Gray Balance Control in Offset Printing

with the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

Instructions for Use

September 2017

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2 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Introduction

1 Gray Balance Process Control –

Easy, Practical, Effective
The aim of process control at press side is to quickly achieve the desired
color results. When the more important press parameters, such as stan-
dardized plate production, dot gain, paper and ink have been deter-
mined, then it won’t take very long to balance the inking for the best pos-
sible outcome.

The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip has been developed for printers as an
aid to help balance the press process in the best way possible by utilizing
a standardized proof. That’s why the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip is
based on the same color characterization data that are used in industry
standard ICC profiles (for example, the ECI profiles) and the Ugra/Fogra
CMYK Media Wedge in prepress. ECI offset profiles are based on color
characterization data from Fogra.

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 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Explanation 3

2 The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip

Gray balance patches that allow a quick and convenient visual control are
good aids for accurate inking. That’s why the “ECI/bvdm Gray Control
Strip” relies on this one simple rule: “Chromatic gray (CMY) has to look
exactly like true gray (K)”.

The aim is therefore, to match the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip chromatic
gray patches to the true gray patches by controlled inking. That is, the
technical tone consisting of defined cyan, magenta and yellow (chromatic
gray) values is compared to a tone value that consists of pure black (true
gray). By “balancing out” the colors at the press, two patches that consist
of two different sets of values ideally end up looking the same.

The Human Eye as “Metering Device”

Because the human eye is well suited in comparing colors that are
directly adjacent to each other, and in particular are very sensitive in
detecting color differences within the gray zone, they serve as a “visual
metering device” when using the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip for assess-
ment. By visually controlling the gray balance patches, deviations in ink-
ing can be recognized and corrected in due time press side, before these
have a chance to show up on the printed image. Yet visually controlling
the gray balance in no way replaces a metered evaluation of full tone
color coordinates and the tone value increase or using an automatic color
control that may be on hand.

Why Gray Balance?

Standard process offset printing states that the correct dot gain for each
different printing ink is one of the most important preconditions for bal-
ancing printing and proof. It has also been determined that the difference
between the colors is not to be too great (key word: spread), or a devia-
tion, for instance in the gray balance, may occur.
Usually the dot gain of each single process color is measured to verify this
stipulation. Even before a measurement is made, a color shift (e.g. a red
cast) in the chromatic gray patch when compared to the true gray patch
can be detected by simply inspecting it with the naked eye. Fundamen-
tally, it is very useful to make an assessment based on screened mixed
colors (in this case the chromatic gray patch), since most images consist
of those tertiary colors. Print control elements that contain only screened
primary color values (no mixed colors) are not suitable for this type of ini-
tial evaluation.

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4 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Explanation

“How Gray is Gray?” or “Which Gray Balance is the Right One?”

One approach in defining the most suitable chromatic gray patches
involves establishing exactly those CMY color value combinations from
out of respective color characterization data that match comparable val-
ues of pure black (true gray), and/or that arrive at exactly the same
CIELAB color values when metering the color.

The chromatic gray patches on the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip were
determined using this method. These correspond with the definition for
chromatic gray in compliance with the international press process stan-
dard ISO 12647-2: “A colour having the same a* and b* CIELAB values as
a half-tone tint of similar L* value printed with black ink.”.

true gray 70 true gray 50 true gray 30

chromatic gray 70 chromatic gray 50 chromatic gray 30

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

CMY 70 K 70 CMY 50 K 50 CMY 30 K 30

CIE L* 46,75 46,75 62,72 62,72 76,38 76,38

CIE a* 0,02 0,02 0,31 0,31 0,70 0,70

CIE b* -3,25 -3,25 -4,44 -4,44 -5,30 -5,30

C 64 – 43 – 25 –

M 53 – 33 – 18 –

Y 52 – 32 – 17 –

K – 70 – 50 – 30

Table 1: CIELAB color coordinates and CMYK values of true gray (K) and
chromatic gray patches (CMY) for offset printing on Premium coated
paper (FOGRA51).

Respective characterization data for all printing conditions may be taken

from the CIELAB values for black. Characterization data are determined
by means of test targets (e.g. ECI2002 test table) that were printed on
specific papers under controlled conditions. These data also serve as a
basis for the creation of ICC profiles, which may be applied for data prep-
aration and proofing.

