Overview
ISO/TS 23031:2020 - Graphic technology - provides guidance for the assessment and validation of spectrocolorimeters and spectrodensitometers used to capture the spectral reflectance factor (reflective samples) or spectral radiance factor (radiant/fluorescent samples). It describes procedures for evaluating instrument performance (repeatability, reproducibility, accuracy) using series of reference materials. The specification applies primarily to portable, biconical 45°:0°‑type instruments and does not cover in‑process/online colour measurement systems or specialized production measurements governed by ISO/TC 6.
Key Topics
- Instrument characterization methods
- Repeatability: procedures for short‑term measurement consistency.
- Reproducibility: temporal and inter‑instrument reproducibility tests and data analysis.
- Accuracy: approaches for assessing how closely instrument results match expected spectral/colorimetric values.
- Reference materials and CRMs
- Use of stable, idealized reference sets (typically 10–20 physical standards) to sample visible spectrum across high/low reflectance and sharp spectral transitions.
- Guidance for comparing to manufacturer specifications, between identical models, and between different models.
- Measurement considerations
- Handling fluorescent vs non‑fluorescent materials and spectral influx quality (M0, M1, M2, M3).
- Recognition of geometric and optical differences (biconical sampling, small apertures) that affect traceability and inter‑instrument agreement.
- Reporting
- Recommended reporting of conformance to factory specs, inter‑instrument and inter‑model agreement, repeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy assessments.
Applications
ISO/TS 23031:2020 is practical for:
- Print and graphic arts quality assurance - validating color measurement tools used in proofing and final printing.
- Color laboratories and quality control teams - establishing acceptance criteria for portable spectrocolorimeters and spectrodensitometers.
- Instrument manufacturers and distributors - providing test methods to demonstrate compliance with declared performance.
- Procurement and calibration services - comparing instruments and selecting appropriate reference materials for routine validation.
The document helps users determine whether instruments meet manufacturer claims, how instruments compare on real printed materials, and which validation protocols suit their workflow.
Related Standards
- ISO 2469 - instrument design for paper reflectance measurement (reference geometry).
- ISO 15790 - guidance for certified reference materials (optical density).
- Standards developed under ISO/TC 130 (Graphic technology) and ISO/TC 6 for production media and material‑specific measurements.
Keywords: ISO/TS 23031:2020, spectrocolorimeters, spectrodensitometers, assessment, validation, spectral reflectance, graphic technology, reference materials, repeatability, reproducibility, accuracy.