Technical specifications for preparing files for printing in the Promar Jarocin printing
house
1. Scope of the document
The technical specification is a document which defines the technical requirements and the
manner of preparing graphic materials for printing, the manner of handing over the materials to
Promar Jarocin, the principles of using product mock-ups, and also informs of any possible
risks arising from the specific nature of printing and production of products by Promar. The
technical specification is an inseparable and integral part of the General Contractual Terms
and Conditions.
2. Definitions
1. Colour profile – a set of data that characterises colour according to standards promulgated
by the International Color Consortium (ICC).
2. CMYK – a set of four basic ink colours commonly used in multi-colour printing in printing and
related methods. The set of these colours is also referred to as “process colours” or “triad
colours”. CMYK is also one of the colour spaces in computer graphics work.
3. PMS / HKS – abbreviated names for secondary colour systems.
4. Apla – a uniform, single-coloured plane.
5. Metamerism – the phenomenon of a different perception of the colour of the same colouring
substance (e.g. contained in paint) depending on the type of light in which the colouring
substance is observed.
6. Colour proof – a printout from a digital machine reproducing the target print. The colour
proof is the basic colour standard during printing.
3. File preparation instructions
File formats: Print files should be provided in PDF format. Promar Jarocin’s preferred version
is PDF/X-4, or PDFX 1a (or PDF version 1.4 and above, which allows layers to be saved). The
file should not contain colour profiles (ICC). When flattening the transparency, care should be
taken to ensure that the graphics are not mixed in with the mock-up colours. The file should
not contain printing marks (cut lines, stripes and colour bars). The file should be prepared at a
scale of 1:1, it should not be scaled. Colour scheme: Materials should be prepared and
delivered using the CMYK colour space. In the case of materials prepared with PMS or HKS
colours, the colour number must be accurately indicated, taking into account the type of
substrate (see below). The Pantone patterns used by Promar Jarocin are digitally defined. The
following Pantone templates apply: – for coated substrates: Pantone Formula Guide Solid
Coated – the colours appearing in this template have the letter C added; ISBN 978-1-590655-
56-6 – for uncoated substrates: Pantone Formula Guide Solid Uncoated – the colours
appearing in this template have a U added; ISBN 978-1-590655-57-3
– for coated substrates: HKS K – all colours in this colour chart have the letter K added; – for
uncoated substrates: HKS N – all colours in this colour chart have the letter N added. Printing
of Pantone metallic colours for coated and uncoated substrates is possible from colour
numbers 871-877 and for coated substrates from colour numbers 8003, 8021, 8062, 8100,
8201, 8281, 8321 only. Pantone neon colour printing for coated and uncoated substrates is
possible from colour numbers 801-807. In the event that the Contractor uses the colour black
in the graphic design, Promar Jarocin recommends: – for large graphic elements (apla) to use
black in CMYK graphic space (suggested CMYK composition for deep black is 50/40/35/100);
– for small graphic elements e.g. texts or lines to use black colour only (K 100%); – that greys
and black and white photos should be prepared exclusively from black colour. When greys are
prepared from all CMYK components, they will always take on the shades of the triad colours,
in addition to which the perception of colour will depend on the lighting (metamerism). In the
case of a grey prepared from all CMYK components, the perception on the monitor screen will
always be different from that of the finished product. In the case of digital CMYK printing with
white, the elements to be printed in this colour should be defined as an additional fifth colour
named “WHITE”.
4. Colour patterns
If the client does not specify a different colour pattern, the standard colour patterns are: In the
case of renewals – i.e. orders for a product previously made at Promar Jarocin with reference
by the Client to a previous order number. On the order of the Client, it is possible to make a
certified proof prior to production. If the Client is interested in using a colour pattern other than
those listed above, they will inform the supplier of this when placing the order.
| colours | type of substrate | standard colour pattern |
|---|---|---|
| CMYK | coated | Proof – ISO 12647-6:2020, ISO Coated v2 |
| CMYK | uncoated | Proof – ISO 12647-2:2020 ISO Uncoated v2 |
| Pantone® | coated | Digital library Pantone®+ Coated |
| Pantone® | uncoated | Digital library Pantone®+Uncoated |
| HKS® | coated | HKS K template |
| HKS® | uncoated | HKS N template |
| special spot colours – metallic | coated paper | Pantone Metallics Solid Coated |
| special spot colours – pastel and fluorescent | coated and uncoated paper | Pantone Pastels & Neons Solid Coated & Uncoated |
5. Colour assessment methods
| illuminant | D50 |
| observation angle | 2° |
| geometry | 45°/0° |
| measurement mode | M0: D50, without polarising filter |
| method of calculating colour differences | ΔE00 (CIEDE2000, dE2000) |
For metallic paints, we do not measure with a spectrophotometer. Colour checks are carried out
during printing and additionally shortly afterwards, before the sheets are archived. Colours are
subject to change due to the physical and chemical properties of the paints. Changes can also occur
during print finishing processes. Fluorescent pigments are not very resistant to light and refining
processes, metallic pigments can tarnish. Some paint components change over time – for example,
they yellow. Due to the effect of print finish on colour perception, unfinished sheets are assessed. In
the case of printing on substrates dyed with colours other than black, the printing colour is checked
on the white substrate, then the target substrate is printed.
