Calibrating, Printing and Proofing to the G7™ Method    August 1, 2006
Version 6; August 2006. This document describes how to calibrate a printing press, proofing system, or any CMYK imaging device to the new GRACoL 7 specifications, and how to maintain those specifications during production. The calibration process is broken into two stages. The first stage uses ISO-standard colorants and substrate, and the new G7™ proof-to-print process to match the NPDC (Neutral print Density Curve) and gray balance of neutral gray tones. The second stage uses ICC (International Color Consortium) or similar color management to optimize the match to a colorimetric reference such as GRACoL 7 Characterization Data.

IDEAlliance Certifies New G7™Experts    June 29, 2006
Industry Experts to Advance the G7™ Proof-to-Print Process. The International Digital Enterprise Alliance (IDEAlliance) today announced that a training program hosted by Foremost Graphics in Grand Rapids, MI, has prepared a new group of leading color management and on-press consultants to bring new G7 tools and techniques to the industry.

GRACoL® to Work with ISO Community in Developing a
Unified International Characterization Data Set    May 23 , 2006
Publication of the New GRACoL 7 Guidelines Remains on Schedule. The International Digital Enterprise Alliance (IDEAlliance) today announced that as a result of the recent ISO (International Standards Organization) TC130 (Technical Committee 130) Working Group 3 meeting in San Diego, CA, the GRACoL Committee will work in a cooperative effort with other members of the ISO TC130 community to propose a unified international characterization data set for commercial offset printing.

Bruce Bayne, “GRACoL Certified Expert”    February 13, 2006
One of the First Color Professionals to Receive Title. Bruce Bayne, Owner and President of Alder
Technology, is one of only seven color print consultants in the nation to earn the title
“GRACoL Certified Expert.” Bayne was selected as one of the first experts due to his
knowledge base, impeccable reputation and years in the industry.

Western Michigan University Profiling Review 3.0     January 1, 2003
Measuring the quality of ICC profiles and color management software. The growth in color management means that there are now many different software packages that can make ICC1 profiles. But how do we know which is the most accurate and which represents the best value? There is no agreed standard amongst the software vendors and most users are unable to independently assess the quality of profiles. The WMU Profiling Review is a “consumer report” that provides an independent, objective assessment of current software products and ranks them according to their colorimetric accuracy. The WMU Profiling Review is released bi-annually on January 1 and July 1. This version of the review is also published as a Seybold Report.

Western Michigan University Profiling Review 2.0     July 1, 2002
Measuring the quality of ICC profiles and color management software. The growth in color management means that there are now many different software packages that can make ICC1 profiles. But how do we know which is the most accurate and which represents the best value? There is no agreed standard amongst the software vendors and most users are unable to independently assess the quality of profiles. The WMU Profiling Review provides an independent, objective assessment of current software products and ranks them according to their accuracy. In the current version of the review, results of 9 packages to make scanner, printer and monitor profiles are compared. Updates to the WMU Profiling Review occur bi-annually on January 1 and July 1. Any vendor that would like to be included in future revisions is welcome to contact us.

International Color Consortium (ICC)  
General and technical information on color management and ICC profiles. The ICC is the governing body for ICC based color management.

Apple ColorSync™  
Apple’s color resource site with lots of ads for their products.

Association of Graphic Solutions Providers (IPA)  
Information, resources, and tools to strengthen graphics workflow competencies, increase profits, and grow business.

Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS)  
The standards committee members website with information and articles about the standards they support.

Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage (CIE)  
Website for the organization devoted to international cooperation and exchange of information among its member countries on all matters relating to the science and art of lighting. This is the organization that did the scientific research on color as we know it today.

Intl. Cooperation for Intergration of Processes in Prepress, 
Press and Postpress Organisation (CIP4)
Tom_York@ea.epson.com CIP4 members website with news and information about JDF and CIP4.

Color Marketing Group (CMG)  
Website for color design professionals.

European Color Initiative (ECI) 
European color standards website with information and downloads.

Flexographic Technical Association (FTA)  
The association that promotes, developes and maintains the advancement of flexography with an emphasis on developing and maintaining standards of quality.

General Requirements for Application in Commercial Offset Lithography (GRACoL)  
Information and specifications for commercial printing based on the G7™ process.

Graphic Technology Research Association (FOGRA)  
European association that promotes print engineering and its future-oriented technologies in the fields of research, development and application.

Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF)  
The Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF), along with its affiliates, deliver products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the industry.

Gravure Association of America (GAA)  
Provides a forum for the exchange of specialized information through a network of GAA councils which address unique concerns and encourage the use of gravure.

Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG)  
International assembly of industry associations whose goal is to establish and disseminate process specifications for best practices in graphic arts workflows.

International Standards Organization (ISO)   
The world's largest developer of standards.

Munsell Color Science Laboratory (MCSL)  
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) color science website.

Printing Across Borders (PAB)  
Website dedicated to support and document the work of the “Printing across borders” initiative.

Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA)  
Official website of the SGIA full of information and support for the industry.

Specifications for Newsprint Advertising Production (SNAP)  
The newspaper industry’s printing specification website.

Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP)  
The web publication printing specification website.

Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA)  
Website focused on graphic arts systems, software, and computer technology developments, as well as the more traditional areas of press, ink, and paper engineering applications.

Windows Image Color Management (WCS)  
Microsoft's website for color management in the Windows environment.

Color at Microsoft blog (WCS)  
Blog site for Windows color management.

Apple > ColorSync™ Users Mailing List 

International Color Consortium ICC Users Forum 

Printing Across Borders (PAB) Users Mailing List  

PrintPlanel Forums