Part 2: GRACoL 7 appears to be taking our pressrooms in a direction where TVI will be significantly less importance in monitoring production run stability. Instead GRACoL 7 is based on maintaining gray balance utilizing density and L*a*b* values. Over all, I feel this is the right direction to go and from what I have heard and seen several test press runs have proven this to date. Even GRACoL 7, however, recommends taking a look at CMYK TVI values when the system does not seem to be working as intended. TVI and TVI variation are still incredibly powerful and simple measures of press stability. I have watched real pressroom experts track down loose blankets and other press problems by first taking a look at TVI numbers, then looking for the actual mechanical problems. (NOTE: If you have not read the GRACoL 7 draft quite frankly you must. This methodology will become a barrier to entry very quickly.)
Coming next…Part 3: TVI is not a bad thing.