ISO 12642-2:2006

Graphic technology — Input data for characterization of 4-colour process printing — Part 2: Expanded data set

ISO 12642-2:2006 defines a data set of ink value combinations that is intended to be used to characterize four-colour process printing. This data set is not optimized for any printing process or application area but is robust enough for all general applications. The needs of publication, commercial, and package printing with offset, gravure, flexography, and other printing processes have been considered. While it is primarily aimed at process colour printing with CMYK inks, it can also be used with any combination of three chromatic coloured inks and a dark ink. It is an alternate to the ISO 12642-1 data set where more robust data is required.

Technologie graphique — Données d'entrée pour caractérisation d'impression en quadrichromie — Partie 2: Ensemble de données élargies

Grafična tehnologija - Vhodni podatki za opis 4-barvnega tiska s procesnimi barvami - 2. del: Razširjeni podatki (za profiliranje in certificiranje)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 06-Dec-2006
• ICS: 35.240.30 - IT applications in information, documentation and publishing
• ICS: 37.100.99 - Other standards related to graphic technology
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 130 - Graphic technology
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 130/WG 2 - Prepress data exchange
• Current Stage: 9020 - International Standard under periodical review
• Start Date: 15-Apr-2025
• Completion Date: 15-Apr-2025
• Ref Project: SIST ISO 12642-2:2008 - Graphic technology - Input data for characterization of 4-colour process printing - Part 2: Expanded data set

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.SURFHVQLPLLUDQMHGraphic technology - Input data for characterization of 4-colour process printing - Part 2: Expanded data set37.100.99Other standards related to graphic technology35.240.30Uporabniške rešitve IT v informatiki, dokumentiranju in založništvuIT applications in information, documentation and publishingICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:ISO 12642-2:2006SIST ISO 12642-2:2008en01-junij-2008SIST ISO 12642-2:2008SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
Reference numberISO 12642-2:2006(E)© ISO 2006
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO12642-2First edition2006-12-15Corrected version2007-08-15Graphic technology — Input data for characterization of 4-colour process printing — Part 2: Expanded data set Technologie graphique — Données d'entrée pour caractérisation d'impression en quadrichromie — Partie 2: Ensemble de données élargies
©
ISO 2006 All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing 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
[e-mail] Web
www.iso.org Published in Switzerland
ii
iiiContents Page Foreword.iv Introduction.v 1 Scope.1 2 Normative references.1 3 Terms and definitions.1 4 Technical requirements.2 4.1 Data set characteristics.2 4.2 Data set definition.2 4.3 Layouts for printing.3 4.4 Data set identification.3 Annex A (informative)
Default layouts and image files.24 Annex B (informative)
Flesh tone data set.28 Bibliography.29
vIntroduction The existing characterization data set defined in ISO 12642-1 has proven very effective for use in characterizing various printing processes. Two concerns have been raised with respect to the ISO 12642-1 data set. First, many of those developing characterization data for colour management systems feel that additional data points are needed to provide better sampling of the data space. The second concern comes from the packaging industry which would like to see both more data points in general but also more data at the highlight end of the scale and in particular more 4-colour data with low levels of black. Several drafts of a data set optimized for package printing (referred to as IT8.7/4) have been prepared by ANSI Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS). In addition, the European Colour Initiative (ECI) took an early draft and combined parts of it with the ISO 12642-1 data set and developed a data set known as ECI 2002 that has 1 485 data set elements. ECI 2002 has since been approved as DIN 16614:2004. The data set contained in this part of ISO 12642 adds a series of 4-colour overprints at the 10 % black level to the data set elements in the current ECI 2002 data set. It is believed that this combined data set can fill the general colour characterization needs of all segments of the industry. During development of this part of ISO 12642, concerns were raised by the Japanese delegates concerning adequate representation of flesh tones. While additional flesh tones were not included in the standard data set, a 112-element flesh tone data set has been included in Annex B. It is important to note that there will always be special applications where additional or special data will be needed because of the peculiarities of a process or critical colour needs in certain parts of the tone scale or colour space.
There is no required layout or patch size defined for the data set defined in this part of ISO 12642. Users are free to randomize the layout and/or “fit” it to the space available. However, the members of TC 130/WG 2 strongly believe that default layouts need to be defined so that electronic versions of the target can be made readily available. This will facilitate the use of this new data set by both users and colour management vendors. Accordingly, two default layouts are described in Annex A, i.e. one optimized for visual inspection, and the other randomized with the goal of uniform ink loading in each colour across the target area to minimize interaction between patch areas. In addition, the reference files that are included in this part of ISO 12642 clearly identify the elements that represent the data set defined as ISO 12642-1:1996 (often referred to as IT8.7/3) and the data set defined in ECI 2002. These can both be easily extracted from and/or related to the larger data set where appropriate.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) draws attention to the fact that it is claimed that compliance with this document may involve the use of a patent (Japanese Patent No. 2554366) held by Konica Minolta. ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity and scope of this patent right. The holder of this patent right has assured ISO that he is willing to negotiate licences under reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions with applicants throughout the world. In this respect, the statement of the holder of this patent right is registered with ISO. Information may be obtained from: Mr. Kazuo Kato Industrial Standard Group Intellectual Property Center Konica Minolta Technology Center, Inc. Tel. [phone] Fax [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] SIST ISO 12642-2:2008