Table 1 illustrates the CIELAB color coordinates and CMYK color values
of the three chromatic gray (CMY 70, CMY 50, CMY 30) and true gray (K
70, K50, K 30) patches for standardized offset printing on coated paper
(characterization data FOGRA51).

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 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Explanation 5

In printing, each chromatic gray and true gray pair look the same to the
human eye and ideally the color measurements show the CIELAB color
values from the characterizations file of the respective printing condition
(here: FOGRA51).

It is also important to make sure that the respective ECI/bvdm Gray Con-
trol Strip is applied according to the type of paper used, since different
CIELAB values of the black patches and different CMY values result
depending on the printing process and printing condition.

Definitions of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip gray patches for offset
printing are each based on the Fogra characterization data for standard-
ized offset printing in compliance with ISO 12647-2. The ECI produces
ICC profiles by means of these characterization data, which can be down-
loaded from the ECI website. They also constitute a part of the Altona
Test Suite Application Kit.

Fogra published new characterization data sets in June 2009: FOGRA45

for heatset web offset printing on improved LWC paper (light weight coat-
ing), FOGRA46 for heatset web offset printing on standard LWC paper
and for offset printing on uncoated white paper (FOGRA47). In January
2012 another characterization data set for web offset printing on INP
paper (improved news print) was added (FOGRA48). In addition, the
package “ECI_bvdm_Gray_Control_Strip_2012” includes Gray Control
Strips for newspaper printing (ifra26).

In September 2015 Fogra published FOGRA51 („PSO Coated v3“) and

FOGRA52 („PSO Uncoated v3“), the first printing conditions for offset pri-
ning in accordance with the revised international printing standard ISO
12647-2:2013.

Since then, new Gray Control Strips are published as separate down-
loads. The package “ECI_bvdm_Gray_Control_Strip_2012” contains all
previous versions.

A list of current versions and their classification according to paper type

can be seen in Table 2 on page 14.

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6 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Explanation

Is Process Control of Other Printing Parameters Still Necessary?

The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip serves as an “early warning system” or
“quick test”. When a visual balance of true gray and chromatic gray on
the press is impossible to arrive at the conventional way, such as by a
change in the inking, this is an indication that some basic printing pro-
cess parameters need adjustment. As a rule, deviations may be corrected
by changing influencing factors (i.e.: another ink, adjustment of CtP
curves). In order to locate and remedy the fault, it is required to review
the dot gain and full tone color coordinates of the inks and make an
assessment of additional areas (e.g. slur / doubling), which are typically
included in machine control bars. The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip is
therefore not a substitute for printing control elements, but rather a sup-
plement to these.

Gray Balance – An ECI or bvdm Invention?

No! Gray balance is a known issue in the printing industry since decades.
Fogra covered the topic in many studies – the first was issued in the year
1953. In fact in printing the control of the gray balance has been in prac-
tice for many years, for example it is utilized in the “Ugra/Fogra Minitar-
get” (www.ugra.ch and www.fogra.org) and the density-based color con-
trol systems from System Brunner (www.systembrunner.ch). Simple
chromatic gray patches are still in common use in Scandinavian newspa-
pers.

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 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Structure 7

2.1 ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip Versions

The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip is available in three different layouts.

Depending on intended purpose and available space they can either be
applied singularly or in combination.

The Basic “S” Version

The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip “S” version consists of three true gray /
chromatic gray pairs. The true gray patches are arranged in 70%, 50%
and 30% tone values of the black ink. The tone values for cyan, magenta
and yellow in the respective chromatic gray patches were determined
from absolute colorimetric color conversions of CIELAB values (of the
respective black ink value).

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

Illustration 1: The Basic ECI /bvdm Gray Control Strip “S” Version

Two items are to be noted. Firstly, the CIELAB value of the true gray
patches originate from the corresponding characterizations file. Sec-
ondly, when determining the chromatic gray patches the black genera-
tion setting was “none” (without black ink).
The control element is 36 x 8 mm. Each patch is 6 x 6 mm. The identifica-
tion line of the wedge allows you to verify the utilized printing conditions.
In this respect it is recommended to show the Identification line on the
printing forme.