6. Fonts and minimum sizes possible in print
All fonts used should be embedded in the file or converted to curves. Promar Jarocin recommends
the use of fonts no smaller than 6pt or where the thickness of the element is no less than 0.2pt. The
value quoted relates to printing in black with 100% raster intensity. As the intensity of the raster
decreases, the minimum thickness should increase. Thickness gain recommended by Promar
Jarocin:
– minimum element thickness for 100% raster is 0.2pt (0.07mm)
– minimum element thickness for 75% raster is 0.25pt (0.08mm)
– the minimum element thickness for the 50% raster is 0.35pt (0.12mm)
– the minimum element thickness for the 25% raster is 0.4pt (0.14mm)
7. Bitmap quality
Care should be taken to ensure that the images used have a minimum resolution of 300dpi. Below
this value the printing house will not be responsible for their quality after printing
8. Embossing
– graphic elements must be vector graphics
– it is not possible to make a matrix from raster graphics;
– files should be prepared on a scale of 1:1;
– elements should be closed objects with a uniform filling, they must not contain contours;
– the minimum element thickness is 0.2 mm (= ca 0.6 pt);
– the minimum thickness of the gap (space between two elements) is 0.3 mm (= ca 0.9 pt);
– it is not possible to match the embossing with the print elements;
– the embossing must not be on a UV varnish.
Foil stamping:
– graphic elements must be vector graphics
– it is not possible to make a matrix from raster graphics;
– files should be prepared on a scale of 1:1;
– elements should be closed objects with a uniform filling, they must not contain contours;
– the minimum element thickness is 0.2 mm (= ca 0.6 pt);
– the minimum thickness of the gap (space between two elements) is 0.4 mm (= ca 1 pt);
– it is not possible to match the embossing with the print elements;
– the embossing must not be on a UV varnish. UV varnish:
– minimum element thickness is 0.4 mm (= ca 1 pt);
– the minimum thickness of the gap (space between two elements) is 0.5 mm (= ca 1.4 pt);
– the graphic in the UV varnish files should be 0.1 mm (= ca 0.2 pt) larger than the graphic to
which the varnish is to be applied.
9. Colour compatibility for CMYK printing and spot colours
| Requirements for flexographic printing on uncoated substrates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A: Control of the printing process and | ||||
| A 1.1 | Colour measurement conditions | |||
| Density measurement: Status E, absolute, in accordance with ISO 13655:2009 | ||||
| The measurement geometry is 0/45, in accordance with ISO 13655:2009 | ||||
| The colourimetric standards for the observer are 2°, in accordance with ISO 13655:2009 | ||||
| Reference illumination D50, in accordance with ISO 13655:2009 | ||||
| CIELAB colour space, L*, a*, b* components | ||||
| Formula for calculating colour difference: ΔE2000 Colour space kL*=1 kH*=1, referring to ISO 13655:2009 | ||||
| X-Rite XRGA measurement status: M0, in accordance with ISO 13655:2009 | ||||
| (Substrate white: in relation to ISO 12647-6:2020 (Primer: in relation to ISO 13655:2009) | ||||
| A 1.2 | Conditions for CMYK primary colours | |||
| CMYK values on uncoated print should not exceed ΔE2000 3 white base | ||||
| Cyan | L* 60.00 a* -26.00 b* -43.00 | |||
| Magenta | L* 56.00 a* 61.00 b* -1.00 | |||
| Yellow | L* 89.00 a* -4.00 b* 78.00 | |||
| Black | L* 31.00 a* 1.00 b* 1.00 | |||
| Overprinting according to ISO 12647-6:2020 and Fogra 39/ISO coated v2/ISO Uncoated v2 for uncoated substrates | ||||
| A 1.3 | Print tonal range (TVI) | |||
| 25% check area for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow | 12.8% ± 3% | |||
| 25% check area for Black | 15.5% ± 3% | |||
| 50% check area for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow | 19.6% ± 4% | |||
| 50% check area for Black | 22.3% ± 4% | |||
| 75% check area for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow | 19.5% ± 3% | |||
| 75% check area for Black | 20.5% ± 3% | |||
| TVI range is 1% or less for minimum spot size and 98% or more for maximum spot size | ||||
| A 1.4 | Grey balance | |||
| 25% grey balance | Cyan = 25 | Magenta = 19 | Yellow = 19 | |
| 25% grey balance | Cyan = 50 | Magenta = 40 | Yellow = 40 | |
| 25% grey balance | Cyan = 75 | Magenta = 64 | Yellow = 64 | |
| In accordance with ISO 12647-6:2020 | ||||
| A 1.5 | Solid/additional colour L*a*b*PANTONE | |||
| ΔE2000 | ≤ 3.0 | |||