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12642-2:2006(E) © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
1Graphic technology — Input data for characterization of 4-colour process printing — Part 2: Expanded data set 1 Scope This part of ISO 12642 defines a data set of ink value combinations that are intended to be used to characterize 4-colour process printing. This data set is not optimized for any printing process or application area but is robust enough for all general applications. The needs of publication, commercial, and package printing with offset, gravure, flexography, and other printing processes have been considered. While it is primarily aimed at process colour printing with CMYK inks, it can also be used with any combination of three chromatic coloured inks and a dark ink. It is an alternate to the ISO 12642-1 data set where more robust data is required. 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 referenced document (including any amendments) applies. ISO 12642-1:1996, Graphic technology — Input data for characterization of 4-colour process printing — Part 1: Initial data set 3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply. 3.1 data set total collection of independently identified ink value sets that are defined by this part of ISO 12642 NOTE The terms patch and target are deliberately avoided because they imply a physical object or layout. This part of ISO 12642 only defines the data values which the user is free to arrange in any target layout that meets their needs using patches of any size compatible with their measuring equipment. 3.2 ink values digital value that represents the amount of a colourant required in a rendering process NOTE For the half-tone printing process this is equivalent to the tone value/dot area of the half-tone film expressed as a percentage. 3.3 ink value set set of four ink values representing the amount of the four colours to be used in a process colour area SIST ISO 12642-2:2008

% and the black single-colour data sets with tone values of 10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, 80 % and 100
%. In addition, there are two additional data set combinations assigned to paper to allow some flexibility in that area, particularly when the printing substrate is not traditional paper. This results in a total of 1 617 combinations. Table 1 — Required groups of ink value sets Group Description 1 All combinations of 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 55 %, 70 %, 85 %, 100
% in C, M and Y 2 All combinations of
0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 % in C, M and Y with 10 % black All single-colour and 2-colour overprints at 100 % in C, M and Y with 10 % black 3 All combinations of 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 %, 100 % in C, M and Y with 20 % black 4 All combinations of 0 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 %, 100 % in C, M and Y with 40 % black 5 All combinations of 0 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 %, 100 % in C, M and Y with 60 % blac
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12642-2
First edition
2006-12-15
Corrected version
2007-08-15
Graphic technology — Input data for
characterization of 4-colour process
printing —
Part 2:
Expanded data set
Technologie graphique — Données d'entrée pour caractérisation
d'impression en quadrichromie —
Partie 2: Ensemble de données élargies