The Expanded Versions “L”, “M” and “M i1”

The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip versions “L” and “M” are based on the
basic “S” version and contain additional patches for the measurement of
other process parameters.
cmy 70 k 70 cmy 50 k 50 cmy 30 k 30 cmy cm cy my 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Version “L”
GrayCon L • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm

ECI/Fogra/bvdm Gray Control Strip (L) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

cmy 70 k 70 cmy 50 k 50 cmy 30 k 30 cmy cm cy my 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100

Version “M”
GrayCon M • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

cmy 70 k 70 cmy 50 k 50 cmy 30 k 30 Stop cmy 70 Paper k 70 my cmy 50 cm k 50 cy cmy 30 cmy k 30 100 20 80 40 60 60 40 80 20 100 100 20 80 40 60 60 40 80 20 100 < Start

Version “M i1”
GrayCon M i1 • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M i1) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

Illustration 2: Expanded versions “L” and “M” with their density values
above each patch, identification lines below and an abbreviated version
on the left side of the wedge.

Layout “L”
The “L” layout is 291 mm wide and has a height of 10 mm, whereas each
patch (with exception of the last patch) is 5.5 mm wide. When necessary,
patch density values and the identification line below may be cut off so
that its height may be reduced to 6 mm.

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8 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Structure

This layout consists of 51 control patches in all, which may be grouped as

follows:

Solid color overprint patches (trapping patches)

Paper-white Start patch
cmy 70 k 70 cmy 50 k 50 cmy 30 k 30 cmy cm cy my 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
GrayCon L • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm

ECI/Fogra/bvdm Gray Control Strip (L) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

End patch
Gray balance patches Halftone step wedges with primary color solid-tone patches

Illustration 3: ECI /bvdm Gray Control Strip patches divided into groups

– Start and end patch, required for positioning hand-held scanning

devices in front of the first measurable patch and for their phase out
after the last patch.

– Paper-white patch used as a reference value for densitometers and to

determine the paper color coordinate.

– Three gray balance patch pairs, consisting each of one chromatic gray
and one true gray patch for visual gray balance control. The true gray
patches are laid out in the tone values of 70%, 50% and 30%. The chro-
matic gray patches are created from out of the primary colors cyan,
magenta and yellow so that each printing condition indicated in the ECI/
bvdm Gray Control Strip identification line can ideally be visually
matched to the true gray patches.

– Solid color overprint patches (trapping patches), for the visual and
technical evaluation of secondary colors (M + Y, C + Y, C + M), also for
the tertiary color black (C + M + Y). This allows the detection of ink trap-
ping problems.

– Halftone step wedges in the four primary colors: black, yellow,

magenta and cyan. Each halftone step wedge contains the tone values
from 10% to 100% in 10% increments. It serves for the visual (by way of
inking standards) and technical control of solid color inking and to
determine characteristic curves of printing.

Since it is often very hard to distinguish between neighboring control

patches, small white or solid-tone guide lines that border each patch and
that have no affect on the automatic measurement of scanning devices
were added to aid the positioning of the sensing head.

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 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Structure 9

Printing Conditions
The identification line below the patches contains the name of the control
wedge and the layout version (L). Following that are the printing condi-
tions, a reference to the respective characterization file standard and the
gray condition in compliance with ISO 12647-2. The Internet addresses of
the project partners are also listed including those addresses where the
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip may be downloaded. Because the large ver-
sion may be shortened to save space you will find at the left of the end
patch another three short lines with the abbreviated names and the ref-
erence name of the layout version, the wedge version (“v1”) and the char-
acterization file name This information allows the easy identification of
each wedge.

Layout “M”
Layout “M” at a width of 197.5 mm is the abbreviated version of Layout
“L”. This version should only be applied when there is not enough avail-
able space on the paper format for the application of version “L”. This
can be the case for instance when short grain pages are to be processed
in A4 format.
Of course the 10 mm height of layout “M” may also be reduced to 6 mm
by cutting off the patch density values on the top and the identification
line underneath. The width of each control patch is 6 mm. Layout “M”
also differs from Layout “L” only by the number of the primary color half-
tone steps, where instead of 10% increments, 20% increments from 20%
to 100% tone values have been indicated.

