ISO 15397:2014

Overview

ISO 15397:2014 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for the graphic technology industry. This standard defines the key paper properties that should be communicated between the paper manufacturing and printing industries. It covers papers and substrates intended for various commercial and industrial printing processes, including rotogravure, cold-set web offset, heat-set web offset, sheet-fed offset, flexographic printing, and proofing substrates.

By standardizing property communication, ISO 15397:2014 facilitates reliable and consistent print quality, efficient collaboration across the supply chain, and clear specification of substrate requirements for both print buyers and suppliers. Establishing a common language for reporting paper properties helps minimize errors, reduce time-to-market, and enhance overall process control in graphic arts production.

Keywords: ISO 15397, graphic paper properties, printing industry, substrate communication, print quality, paper standards

Key Topics

• Standardized Property Communication: Lists essential paper substrate properties to be specified when purchasing or supplying paper intended for graphic reproduction.

• Applicable Paper Types: Includes papers for rotogravure, web offset (cold-set and heat-set), sheet-fed offset, flexographic printing, and proofing substrates.

• Core Properties to Communicate:

  • Brand name and paper mill
  • Grammage (basis weight)
  • Bulk and thickness (single sheet and pack)
  • Surface roughness/smoothness (Parker Print-Surf, Bendtsen, or Bekk methods)
  • Gloss level (with relevant measurement standards)
  • Opacity
  • Brightness and whiteness (for visual appearance)
  • Colour coordinates (L*, a*, b*) under specified lighting and observer conditions
  • Supported colour gamut for prepress
  • Fluorescence (optical brightening agent effect)
  • Storage, aging, and testing conditions (for proofing substrates)
  • Bending resistance for sheet-fed offset papers

• Measurement Standards: References to other ISO standards for methods and parameters ensure harmonization and compatibility across industries.

Applications

The practical utility of ISO 15397:2014 is extensive for stakeholders in the graphic arts and print production sectors:

• Paper Manufacturers and Suppliers: Use the standard to provide transparent, standardized specifications to printing clients, ensuring that the supplied paper matches end-use requirements.
• Printing Companies: Rely on the communicated properties to set up press parameters, optimize print quality, and maintain consistency across production batches and sites.
• Print Buyers and Publishers: Specify substrate properties with confidence in procurement, reducing risks of miscommunication or unsuitable paper being used for high-value print runs.
• Prepress Technicians and Proofing Providers: Utilize paper property data to simulate accurate print conditions and achieve reliable proof-to-press matches.

ISO 15397:2014 streamlines the workflow from substrate selection to final printed product, reducing variability and supporting quality control, especially in international transactions or multi-site operations.

Related Standards

ISO 15397:2014 references and complements a range of core ISO standards important in the paper and print value chain, including:

• ISO 536 - Determination of grammage
• ISO 534 - Determination of thickness, density, and specific volume
• ISO 8791-2/4, ISO 5627 - Surface roughness and smoothness methods
• ISO 8254 Series, ISO 2813 - Gloss measurement methods
• ISO 2470-1/-2, ISO 11475, ISO 11476 - Brightness and whiteness measurement
• ISO 2471 - Opacity determination
• ISO 5631-2, ISO 13655 - Colour measurement and computation
• ISO 2493-1 - Bending resistance testing
• ISO 12647-7 - Process control for proofing
• ISO 187 - Conditioning and atmosphere for testing

Adhering to ISO 15397:2014 ensures that paper property communication is based on globally recognized, rigorously defined methods-supporting quality, compatibility, and efficiency in the graphic technology sector.