Reference number
©
ISO 2006
PDF disclaimer
PDF files may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, such files may be printed or viewed but shall
not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading a PDF file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create the PDF file(s) constituting this document can be found in the General Info relative to
the file(s); the PDF-creation parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the files are suitable for
use by ISO member bodies. In the unlikely event that a problem relating to them is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the
address given below.
This CD-ROM contains:
1) the publication ISO 12642-2:2006 in portable document format (PDF), which can be viewed using
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader;
2) 12642-2_summary.csv, which lists the sample ID numbers and their associated CMYK ink values
that constitute this characterization data set;
3) 12642-1_vs_12642-2.csv, which tabulates the relationship between the ink value sets used in
ISO 12642-1 and those defined in this part of ISO 12642;
4) 12642-2_default.csv, which provides the relationship between row-column position and ID number of
the ink value data set for two default layouts included in Annex A;
5) ISO 12642-2-visual.TIF, ISO 12642-2-visual.PDF, ISO 12642-2-random.TIF and
ISO 12642-2-random.PDF, which are the imageable versions of the default layouts included in
Annex A provided as PDF and low resolution TIF files;
6) Fleshtone.csv, which contains the ink values for the flesh tone data set defined in Annex B.

Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
This corrected version of ISO 12642-2:2006 incorporates corrections to the manner in w
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12642-2
First edition
2006-12-15
Corrected version
2007-08-15
Graphic technology — Input data for
characterization of 4-colour process
printing —
Part 2:
Expanded data set
Technologie graphique — Données d'entrée pour caractérisation
d'impression en quadrichromie —
Partie 2: Ensemble de données élargies

Reference number
©
ISO 2006
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but
shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation
parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In
the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.

©  ISO 2006
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing 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 [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
4 Technical requirements . 2
4.1 Data set characteristics . 2
4.2 Data set definition. 2
4.3 Layouts for printing. 3
4.4 Data set identification. 3
Annex A (informative) Default layouts and image files . 24
Annex B (informative) Flesh tone data set. 28
Bibliography . 29

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.
ISO 12642-2 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 130, Graphic technology.
ISO 12642 consists of the following parts, under the general title Graphic technology — Input data for
characterization of 4-colour process printing:
⎯ Part 1: Initial data set
⎯ Part 2: Expanded data set
This corrected version incorporates corrections to the manner in which the data is designated in 4.4.
iv © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The existing characterization data set defined in ISO 12642-1 has proven very effective for use in
characterizing various printing processes. Two concerns have been raised with respect to the ISO 12642-1
data set. First, many of those developing characterization data for colour management systems feel that
additional data points are needed to provide better sampling of the data space. The second concern comes
from the packaging industry which would like to see both more data points in general but also more data at the
highlight end of the scale and in particular more 4-colour data with low levels of black.
Several drafts of a data set optimized for package printing (referred to as IT8.7/4) have been prepared by
ANSI Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS). In addition, the European Colour
Initiative (ECI) took an early draft and combined parts of it with the ISO 12642-1 data set and developed a
data set known as ECI 2002 that has 1 485 data set elements. ECI 2002 has since been approved as
DIN 16614:2004. The data set contained in this part of ISO 12642 adds a series of 4-colour overprints at the
10 % black level to the data set elements in the current ECI 2002 data set. It is believed that this combined
data set can fill the general colour characterization needs of all segments of the industry.
During development of this part of ISO 12642, concerns were raised by the Japanese delegates concerning
adequate representation of flesh tones. While additional flesh tones were not included in the standard data set,
a 112-element flesh tone data set has been included in Annex B.
It is important to note that there will always be special applications where additional or special data will be
needed because of the peculiarities of a process or critical colour needs in certain parts of the tone scale or
colour space.
There is no required layout or patch size defined for the data set defined in this part of ISO 12642. Users are
free to randomize the layout and/or “fit” it to the space available. However, the members of TC 130/WG 2
strongly believe that default layouts need to be defined so that electronic versions of the target can be made
readily available. This will facilitate the use of this new data set by both users and colour management
vendors. Accordingly, two default layouts are described in Annex A, i.e. one optimized for visual inspection,
and the other randomized with the goal of uniform ink loading in each colour across the target area to
minimize interaction between patch areas.
In addition, the reference files that are included in this part of ISO 12642 clearly identify the elements that
represent the data set defined as ISO 12642-1:1996 (often referred to as IT8.7/3) and the data set defined in
ECI 2002. These can both be easily extracted from and/or related to the larger data set where appropriate.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) draws attention to the fact that it is claimed that
compliance with this document may involve the use of a patent (Japanese Patent No. 2554366) held by
Konica Minolta.
ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity and scope of this patent right.
The holder of this patent right has assured ISO that he is willing to negotiate licences under reasonable and
non-discriminatory terms and conditions with applicants throughout the world. In this respect, the statement of
the holder of this patent right is registered with ISO. Information may be obtained from:
Mr. Kazuo Kato
Industrial Standard Group
Intellectual Property Center
Konica Minolta Technology Center, Inc.
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights other than those identified above. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
vi © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12642-2:2006(E)

