ISO 12647-3:2013

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12647-3
Third edition
2013-12-15
Corrected version
2014-02-15
Graphic technology — Process control
for the production of half-tone colour
separations, proofs and production
prints —
Part 3:
Coldset offset lithography on
newsprint
Technologie graphique — Contrôle du processus de confection de
sélections couleurs tramées, d’épreuves et de tirages —
Partie 3: Impression offset sans sécheur sur papier journal
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Requirements . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Data files and printing forms . 2
4.3 Proof or production print . 4
5 Test methods .12
5.1 Computation of CIELAB colour coordinates and CIELAB colour differences .12
5.2 Control strip .12
Annex A (informative) Densities of ink set colours .13
Annex B (informative) Grey reproduction and grey balance .14
Annex C (informative) Process control targets .17
Annex D (informative) Flexographic newspaper printing .18
Annex E (informative) Additional printing conditions .19
Annex F (informative) Handling differences in paper colour .22
Bibliography .23
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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
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. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 130, Graphic technology.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 12467-3:2005), which has been revised
due to demands from customer experience. The revision introduces grey reproduction and grey balance
calculation, a printing condition for standard newsprint, normative ΔE* tolerances for primary and
secondary colours, one general tone value increase curve, a change in the colouration of magenta, options
to monitor the printing characteristics and a general clean up.
ISO 12647 consists of the following parts, under the general title Graphic technology — Process control
for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof 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
This corrected version of ISO 12647-3:2013 incorporates the following corrections:
— in 4.2.8, a formatting error in the second paragraph has been corrected;
— in Annex F, the word “might” has been changed to “may” in the first sentence of the first paragraph.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
When producing a half-tone colour reproduction it is important that the colour separator and printer
have previously specified a minimum set of parameters that uniquely define the visual characteristics
and other technical properties of the planned print product. Such an agreement enables the correct
production of suitable separations (without recourse to “trial-and-error”).
For more information on the technical background refer to ISO 12647-1.
It is the purpose of this part of ISO 12647 to list and explain the minimum set of process parameters
required to uniquely define the visual characteristics and related technical properties of a half-tone
production print produced by coldset offset lithography on newsprint from a set of half-tone separation
data.
It is a further purpose of this part of ISO 12647 to list values or sets of values of the primary parameters
specified in ISO 12647-1 and related technical properties of a half-tone newspaper print produced
from a set of half-tone colour separation data. When deemed useful, secondary parameters are also
recommended for specification.
Provisions for flexographic printing can be found in informative Annex D.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12647-3:2013(E)
Graphic technology — Process control for the production
of half-tone colour separations, proofs and production
prints —
Part 3:
Coldset offset lithography on newsprint
1 Scope
This part of ISO 12647 specifies a number of process parameters and their values to be applied when
producing colour separations and printing forms for newspaper single or four-colour printing. The
parameters and values are chosen in consideration of the process, covering the process stages: “colour
separation”, “making of the printing formed”, “OK print or proof” and “production printing”.
This part of ISO 12647 is intended to enhance communication between printers, publishers and
advertisers and to make print buyers aware of the expected printed result in advance, enabling them to
plan accordingly. This part of ISO 12647 defines tolerances, allowing for objective quality evaluations
and raising the competitiveness of newspapers compared to other media.
This part of ISO 12647 is applicable:
— to coldset offset production printing on newsprint that use colour separation data;
— by analogy to press printing from printing surfaces produced by direct imaging;
— to line screens and non-periodic screens, parameters given can be applied by analogy.
Although this International Standard does not specify process control for flexographic printing, digital
printing systems or letterpress production printing, the production aims defined by this International
Standard may be applied when these printing technologies are used and where the printing result is
intended to be similar to that produced by coldset offset lithography.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5-3, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 3: Spectral conditions
ISO 2846-2, Graphic technology — Colour and transparency of printing ink sets for four-colour printing —
Part 2: Coldset offset lithographic 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 12647-1:2013, Graphic technology — Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations,
proof and production prints — Part 1: Parameters and measurement methods
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 13655:2009, Graphic technology — Spectral measurement and colorimetric computation for graphic
arts images
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 12647-1 and the following
apply.