Layout “M i1”
Between the patches marked “Start” and ”Stop“ the layout “M i1” con-
tains patches for the fast measurement of CIELAB values and tone value
increase curves with scanning devices. Six gray balance patches for the
visual assessment have been added to the lower end of the control strip.
cmy 70 k 70 cmy 50 k 50 cmy 30 k 30 Stop cmy 70 Paper k 70 my cmy 50 cm k 50 cy cmy 30 cmy k 30 100 20 80 40 60 60 40 80 20 100 100 20 80 40 60 60 40 80 20 100 < Start
GrayCon M i1 • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M i1) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

Illustration 4: “ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M i1)”

Layout “tvi 10”

The purpose of this control strip is the assessment of production prints
with regard to the specifications defined by the standard ISO 12647-2.
For that reason the strip contains solid-tone and overprint patches as
well as halftone steps in 10% increments. The “ECI/bvdm tvi 10” can be
used for all printing conditions as it does not contain graybalance
patches. The color sequence of the control patches is optimized for fast
measurments with scanning devices.
Stop cmy cy cm my Paper 100 10 90 20 80 30 70 40 60 50 50 60 40 70 30 80 20 90 10 100 100 10 90 20 80 30 70 40 60 50 50 60 40 70 30 80 20 90 10 100 Start
tvi 10 • v2
ECI/bvdm

ECI/bvdm tvi 10 (i1) • 6 mm • Control strip with tone values in 10 percent steps for print process control in accordance with ISO 12647 • www.bvdm.org • www.eci.org

Illustration 5: “ECI/bvdm tvi 10”

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10 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Application

Important Note Regarding Measurement with Scanning Devices

The space for control strips on printing sheets is very limited. For that
reason the control patches of the layouts “M i1” and “tvi 10” are smaller
than specified by the manufacturer X-Rite for the manual measurement
in scan mode using the ruler. Devices marked “Rev A” at the bottom side
are not suited for the measurement of these strips in scan mode. Using
i1Pro devices marked “Rev B”, “C” or “D”, in some cases errors in scan
mode measurements may occure – in particular on uncoated paper types
with an uneven surface or coarse screening. All revisions (Rev A-D) will
work properly if mounted on the iO scanning table. In order to achieve
reliable measurement results it is recommended to measure the same
control strip in the modes “strip” and “patch” and to compare the two
results. In the case of significant differences choose the reliable “patch”
mode and do not use the ruler.

3 Implementation of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control

Strip

Which ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip Version Should I Use?

In order to make the right selection for the correct wedge to use, you have
to consider the printing conditions (see also Table 2 on page 14). Aside
from this, there are three different layout versions available per printing
condition. This allows you to choose the most suitable version according
to the amount of space available.

Example: A matt-coated paper (paper type 2) is intended for the final

printed product. The matching Fogra characterization data is identified
as FOGRA51. If there is enough room available on the paper, the “L” or
“M” expanded version should be utilized. This will allow a visual check of
the gray patches as well as a technical measurement of the characteristic
printing curves. In this case use the “ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA51.pdf”
wedge. If there is only very little available space, the basic “S” version
identified as “ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA51.pdf” should be used. The basic
“S” version is key for the visual control of a press run.

How is the ECI /bvdm Gray Control Strip Positioned?

All the different versions of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip are available
as PDF files. Choose the version that best suits the printing conditions and
position the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip for instance in your imposition
program as a supplement to your usual control aids. In work environ-
ments that do not allow PDF files, the EPS version of the wedge, for exam-
ple “ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA51.eps”, may be applied. Make sure that the
printing condition in the identification line that this wedge represents is
still discernable.

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ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Application 11

Illustration 6: Placement of the “S”, “L” and “tvi 10”version on sheets with
must be positioned between the pages at right angles to the gripper edge;

Under some circumstances the analysis of the wedge may be distorted on

wedges positioned parallel to the gripper edge would distort the dot gain
The two expanded versions “M” and “L” as well as the “ECI/bvdm tvi 10”

001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 ym yc mc ymc 03 k 03 ymc 05 k 05 ymc 07 k 07 ymc 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 ym yc mc ymc 03 k 03 ymc 05 k 05 ymc 07 k 07 ymc
3v • L noCyarG

3v • L noCyarG

Illustration 7: Placement of the “S” and “M” version on sheets with short
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The basic version “S” should be at right angles to the printing direction,

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ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3
account of atypical inking behavior when it is placed at the edge of the
for example placed below the color bar you normally use. A repeated

calculation of unavoidable inking deviations between the ink zones.

