The newly titled Colour Quality Management Certification Scheme was launched at an event at the St Bride Foundation in London earlier this week.
It has been simplified to enable more companies to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in colour management.
The improved scheme is a result of feedback from all interested parties since the first publishing of the ISO 12647 Colour Management Certification Scheme in 2010.
It now takes in ISO 9001 and adds requirements specific to pre-press and printing processes, as well as the colour values and tolerances defined in the ISO 12647 series of standards, or any other accepted standards.
As a result, the BPIF said the certified scheme can now be applied to any printing production method and process, including outsourced printing, pre-press and proofing.
The scheme now comprises two levels – Professional and Elite – which are intended to provide a stepping stone approach to achieving full certification. Both levels are regulated and audited by UKAS accredited certified auditors and, according to the BPIF, are the only colour management schemes to be so.
Professional certification is only open to printers, and is designed to demonstrate the capability of the printer to comply with a defined standard.
Attaining this level demonstrates that a company has met the minimum requirements of the scheme and that they are capable of printing in compliance with the relevant standard.
Elite certification is open to any organisation providing print services, including printers, print managers, design agencies and repro houses.
It is designed to demonstrate the capability of the organisation to comply with a defined standard in order to achieve consistent quality in production, and to achieve continual improvement.
Speaking at the launch event, BPIF chief executive Charles Jarrold said: “The need for a colour standard is greater than ever and I think that need is driven even further by the fact that, within our industry now, it’s a very exciting time – there are more processes that are involved, whether it’s digital, offset, gravure or flexo.
“The requirements that brands have is also greater now, and the role that print has in engaging with clients is fairly strong, so getting colour consistency across different products and substrates is more important than ever.”
BPIF specialist services director Chris Selby added: “The independence of the BPIF scheme and the UKAS accreditation of certification are the key factors in why this scheme is the scheme of choice for all serious colour critical organisations.
“We have put in place a full support package to help organisations manage their colour better from a simple Colour Gap Analysis, which defines the current standing of an organisation with regards to their colour management, through to comprehensive bespoke packages of support designed to enable an organisation to achieve full ISO 12647 certification.”
For more information on the scheme, contact: chris.selby@bpif.org.uk.