3.1
coldset offset lithography
method of offset lithographic printing (conventional or waterless) where the inks set “dry” primarily by
absorption into the print substrate
3.2
digital proof print
digital print of high colour accuracy, useable as reliable visual colour reference for printing, and as a part
of a commercial agreement as defined in ISO 12647-7
4 Requirements
4.1 General
Digital data files delivered for printing should be accompanied by a digital proof print, a press proof print,
or an OK print from a previous print run. An OK-print from a previous print run (or a press proof), being
in conformance with the requirements for an OK-print stipulated in 4.3 and stored under appropriate
conditions, shall be used as the reference for the OK-print.
Digital proofs using an electronic display and digital proof prints shall not be used to gather measurement
values to be used as reference in this part of ISO 12647.
NOTE On-press proof prints are test prints of the data files on a printing press. Most proofs are digital proof
prints. However, for colour or content critical work sometimes there is a request for press proof prints using the
same setup as the production print.
4.2 Data files and printing forms
4.2.1 Data files
Data delivered for printing shall be in the colour formats CMYK or three components and should be
exchanged in PDF/X data formats as defined in ISO 15930 (all parts).
The intended printing condition shall be indicated in case of PDF/X data exchange. In case of PDF/X
the mechanisms provided by the specified data format shall be used. In case of other data formats, a
printing condition description, a characterization data set, or an International Colour Consortium (ICC)
output profile shall be communicated.
Data other than CMYK shall be defined by colorimetric description using an ICC profile or other
mechanism. An ICC CMYK output profile should be included. The rendering intent to be used with the
output profile shall be communicated.
If the characterization data or ICC output profile provided conflict with the printing conditions defined
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12647-3
Third edition
2013-12-15
Corrected version
2014-02-15
Graphic technology — Process control
for the production of half-tone colour
separations, proofs and production
prints —
Part 3:
Coldset offset lithography on
newsprint
Technologie graphique — Contrôle du processus de confection de
sélections couleurs tramées, d’épreuves et de tirages —
Partie 3: Impression offset sans sécheur sur papier journal
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Requirements . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Data files and printing forms . 2
4.3 Proof or production print . 4
5 Test methods .12
5.1 Computation of CIELAB colour coordinates and CIELAB colour differences .12
5.2 Control strip .12
Annex A (informative) Densities of ink set colours .13
Annex B (informative) Grey reproduction and grey balance .14
Annex C (informative) Process control targets .17
Annex D (informative) Flexographic newspaper printing .18
Annex E (informative) Additional printing conditions .19
Annex F (informative) Handling differences in paper colour .22
Bibliography .23
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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
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. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 130, Graphic technology.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 12467-3:2005), which has been revised
due to demands from customer experience. The revision introduces grey reproduction and grey balance
calculation, a printing condition for standard newsprint, normative ΔE* tolerances for primary and
secondary colours, one general tone value increase curve, a change in the colouration of magenta, options
to monitor the printing characteristics and a general clean up.
ISO 12647 consists of the following parts, under the general title Graphic technology — Process control
for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof 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
This corrected version of ISO 12647-3:2013 incorporates the following corrections:
— in 4.2.8, a formatting error in the second paragraph has been corrected;
— in Annex F, the word “might” has been changed to “may” in the first sentence of the first paragraph.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
When producing a half-tone colour reproduction it is important that the colour separator and printer
have previously specified a minimum set of parameters that uniquely define the visual characteristics
and other technical properties of the planned print product. Such an agreement enables the correct
production of suitable separations (without recourse to “trial-and-error”).
For more information on the technical background refer to ISO 12647-1.
