#52: GRACoL G7 Comments from the field

It has been an interesting couple weeks in the field for me. Color experts at four of the largest printing companies in the world have made almost exactly the same comments about the new GRACoL and SWOP data sets, and G7 methodology. I want to stress that the comments that follow are not mine, but are instead a summary of what I have heard from experts in the field who have to work with the data sets and methodology every day.

Data sets: The data sets are good and we will be using them. The data has clearly been massaged and is not wholly from press sheets, but good nonetheless.

G7 Methodology: The methodology is unnecessary for us. We have had our presses grey balanced for years.

It is good to have confirmation that the running to grey balance as many of us have been doing for years is validated. The G7 methodology is just one way of arriving at good grey balance with a specific set of inks. While it would be wonderful if everyone ran perfect G7 or SWOP ink sets those of us who are honest know this is not the case.

This explains why these very large and successful printers have chosen to achieve pressroom grey balance in their own way, and then run to match the proof created with the data sets mentioned above.

The experts mentioned above also validate that having quality “standard” data sets is critical to being able to print the same job in multiple plants control by multiple owners all over the world. It does not appear, however, to be critical that each vendor use exactly the same process to achieve grey balance on press as long as grey balance has been achieved. (More than one kind of mouse trap can be used, and G7 may or may not be a better mouse trap.)