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

long cut-off pages. The red X marks unsuitable positioning.

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cut-off pages. The red X marks unsuitable positioning.

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

ECI/bvdm
GrayCon M • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm
GrayCon M • v3
FOGRA51
100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 my cy cm cmy k 30 cmy 30 k 50 cmy 50 k 70 cmy 70 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 my cy cm cmy k 30 cmy 30 k 50 cmy 50 k 70 cmy 70
placement enables a color balance assessment.

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

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03 k 03 ymc 05 k 05 ymc 07 k 07 ymc

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

ymc
mc
yc
ym
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

01
02
03
tvi 10

04
05
06
07
08
09
001
01
02
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ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

03
2v • 01 ivt

2v • 01 ivt
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04
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05
06
07
08
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

09
001
01
02
03
04
FOGRA51

05
GrayCon M • v3
ECI/bvdm

06
07

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

cmy 70
08

k 70
09

cmy 50
001

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

01

k 50
02

cmy 30
03

k 30
04

cmy
05
06

cm
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

07

cy
08

my
09

20
001

40
60
M

80
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

100
ECI/bvdm
GrayCon M • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm
GrayCon M • v3
FOGRA51

20
100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 my cy cm cmy k 30 cmy 30 k 50 cmy 50 k 70 cmy 70 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 my cy cm cmy k 30 cmy 30 k 50 cmy 50 k 70 cmy 70

40
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

60
80
100
20
40
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

60
80
100
20
40
60
80
100
L
001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 ym yc mc ymc 03 k 03 ymc 05 k 05 ymc 07 k 07 ymc 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 ym yc mc ymc 03 k 03 ymc 05 k 05 ymc 07 k 07 ymc

3v • L noCyarG

3v • L noCyarG
15 ARGOF

15 ARGOF
mdvb/ICE

mdvb/ICE

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

gro.mdvb.www ,gro.ice.www • )gro.argof.www( txt.15ARGOF ecnerefeR • )1CP( repap detaoc muimerP no tesffO • ’kni kcalb BALEIC‘ noitidnoc ecnalab yarg 2-74621 OSI • 15ARGOF • )L( pirtS lortnoC yarG mdvb/argoF/ICE gro.mdvb.www ,gro.ice.www • )gro.argof.www( txt.15ARGOF ecnerefeR • )1CP( repap detaoc muimerP no tesffO • ’kni kcalb BALEIC‘ noitidnoc ecnalab yarg 2-74621 OSI • 15ARGOF • )L( pirtS lortnoC yarG mdvb/argoF/ICE
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

Bundesverband Druck
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

und Medien e.V.

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

S
paper.

ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (S) • FOGRA51 • v3

S
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip (M) • FOGRA51 • ISO 12647-2 gray balance condition ‘CIELAB black ink’ • Offset on Premium coated paper (PC1) • ISO 12647-2:2013 • Reference FOGRA51.txt (www.fogra.org) • www.eci.org, www.bvdm.org

ECI/bvdm
GrayCon M • v3
FOGRA51

ECI/bvdm
GrayCon M • v3
FOGRA51
001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 ym yc mc ymc 03 k 03 ymc 05 k 05 ymc 07 k 07 ymc 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 001 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 ym yc mc ymc 03 k 03 ymc 05 k 05 ymc 07 k 07 ymc

3v • L noCyarG

3v • L noCyarG
100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 my cy cm cmy k 30 cmy 30 k 50 cmy 50 k 70 cmy 70 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 100 80 60 40 20 my cy cm cmy k 30 cmy 30 k 50 cmy 50 k 70 cmy 70

