Printing United Alliance has introduced G7+, described as a ‘major overhaul’ of the existing G7 press calibration standard.
Described as ‘the next evolution in colour calibration’, G7+ is a new and improved calibration specification that replaces legacy G7 with new logic and algorithms, but delivers similar overall appearance and preserves the value of existing G7 workflows.
. It is designed to address the widest range of printing technologies, including digital inkjet and toner-based processes on a wide range substrates, rather than being offset-based as the existing standard is.
G7+ maintains the features, benefits and general appearance of G7, but with more accurate grey balance, improved tonality and better performance in unusual printing conditions. Specific enhancements and optimisations include: improved grey balance and tonality across a wider range of print systems, including textile, web offset, newsprint and inkjet, while maintaining Gracol visual similarity; smooth, highly saturated colour in high-coverage inkjet printing; the use of Substrate Colorimetric Colour Aims (SCCA) for more precise neutral grey on coloured substrates; and the attainment of accurate ICC profiles and lifelike images on calibrated systems without colour management.
Jordan Gorski, executive director at Idealliance, said, ‘G7 has raised the bar in the world of print and colour output as colorimetry and visual output became the norm rather than simply relying on density for matching colour. G7+ now integrates all modern print technology to be a standard that is applicable to all print, on all media, paper, board, film, signage or textile, for any output condition that will truly provide print buyers and printers the ability to match colour on packaging, publications, signage and wide-format graphics, while maintaining alignment to the standards in place among existing workflows.
‘Much like the Alliance has grown and evolved to provide the industry with a community to gather and collaborate, the G7+ specification now serves all members of our industry for unified optimal colour output regardless of where and how you print.’
G7+ training and certification will also be offered via Printing United. The first opportunity for those interested in learning more about G7+ in person will be during the Printing United Technical Event Series in March 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
