexographic printing of packaging and publication materials,
including newsprint. It is based on the use of colour characterization data to define the colourimetric
printing aims and includes appropriate assignment of responsibility for and recommended tolerances on
critical parameters of the flexographic printing process. This part of ISO 12647 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 colourimetric results of
flexographic printing.
Guidance is also provided concerning the definition of spot colours used in flexographic printing.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the reference
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5-3, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 3: Spectral conditions
ISO 2846-5, Graphic technology — Colour and transparency of printing ink sets for four-colour printing —
Part 5: Flexographic printing
ISO/TS 10128, Graphic technology — Methods of adjustment of the colour reproduction of a printing system
to match a set of characterization data
ISO 12647-7, 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 13655, Graphic technology — Spectral measurement and colorimetric computation for graphic arts images
ISO 15930 (all parts), Graphic technology — Prepress digital data exchange using PDF
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
printing forme for flexography
cylinder or sleeve covered with a relief type rubber or photopolymer plate for application of printing ink
to print substrate
[SOURCE: ISO 2834-2:2007, definition 3.3]
3.2
provider
organization that prepares the data for printing, distributor of a digital data file, designer, consumer
products company or trade shop
3.3
receiver
organization that receives the file, or to whom a digital data file is delivered, in the context of this part
of ISO 12647 usually a prepress company, printer or converter
3.4
replacement colour
spot colour used, with altered separations, in place of a process colour
3.5
spot colour
non-process colour that is used in addition to, or in place of, a process colour and is normally applied
with a single impression
Note 1 to entry: When associated with a corporate product identity, a spot colour is also known as brand colour.
4 Requirements
4.1 General
In all cases, digital data files, colour separation film sets or printing formes delivered for printing
shall be accompanied by a contract proof or a soft-copy proof unless there is agreement between all
parties concerned that no proof is required. If delivered, the contract proof shall simulate the intended
printing condition including finishing and shall conform to ISO 12647-7. This fact shall be verifiable by
measuring a well-specified control strip or a similar control target suitable for measured verification
that is printed on the proof print along with the subject. The use of soft-copy proofs requires agreement
between sender and receiver.
NOTE Where intermediate proofs are needed to simulate the printed product without finishing applied,
these are typically prepared by the printer.
4.2 Material input requirements
4.2.1 General
Input for flexographic printing may be either film, digital data or printing formes. It should be noted that
the use of film or printing formes as the interchange format between provider and receiver may include
additional details (such as image distortion) not covered in detail in this International Standard.
4.2.2 Distortion correction
There is currently no agreement as to a single formula for image distortion. Therefore, the computation
to be used shall be agreed upon between the provider and receiver.
4.2.3 Proof requirements
All input for flexographic printing (film, digital data or printing formes) shall be accompanied by a proof
prepared in accordance with ISO 12647-7 unless there is prior agreement that a proof is not required, or
that an agreed upon soft-copy proof will be used.
2 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

4.2.4 Digital data files
Data delivered for printing shall be in the colour formats of CMYK
...