15 ARGOF

15 ARGOF
mdvb/ICE

mdvb/ICE
gro.mdvb.www ,gro.ice.www • )gro.argof.www( txt.15ARGOF ecnerefeR • )1CP( repap detaoc muimerP no tesffO • ’kni kcalb BALEIC‘ noitidnoc ecnalab yarg 2-74621 OSI • 15ARGOF • )L( pirtS lortnoC yarG mdvb/argoF/ICE gro.mdvb.www ,gro.ice.www • )gro.argof.www( txt.15ARGOF ecnerefeR • )1CP( repap detaoc muimerP no tesffO • ’kni kcalb BALEIC‘ noitidnoc ecnalab yarg 2-74621 OSI • 15ARGOF • )L( pirtS lortnoC yarG mdvb/argoF/ICE
12 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Application

What Can be Done when K-Gray and CMY-Gray Patches do not Match?
In principle, the standardized offset printing process in compliance with
ISO 12647-2 and/or “ProzessStandard Offsetdruck” (bvdm 2001, 2003)
guidelines is to be instituted. Target values and tolerances are itemized in
the “MedienStandard Druck 2004” (download of current version at www.
bvdm.org).

When however the chromatic gray and true gray patches do not corre-
spond, try adjusting the inking and damping control of one or more of the
process colors to arrive at a good match.
Example: a) When the chromatic gray patch has a red cast when com-
pared to the true gray patch, decrease the magenta and yellow inking or
increase cyan.
b) When the chromatic gray patch is too light when compared to the true
gray patch, increase the CMY primary inks or reduce true gray.

It is to be noted that the gray balance patches only illustrate a bias. In

order to find out whether the primary color inking is to be reduced or
increased you must make an additional assessment of other control bars,
for example check the halftone wedge of the “L” or “M” version of the
ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip.

In some circumstances deviations arise that do not allow themselves to be

corrected by adjusting the inking. Let us take for example the following
case: The 50% patch is acceptable, but the 30% is not chromatic. The
characteristic printing curve of the entire tonal gradation is not balanced.
Initially you have to rule out any printing faults (for example slur / dou-
bling, gradual fading, etc,).

Then it is absolutely essential that a characteristic printing curve with a

sufficient increase in tone value is created throughout (for example by
means of the expanded ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip “L” version). A cal-
culated correction of the CtP system may become necessary as a result of
the findings.

It should also be noted that there are a multitude of possible causes for
printing problems, for instance in connection with the materials being
used (paper, ink, blanket, additives, etc.). The bvdm ProzessStandard Off-
setdruck extensively describes possible causes and gives trouble-shooting
instructions. The Altona Test Suite Application Kit documentation
describes pre-tests to determine the most optimal inking and the correct
tone value increase.

Bundesverband Druck
und Medien e.V.
 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Remarks 13

Gray Balance Remarks

It is well known that with process inks in offset printing, inking and
damping fluctuations show up more distinctly in chromatic gray image
areas than in colored image areas. This is why gray balance patches in
color control bars have been instrumental in the indication of printing
process disorders. Gray balance control should be carried out allowing
for the following constraints.

On the one hand it depends on the prevailing printing conditions, for

instance the type of paper or the screening which tone value combination
of primary colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) result in an actual
chromatic gray in the print. Most of the control aids available up until
now (for example the Fogra control strips) have only one single version of
the gray balance scale. In conventional film / plate making, managing a
large number of control strips coordinated to all the different printing
conditions would have been extremely inconvenient and would probably
have presented a potential source of trouble. Still, gray balance devia-
tions in the print run can be well detected with the aforementioned con-
trol aids. By comparing the gray balance patches on the o.k. print and
print run sample, fluctuations can be easily detected despite the inaccu-
racy of chromatic gray balance patches. Today thanks to automated
workflows it is easy to display control aids on full-page films or printing
plates that match the intended printing conditions.

On the other hand, the gray balance is dependant on printing parameters

that are influenced by at least these four factors: the dot gain, the solid
color inking of the primary colors, overprinting and paper color. A gray
balance control alone can therefore not give any information about any
potential cause for errors and in itself does not allow an assessment for
recommendations at the press. Now as ever screened patches of the pri-
mary colors, solid color and solid color overprint patches are required in
color control bars. This also applies to automated control systems that
function according to the gray balance control principle.

The gray balance of the o.k. sheet are reference for the process control of
the entire print run – even if the respective chromatic gray patches are
not perfectly neutral.