It is the purpose of this part of ISO 12647 to list and explain the minimum set of process parameters
required to uniquely define the visual characteristics and related technical properties of a half-tone
production print produced by coldset offset lithography on newsprint from a set of half-tone separation
data.
It is a further purpose of this part of ISO 12647 to list values or sets of values of the primary parameters
specified in ISO 12647-1 and related technical properties of a half-tone newspaper print produced
from a set of half-tone colour separation data. When deemed useful, secondary parameters are also
recommended for specification.
Provisions for flexographic printing can be found in informative Annex D.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12647-3:2013(E)
Graphic technology — Process control for the production
of half-tone colour separations, proofs and production
prints —
Part 3:
Coldset offset lithography on newsprint
1 Scope
This part of ISO 12647 specifies a number of process parameters and their values to be applied when
producing colour separations and printing forms for newspaper single or four-colour printing. The
parameters and values are chosen in consideration of the process, covering the process stages: “colour
separation”, “making of the printing formed”, “OK print or proof” and “production printing”.
This part of ISO 12647 is intended to enhance communication between printers, publishers and
advertisers and to make print buyers aware of the expected printed result in advance, enabling them to
plan accordingly. This part of ISO 12647 defines tolerances, allowing for objective quality evaluations
and raising the competitiveness of newspapers compared to other media.
This part of ISO 12647 is applicable:
— to coldset offset production printing on newsprint that use colour separation data;
— by analogy to press printing from printing surfaces produced by direct imaging;
— to line screens and non-periodic screens, parameters given can be applied by analogy.
Although this International Standard does not specify process control for flexographic printing, digital
printing systems or letterpress production printing, the production aims defined by this International
Standard may be applied when these printing technologies are used and where the printing result is
intended to be similar to that produced by coldset offset lithography.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5-3, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 3: Spectral conditions
ISO 2846-2, Graphic technology — Colour and transparency of printing ink sets for four-colour printing —
Part 2: Coldset offset lithographic 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 12647-1:2013, Graphic technology — Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations,
proof and production prints — Part 1: Parameters and measurement methods
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 13655:2009, Graphic technology — Spectral measurement and colorimetric computation for graphic
arts images
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 12647-1 and the following
apply.
3.1
coldset offset lithography
method of offset lithographic printing (conventional or waterless) where the inks set “dry” primarily by
absorption into the print substrate
3.2
digital proof print
digital print of high colour accuracy, useable as reliable visual colour reference for printing, and as a part
of a commercial agreement as defined in ISO 12647-7
4 Requirements
4.1 General
Digital data files delivered for printing should be accompanied by a digital proof print, a press proof print,
or an OK print from a previous print run. An OK-print from a previous print run (or a press proof), being
in conformance with the requirements for an OK-print stipulated in 4.3 and stored under appropriate
conditions, shall be used as the reference for the OK-print.
Digital proofs using an electronic display and digital proof prints shall not be used to gather measurement
values to be used as reference in this part of ISO 12647.
NOTE On-press proof prints are test prints of the data files on a printing press. Most proofs are digital proof
prints. However, for colour or content critical work sometimes there is a request for press proof prints using the
same setup as the production print.
4.2 Data files and printing forms
4.2.1 Data files
Data delivered for printing shall be in the colour formats CMYK or three components and should be
exchanged in PDF/X data formats as defined in ISO 15930 (all parts).
The intended printing condition shall be indicated in case of PDF/X data exchange. In case of PDF/X
the mechanisms provided by the specified data format shall be used. In case of other data formats, a
printing condition description, a characterization data set, or an International Colour Consortium (ICC)
output profile shall be communicated.
Data other than CMYK shall be defined by colorimetric description using an ICC profile or other
mechanism. An ICC CMYK output profile should be included. The rendering intent to be used with the
output profile shall be communicated.
If the characterization data or ICC output profile provided conflict with the printing conditions defined
...