BIS works towards standardisation in printing technology

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, engaged in standardization activity with the objective of harmonious development of Indian Standards by a process of consultation with consumers, manufacturers, technologists, scientists and officials through duly constituted committees. BIS has made a significant and valuable contribution to the orderly growth of the country’s economy. BIS has so far formulated over 19,000 standards in various technology areas, which help the industry in upgrading the quality of their goods and services.

In today’s business environment, it is important to understand the global standards to succeed and survive. For international print buying, global standards are a norm, and soon the domestic print buying market will adapt to the changing scenario, as print buyers would also want their products to be comparable in quality with internationally printed products.

In a step forward towards this, BIS recently took active role in the corresponding technical committee of ISO (International Organization for Standardization), namely, ISO/TC 130 ‘Graphic technology’ and participated in its recent meeting held in Seoul in South Korea. Mr Tarun Chopra, an expert from Colour Dots was nominated by BIS to represente India on this global forum.

ISO/TC 130 looks towards standardization of terminology, test methods and specifications in the field of printing and graphic technology from the original provided to finished products. The scope includes composition; reproduction; printing processes; finishing; suitability of inks, substrates and other materials used in graphic technology.

Standards define the target values and tolerances for any industry. It is the basis for transacting business in terms of expectation and delivery parameters of any product. BIS has published number of Indian Standards in the field of publication and graphic technology.

Sharing his experience from the meeting of ISO/TC 130 Committee, Mr Chopra felt that the meeting offered huge knowledge exposure to all participating countries. As the country looks towards the global market, he feels, India needs to be prepared to meet international standards. “In this context, ISO/TC 130 is a forum where India can contribute towards global standards,” he said. “If the print buyers are aware of these standards, the quality of printed material in the domestic market can be at par with international standards.”

Mr Chopra added that if India adopts these standards, its market penetration would increase manifold. “This will bring big bucks to Indian printers, as we already have the necessary equipment. All we need are knowledge and skill development,” he added.

Importance of standards

Standards are formed based on practical process limitations and scientific understanding. The targets and the tolerances also help align expectations between the seller and the buyer. Adherence to the standards can help a domestic player in the global market as basic standards are followed by each country. It also helps in effective utilisation of equipment and resources. For example, if one follows the standards, one is not forced to print what the buyer thinks correct, but actually print what is correct.

Mr Chopra said a healthy mix of nations in a gathering like the ISO/TC 130 committee meeting, helps ensure that all the standards are practical and usable at a global level, with reasonably well balanced processes for everyone to follow. “Standard formation needs a lot of ground level testing and feedback. Contributing individuals are heard and their experience and understanding can help a lot during development stages of formation of standards,” he said. It is the responsibility of experts in printing and publishing industry to ensure that Indian Standards formulated are conducive to the Indian print environment. He concluded by emphasising that the industry should come forward to participate actively in the development of standards at national as well as international level.

Indian Standards prepared by Publication and Graphic Technology Sectional Committee, MSD 06 of BIS

1. IS 4:1963: Guide for layout of learned periodicals (revised)

2. IS 790:1987: Guidelines for preliminary pages of a book (first revision) (superseding IS 791:1956, IS 792:1964 and IS 794:1956)

3. IS 1250:1958: Proof corrections for printers and authors

4. IS 3050:1965: Code of practice for reinforced binding of library books and periodicals

5. IS 6298:1971: Guide for selection of type and page layout in textbooks

6. IS 6660:1972: Guide for illustrations in books

7. IS 7140:1971: Symbols and notations for correction of illustrations and illustration proofs

8. IS 7160: 2003: Guide for Print Area, Margin and Type Sizes for Text Books. (First Revision of various parts of IS 7160)

