G7
What does G7 do for me?
G7 assures that the color environment at J-C Press is constantly monitored and managed. The specification is
designed to create consistency across many printing devices so that all your collateral looks the same.
How does G7 work?
G7 specifies an industry standard CIELab value for over 1200 color patches that every G7 printer must be
able to represent on any device that the methodology will apply to. In practice every G7 certified printer will
be recreating color with the same target values no matter which device they are using.
How is G7 different from past color management practices?
In the past printers would produce a chart on press with solid densities as their target. When creating color
proofs the old standard was to create a proof that matched your press conditions. Today we create press
conditions to match the 1200 color patches and to produce optimal gray balance. The proofer is calibrated
in the same manner as the press. So, you have a press and a proofer calibrated to an optimal standard rather
than to each other, which may not be printing optimally at the time of calibration.
Does G7 give better consistency?
Yes it will. When calibrations are done now they are always calibrated to a standard target, this was not the
case in the past. G7 also provides consistency from device to device, so if you are printing pieces using offset
technology and pieces using digital technology they will look very similar. Also, if you are using two different
printers with different capabilities but are both G7 certified your products will look very similar as well.
Does G7 save me money?
Working with a Certified G7 printer will save you money in several ways. The proofing cycle will be dramatically reduced. Many customers are
going away from hard copy proofs completely and relying solely on monitor proofing because they know
their color will be reproduced the same as last time. It will also allow G7 printers to control pricing through
efficiencies gained during production. Faster make readies and less waste allows printers to combat the ever
increasing costs of doing business.
J-C Press is a leader in this new methodology. Being the first certified Master Printer
in Minnesota gives us more experience using the methodology than our competitors.
We have applied the methodology to all printing devices within our organization
so our customers can take full advantage of our industry leading efforts to ensure
accurate, repeatable color.
The science behind G7.
G7™ is a the new IDEAlliance publication that outlines , methods to calibrate proofing systems and presses based on principles of digital imaging, spectrophotometry, and computer-to-plate (CtP) technologies. G7 is currently being applied to many types of printing including commercial and publication printing, newsprint and even flexo. This publication utilizes the existing ISO 12647 Standards as the basis for good printing. G7 specifies printing with inks defined by ISO 2846-1 so that the dry solids measure as close as possible to the ISO CIELab values for seven colors the four primary colors and three 2-color overprints specified in ISO 12647. Because our goal is to simplify calibration help the printers reliably achieve a close “visual match” from proof to press, G7 breaks from tradition by focusing on colorimetric data for gray balance in the mid-tones rather than on densitometric aims, i.e. dot gain, for each color. G7 is named for its gray scale calibration technique and the 7 ISO ink colors it requires. G7 is a trademark of IDEAlliance. Although G7 was developed by the efforts of the GRACoL Committee, it should not be confused with GRACoL or with GRACoL 7.
About J-CPress
J-CPress is a certified G7 printer and is proud to comply to all industry color standards that benefit the printing industry and our customers.
For more information on G7 printer standards, certification and other industry color standards, please visit the website below.
http://www.idealliance.org/industry_resources/branding_media_and_color/g7
