As of April 9, 2008, Wentworth Printing now rips, proofs, plates and prints to Gracol standards. Our goal is to become Gracol Certified by April 1, 2009. Meanwhile Wentworth will continue to optimize and develop our internal systems to meet the Gracol standard.
Prior to 2000, when printers used film, proofs were standardized to a SWOP industry standard. After 2000 when the industry went computer-to-plate (CTP), printers relied on the pressroom to provide a “good” press sheet and prepress worked to match the press sheet. Each press, plant-to-plant varied the color of this “good” sheet. Now, with Gracol, printers can return to a solid industry standard made specifically for commercial offset printing. Now, press to press, plant to plant, customers can expect the color to remain consistent.
Many of you know about “SWOP” which stands for “Specifications for Web Offset Publications”. SWOP was initiated in 1975 as a response to the printing industry’s need for uniform specifications.
GRACoL stands for “General Requirements for Applications in Commercial Offset Lithography”. GRACoL began in 1996 and published it’s first standard in 2002. GRACoL was formed to improve graphic arts by reporting the influence and impact of new technologies on commercial offset lithography. The emphasis on Commercial Offset not Web. Basically it sets a new color standard for commercial offset printers. You may hear the term “G7″. G7 refers to the “proof-to-print” process used to hit the GRACoL targets. The process is all about printing good neutral greys from 1% to 99%.
What does Gracol color look like?
The new color is richer and more colorful. It actually has more dot gain in the midtones (like film) to provide full color. The highlights and shadows still show good details since we are CTP and can hold a 1% and 99% dot. Each color (CMYK) has it’s own special curve to produce ideal neutral greys. Our proofs look very close to proofs from our sister plants within CGX that have adopted the Gracol standard.