9. IS 7400:1974: Guide for preparation and production of textbooks

10. IS 8010(Part 1):1976: Guidelines for preparation of technical reports: Part 1 Research and development reports

11. IS 8010(Part 2):1982: Guidelines for preparation of technical reports: Part 2 Feasibility reports

12. IS 8010(Part 3):1987: Guidelines for preparation of technical reports: Part 3 Industrial potential survey reports

13. IS 9637:1980: Guidelines for presentation of information in technical manuals

14. IS 11956:1987: Guidelines for the preparation of trade catalogues

15. IS 12000(Part 1): 2015: Guide for paper spoilage and wastage for printing   industry: Part 1 Sheet fed, letterpress and offset processes (First Revision of IS 12000 (Part1): 1987 (under print)

16. IS 15306:2003: Printing and publishing - Glossary of terms (will be withdrawn as it is being printed in different parts)

17. IS 15963 (Part 1): 2015: /ISO 12647-1:2013: Graphic Technology – Process Control for the Production of Half-Tone Colour Separations, Proofs and Production Prints Part 1 Parameters and Measurement Methods (IS 15963 (Part 1) : 2012/ISO 12647-1:2004  under print)

18. IS 15963 (Part 2): 2015: /ISO 12647-2:2013: Graphic Technology – Process Control for the Production of Half-Tone Colour Separations, Proofs and Production Prints Part 2 Offset Lithographic Processes (IS 15963 (Part 2) : 2012/ ISO 12647-2: 2004 under print)

19. IS 15963 (Part 3): 2015 /ISO 12647-3:2013: Graphic Technology – Process Control for the Production of Half-Tone Colour Separations, Proofs and Production Prints Part 3 Coldset Offset Lithography on Newsprint (IS 15963 (Part 3): 2012/ ISO 12647-3: 2005 under print)

20. IS 15963 (Part 4): 2015 /ISO 12647-4: 2014: Graphic Technology – Process Control for the Production of Half-Tone Colour Separations, Proofs and Production Prints Part 4 Publication Gravure Printing (IS 15963 (Part 4)/ ISO 12647-4: 2014 under WC)

21. IS 15963 (Part 5): 2012 /ISO 12647-5:2001: Graphic Technology – Process Control for the Production of Half-Tone Colour Separations, Proofs and Production Prints Part 5 Screen Printing (IS 15963 (Part 5)/ ISO 12647-5: 2014 under WC)

22. IS 15963 (Part 6): 2012 /ISO 12647-6:2006: Graphic Technology – Process Control for the Production of Half-Tone Colour Separations, Proofs and Production Prints Part 6 Flexographic Printing (IS 15963 (Part 6): 2012/ ISO 12647-6: 2012 under print)

23. MSD 6 (530) / ISO 12647-7:2007:  Graphic technology - Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof and production prints - Part 7: Proofing processes working directly from digital data (IS 15963 (Part 7) : 2012/ ISO 12647-7: 2013 under print)

24. IS 15963 (Part 8): 2014 / /ISO 12647-8:2012: Graphic technology - Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof and production prints - Part 8: Validation print processes working directly from digital data

25. MSD 6 (417) / ISO 15930-1: 2001: Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange - Use of PDF - Part 1: Complete exchange using CMYK data (PDF/X-1 and PDF/X- (under print)

26. MSD 6 (418) / ISO 28178:2009: Graphic technology - Exchange format for colour and process control data using XML or ASCII text (under print)

27. MSD 6 (415) /ISO 12646: 2008: Graphic technology – Displays for colour proofing - characteristics and viewing conditions (under print)

28. MSD 6 (531)/ ISO 12637-1:2006: Graphic technology - Vocabulary - Part 1: Fundamental terms (under print)

29. MSD 6 (532)/ ISO 12637-2:2008: Graphic technology - Vocabulary - Part 2: Prepress terms (under print)

30. MSD 6 (533)/ ISO 12637-3:2009: Graphic technology - Vocabulary - Part 3: Printing terms (under print)

31. MSD 6 (534)/ ISO 12637-4:2008: Graphic technology - Vocabulary - Part 4: Postpress terms (under print)