Overview
ISO/TS 19303-1:2020 - Graphic technology: Guidelines for schema writers - Part 1: Packaging printing provides recommended guidelines for evaluating colour reproduction capability in the printing of packaging materials. It is designed as a technical framework to help brand owners, industry associations and certification bodies develop consistent, auditable colour certification schemes and to evaluate printed results against those schemes across a multi‑partner packaging supply chain.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Establishes principles and practices for specifying, communicating and assessing intended colour appearance for packaging across different substrates and printing processes.
- Supply‑chain roles & responsibilities: Identifies the potential impact of each partner (consumer product company, designer, pre‑media, printer/converter) on overall colour control and defines their responsibilities.
- Colour aims and conformity: Describes the use of a Characterized Reference Printing Condition (CRPC) as an aim and the need to evaluate printed output against defined aims and tolerances.
- Measurement & metamerism: Addresses measurement conditions and the special metamerism index, recognizing how illuminant changes affect perceived colour.
- Viewing & sensory assessment: Includes guidance on viewing conditions, illumination and visual conformity assessment procedures.
- Process specifics & annexes: Contains process‑dependent guidance and examples for flexography, gravure, offset and digital packaging specifications (informative annexes).
- Documentation & certification artifacts: Covers certificate types (Certificate of Conformance, Certificate of Analysis), incoming material verification and reporting practices to support conformity assessment.
- Normative references: Links to related standards (for example, ISO 19302 on colour conformity of printing workflows and other ISO TC 130 standards) as the technical basis for aims, tolerances and test methods.
Practical applications - who uses it
- Brand owners and print buyers: To define reproducible colour requirements and commissioning criteria for packaging suppliers.
- Certification bodies and industry associations: To develop or harmonize colour certification schemes and mutual recognition frameworks.
- Printers, converters and pre‑media houses: To implement workflow controls, measurement protocols and reporting practices for colour conformity.
- Designers and comp houses: To prepare files and mock‑ups (comps) aligned with the CRPC and certification aims.
- Auditors, consultants and equipment manufacturers: To verify system qualification, measurement environments and production capability.
Related standards
- ISO 19302 - Graphic technology - Colour conformity of printing workflows (normative reference).
- Other ISO TC 130 standards referenced in the document provide aims, tolerances and test methods that underpin certification schemes.
Keywords: ISO/TS 19303-1:2020, packaging printing, colour reproduction, colour certification, colour management, printing workflows, CMYK, spot colour, metamerism, printing standards.