A Fogra proof is a certified proof that can be matched accurately by good printers that are working to ISO 12647. There are different Fogra standards to match each print process on each of the various paper types as specified in ISO 12647. For further information see www.iso.org.
ISO (International Standards Organisation) 12647 is a set of standards in the print industry that specify the print imaging conditions within the print and proofing processes below. These standards are relevant throughout Europe. See www.iso.org for more details.
ISO 12647-2 : Offset Lithograhic Printing (sheetfed or heatset web offset)
ISO 12647-3 : Coldset Offset Lithographic (newspaper)
ISO 12647-4 : Gravure Printing
ISO 12647-5 : Screen Printing
ISO 12647-6 : Flexographic Printing
ISO 12647-7 : Proofing Processes
ISO 12647-8 : Digital Production Printing
Paper type 1 : Gloss coated paper.
Paper type 2 : Matt coated paper.
Paper type 3 : Gloss light weight coated (LWC).
Paper type 4 : Uncoated white offset.
Paper type 5 : Uncoated yellowish offset.
Only PDF files are accepted and we strongly recommend that you supply PDF/X-1a.
PDF/X-1a is designed to provide the most robust and least flexible delivery of PDF content data. It requires that the colour of all objects be expressed in CMYK or spot colours, all prepared for the print conditions under which the final press-work will be run. Elements in RGB and Lab colour spaces or tagged with ICC profiles are prohibited. It also requires that all fonts used in the job be embedded in the supplied PDF file and disallows the use of transparency and layers (optional content). This format is generally recognised as the defacto standard in the print industry and is the least likely to lead to any surprises when processed by your printer.
Further instructions on creating and working with PDF/X-1a can be found at www.gwg.org and www.ppa.co.uk.
You will be presented with our upload facility at the end of the purchase process. If not, use this link: https://www.mailbigfile.com/colourproofing. If you still have any difficulties you can send your PDFs to info@colourproofing.co.uk. If the files are too large to email use a service such as wetransfer.com
A PayPal account is not required. You can pay through PayPal without opening an account
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To create an account register your details, including credit or debit card with PayPal. As part of this process you decide on a password so you are the only one who can access your PayPal account.
This information is sent to PayPal securely and the data is encrypted; only PayPal can decipher the data. PayPal uses “SSL security” which is the industry standard way to send sensitive information in a highly encrypted form across the Internet. Virtually all on-line stores and banks use this system.
The advantages for the buyer are : Ease of payment via credit or debit card, no fee for buyers. You are protected by PayPal buyer protection.
You should receive your proofs within a day or two. As orders can range from 1 page to many hundreds of pages we can’t specify here a turnaround time, we can just say that your job will be delivered as soon as possible.
Small jobs are turned around in 2 working days, and many jobs are delivered next day.
If timing is critical give us a call on 0845 475 6003 and we can give a better estimate.
We will despatch your order via overnight courier for a pre 1:00pm delivery..
We can print up to 24 inches wide by 100 feet long. We are optimised to produce the standard page sizes with bleed (A6, A5, A4, A3, A2, A1).
All of our proofs are printed on Epson SureColor 7000 printers using Ultrachrome K3 inks via CGS RIP software. Depending on the standard required we use ORIS PearlPROOF™ Super V Neu, ORIS PearlPROOF™ OBA Semimatte 250, ORIS PearlPROOF™ OBA Matte 140 or CGS Newspaper PLUS.
We keep up with all the latest profiles but the most popular are Fogra 39, Fogra 47, Fogra 51, Fogra 52, IFRA26v4, PSR_LWCPlus_V2
You can supply single pages, double page spreads or multiple page documents. We will proof as supplied ie. if you supply spreads we will proof as spreads.
It is common practice for a designer to supply spreads for visual appreciation but the printer will often trim the spreads to single pages and in the case of a large pagination print run, tape the proofs together to match his imposition plan.
An industry standard is what it says on the tin – an industry standard. If your printer says he can’t match the proof you need to question why you are using a printer that can’t work to industry standards.
As long as you have chosen the correct proof for the paper and printing process that you are using any printer that is working to the ISO 12647 standards will be able to achieve a good match to the proof.
Only if they are on your supplied PDF – yes. We only proof what is in the supplied file along with our own info header, the UGRA Fogra V3 strip and certification data.
No. Our proofs are all on Fogra standard ORIS proofing paper that, with the aid of profiles emulates the stock you have chosen. Proofs on the actual stock would require “wet proofing” which is in effect a short print run that is only relevant if printed on the press that your final job will be printed on. Needless to say this is a very very expensive option. If you feel that you need to do this please speak to your printer.
Yes. Spot colours need to be referenced properly by the Pantone name. Our RIP will not recognised names such as pale blue.
Generally no. If you require a ‘job options’ file you should ask your printer for one but if you haven’t chosen a printer yet you should follow the PPA Pass For Press guidelines, available here: https://www.ppa.co.uk/resource/pass4press-download
Yes. Our automatic online pricing adjusts your prices to reflect this. Contact us or fill in the Trade Application on the home page of this website if you wish to discuss further trade discounting.
Yes. We offer all of the usual services that you would expect from a repro house: image manipulation, swatch matching, colour conversion, PDF editing, PDF conversion etc.