A color cast in the chromatic gray patches of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control
Strip not neccessarily indicates the same color cast in gray tones of
images. In particular dark image areas contain a significant amount of
black ink. This minimizes the color cast caused by the chromatic inks
cyan, magenta and yellow.

Bundesverband Druck
und Medien e.V.
14 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Versions

4 The Different ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip

Versions
ECI and bvdm offer free versions of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip for
the most important offset standard printing conditions. These are labeled
by name (file name, identification).

Printing condition Characterization data Profile file name ECI/bvdm Gray Con Strip

Offset, Paper type 1 (Printing substrate 1) FOGRA51 PSOcoated_v3.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA51

Premium coated paper ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA51
Tone value increase curve 2013-A (CMYK) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA51
new 2015 ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA51

Offset, Paper type 5 (Printing Substrate 5) FOGRA52 PSOuncoated_v3_FOGRA52. ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA52

Woodfree-uncoated paper, white icc ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA52
Tone value increase curve 2013-C (CMYK) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA52
new 2015 ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA52

Offset, SC-B paper FOGRA54 PSOsc-b_paper_v3_ ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA54

Super calendered paper (SC-B) FOGRA54.icc ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA54
Tone value increase curve 2013-B (CMYK) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA54
new 2017 ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA54

Offset, Paper type 1+2 FOGRA39 ISOcoated_v2_eci.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA39

Gloss and matt coated paper ISOcoated_v2_300_eci.icc ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA39
Tone value increase curves A (CMY) and B (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA39
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA39

Offset, Paper type 3 FOGRA45 PSO_LWC_Improved_eci.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA45

Improved LWC paper (Light Weight Coated) ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA45
Tone value increase curves B (CMY) and C (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA45
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA45

Offset, Paper type 3 FOGRA46 PSO_LWC_Standard_eci.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA46

Standard LWC paper (Light Weight Coated) ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA46
Tone value increase curves B (CMY) and C (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA46
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA46

Offset, Paper type 4 FOGRA47 PSO_Uncoated_ISO12647_ ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA47

Uncoated paper, white eci.icc ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA47
Tone value increase curves C (CMY) and D (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA47
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA47

Offset, Paper type 5 FOGRA30 ISOuncoatedyellowish.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA30

Uncoated paper, yellowish ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA30
Tone value increase curves C (CMY) and D (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA30
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA30

Offset, SC paper FOGRA40 SC_paper_eci.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA40

Super calendered paper ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA40
Tone value increase curves B (CMY) and C (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA40
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA40

Offset, MFC paper FOGRA41 PSO_MFC_Paper_eci.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA41

Machine finished coating paper ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA41
Tone value increase curves B (CMY) and C (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA41
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA41

Bundesverband Druck
und Medien e.V.
 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Versions 15

Printing condition Characterization data Profile file name ECI/bvdm Gray Con Strip

Offset, SNP paper FOGRA42 PSO_SNP_Paper_eci.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA42

Standard newsprint paper ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA42
Tone value increase curves C (CMY) and D (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA42
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA42

Offset, Paper type 1+2 FOGRA43 PSO_Coated_NPscreen_ ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA43

Gloss and matt coated paper ISO12647_eci.icc ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA43
Non periodic screening, 20 µm ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA43
Tone value increase curve F (CMYK) ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA43

Offset, Paper type 4 FOGRA44 PSO_Uncoated_NPscreen_ ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA44

Uncoated white paper ISO12647_eci.icc ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA44
Non periodic screening, 30 µm ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA44
Tone value increase curve F (CMYK) ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA44

Offset, INP paper new 2012 FOGRA48 PSO_INP_Paper_eci.icc ECI_GrayConS_FOGRA8

improved newsprint paper ECI_GrayConM_FOGRA48
Tone value increase curves C (CMY) and D (K) ECI_GrayConM_i1_FOGRA48
ECI_GrayConL_FOGRA48

Coldset Offset new 2012 IFRA26 ISOnewspaper26v4.icc ECI_GrayConS_IFRA26

Newsprint paper Table 2: Available versions of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip
ECI_GrayConM_IFRA26
Tone value increase 26% in the midtone (50%) ECI_GrayConM_i1_IFRA26
ECI_GrayConL_IFRA26
Other Printing Conditions
As above listed ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strips cover the most important
standard offset printing conditions these versions should be used.

