Idealliance Print Properties Committee Release Beta Reference Print Condition for Uncoated UV
Idealliance Print Properties Committee Release New Uncoated UV Dataset for Testing
The Print Properties Committee of Idealliance has released a beta profile for ultraviolet (UV) cured inks on uncoated paper for testing and validation as they work towards establishing a new global characterized reference print condition (CRPC), much like GRACoL 2013 and prior iterations of GRACoL, SWOP, XCMYK, and other globally recognized standard G7-based print conditions such as those established in ISO 15339.
Since 2020, the Print Properties Committee has conducted more than 20 independent test runs, targeting high quality sheet-fed offset printing using standard ISO 12647-2 compliant CMYK UV inks. The profile and dataset supplied can be installed directly in most Digital Front Ends (DFEs) or RIPs, as well as ICC-aware software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other publishing applications.
UV cured inks on uncoated paper limit ink absorption into the paper, maximizing holdout for vivid graphics, and color output. Accurate color representation is only achievable with the use of a specialized reference print condition, suited for this print application. Other standard profiles may limit the achievable gamut of such a print condition or make color transformations difficult if attempting to match unachievable, out of gamut, color.
Beyond their more often vibrant appearance compared to conventional solvent or aqueous inks and coatings, UV inks also pose additional benefits in certain print applications as they are immediately cured by ultra violet radiation from UV lamps, with minimal VOCs released to the air, while the speed of the ink curing allows for higher press speeds, at the same time limiting smearing or smudging during ink trapping.
Currently in beta – the UV Uncoated Reference Print Condition is now available to members of the Print Properties Committee, along with global G7 Experts for testing. Feedback will be collected by the Print Properties Committee for further evaluation and consideration as the UV Uncoated project progresses with an anticipated launch in the coming months. Further details on usage of the profile and reporting is found with the profile download
G7 Experts can find the beta dataset here. To facilitate testing, temporarily, the use of this new print condition as part of G7 Master Qualification will be considered a standard option. The custom profile fee will be waived. G7 Experts must submit G7 Master Qualification with the custom profile designation and submit the current Uncoated UV dataset as part of their application.
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Authors: Ron Ellis, Chair of Idealliance Print Properties Committee and Jordan Gorski, Executive Director Idealliance
Download the Latest Specifications, Standards & Tools developed by Idealliance Working Groups at www.idealliance.org/specifications & www.gracol.org.
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