Graphic technology — Input data for characterization of
4-colour process printing —
Part 2:
Expanded data set
1 Scope
This part of ISO 12642 defines a data set of ink value combinations that are intended to be used to
characterize 4-colour process printing. This data set is not optimized for any printing process or application
area but is robust enough for all general applications. The needs of publication, commercial, and package
printing with offset, gravure, flexography, and other printing processes have been considered. While it is
primarily aimed at process colour printing with CMYK inks, it can also be used with any combination of three
chromatic coloured inks and a dark ink. It is an alternate to the ISO 12642-1 data set where more robust data
is required.
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 referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 12642-1:1996, Graphic technology — Input data for characterization of 4-colour process printing —
Part 1: Initial data set
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
data set
total collection of independently identified ink value sets that are defined by this part of ISO 12642
NOTE The terms patch and target are deliberately avoided because they imply a physical object or layout. This part
of ISO 12642 only defines the data values which the user is free to arrange in any target layout that meets their needs
using patches of any size compatible with their measuring equipment.
3.2
ink values
digital value that represents the amount of a colourant required in a rendering process
NOTE For the half-tone printing process this is equivalent to the tone value/dot area of the half-tone film expressed
as a percentage.
3.3
ink value set
set of four ink values representing the amount of the four colours to be used in a process colour area
4 Technical requirements
4.1 Data set characteristics
In order to meet the colour characterization needs of both the printing industry in general and the package
printing industry, this data set needs to contain ink value sets that will provide sufficient detail in the highlight
and shadow areas when printed using gravure, offset, flexographic and metal-decorating printing processes.
In addition, this data set should be suitable for use with both traditional process colours as well as with three
chromatic colours and a dark colour.
During the various development steps that led to the target defined in this standard, several groups of ink
value sets (e.g. tone scales, grey balance, etc.) were identified. Those that are contained within the data set of
this part of ISO 12642 are summarized in Table 1.
During evaluation of the requirements for this data set, a number of additional elements were considered. One
group of these elements involved a regular array of flesh tone data. While these flesh tone data were not
selected for inclusion in the defined data set, they were felt to be important enough to be documented as
Annex B.
4.2 Data set definition
The groups of ink value sets of Table 1 have many individual sets of ink values that appear multiple times.
Eliminating all duplicated sets would result in a composite data set of 1 588 ink value combinations. However,
for any layouts that attempt to provide ease of visual inspection it is important to have symmetry within tone
scales and within systematic 3-colour overprint arrays. This requires the presence of 29 duplicate ink value
sets. These are the C, M, and Y single-colour data sets with tone values of 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 70 %,
85 %, and 100 % and the black single-colour data sets with tone values of 10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, 80 %
and 100 %. In addition, there are two additional data set combinations assigned to paper to allow some
flexibility in that area, particularly when the printing substrate is not traditional paper. This results in a total of
1 617 combinations.
Table 1 — Required groups of ink value sets
Group Description
1 All combinations of 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 55 %, 70 %, 85 %, 100 % in C, M and Y
2 All combinations of 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 % in C, M and Y with 10 % black
All single-colour and 2-colour overprints at 100 % in C, M and Y with 10 % black
3 All combinations of 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 %, 100 % in C, M and Y with 20 % black
4 All combinations of 0 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 %, 100 % in C, M and Y with 40 % black
5 All combinations of 0 %, 20 %, 40 %, 70 %, 100 % in C, M and Y with 60 % black
6 All 2-colour overprints at 40 % in C, M and Y with 70 % black
All single colour and 2-colour overprints at 100 % in C, M
...