Upon request ECI will create special versions of the ECI/bvdm Gray Con-
trol Strip for publishers of characterization data and profiles available on
the ECI website.

As an exception the opportunity is available to create your own versions

corresponding to special printing conditions. For this purpose ECI and
bvdm offer InDesign documents free of charge for the four “S”, “M” and
“L”versions of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip. These InDesign docu-
ments along with a manual are located in the folder “Custom” which is a
part of the download package.

Characteristics of the Versions 2 and 3

In version 2 of the ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip, two bugs have been
fixed, which may occure when creating PDF files or when printing docu-
ments containing the previous version of the “GrayCon”: moved other
page content, moved characters in the info text on the control strip, such
as the numbers above the patches.
The ECI, bvdm and Fogra recommend the use of versions 2 and 3 in order
to avoid these problems.

Version 3 marks Gray Control Strips for printing conditions as stipulated

in the international printing standard ISO 12647-2:2013. These Gray
Control Strips have the same version number as the new ECI Profiles
(„Coated v3“, „Uncoated v3“, etc.).

Bundesverband Druck
und Medien e.V.
16 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Imprint

The changes in the versions 2 and 3 have no impact on the measurement

of the control strips as neither the layout nor the color values have been
changed. The version is indicated by “v2” or “v3” in the file name and on
the control strip.

5 Imprint
Publisher:
European Color Initiative (ECI)
c/o Olaf Drümmer
callas software gmbh
Schönhauser Allee 6/7
10119 Berlin, Germany
www.eci.org

German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm)

Bundesverband Druck
Friedrichstraße 194–199
und Medien e.V.
10117 Berlin, Germany
www.bvdm.org

© 2005 - 2017 ECI and bvdm

The ECI/bvdm Gray Control Strip and the ECI/bvdm tvi 10, ECI/bvdm Con-
trol Strip in the following, are freeware and are available at the publish-
er’s Internet addresses shown above for download. You may use the ECI/
bvdm Control Strip at your own discretion for as long as you want, on as
many computer workstations as you need and in whichever country you
wish. However it is not permitted to distribute the ECI/bvdm Control
Strip, to change or modify it, in whole or in part, without written permis-
sion from European Color Initiative (ECI) or the Bundesverband Druck
und Medien (bvdm). You may use the ECI/bvdm Control Strip at your own
risk. The publisher is not to be held liable for any errors or resulting dam-
ages that may arise, during or after ECI/bvdm Control Strip use. We do
not provide support and services. If you should require help in using the
wedge, we recommend seeking advice from relevant Internet fora, such
as the ECI mailing list (see www.eci.org).

Bundesverband Druck
und Medien e.V.
 ECI / bvdm Gray Control Strip • Contributors 17

6 Contributors
The following persons have cooperated in the development of the
ECI/bvdm Control Strip:
Michael Adloff (Theissen Medien Gruppe GmbH, Monheim am Rhein)
Harry Belz (bvdm, Berlin) Dr. Günter Bestmann (Heidelberger Druck­
maschinen AG, Kiel) Wolfgang Brügelmann (Druckzentrum Köln West
Druckerei Peipers GmbH, Köln) Sascha Bugai (Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Ham­
burg) Dieter Dolezal (Hirte Medien-Service GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburg)
Olaf Drümmer (callas software GmbH, Berlin) Axel Faber (atlantis media
GmbH, Hamburg) Bernd-Olaf Fiebrandt (Verband Druck und Medien in
Baden-Württemberg e.V., Ostfildern) Kurt Fuchsenthaler (Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg) Dr. Johannes Hoffstadt (GMG GmbH &
Co. KG, Tübingen) Jan-Peter Homann (homann colormanagement, Berlin)
Andreas Kraushaar (Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft Druck, München)
Steffen Kujus (REWE-ZENTRAL AG, Köln) Karl Michael Meinecke (bvdm,
Berlin) Roland von Oeynhausen (Otterbach Medien KG, Rastatt) Prof.
Ronald Schaul (Hochschule der Medien, Stuttgart) Ulrich Schmitt (Fogra
Forschungsgesellschaft Druck, München) Prof. Florian Süßl (Beuth Uni­
versity of Applied Sciences, Berlin)

Bundesverband Druck
und Medien e.V.