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Altona Test Suite – Application Kit: Valuable Instrument for Standard Process Control and Workflow Test

Altona Test Suite Application Kit is shipped by today. With the Application Kit important new tools and data is provided to the user for standard process control, quality check and and workflow test. The Application Kit contains reference prints, test suite files, characterisation data and ICC profiles according to the latest values of ISO 12647–2 Standard process control (offset).

Altona Test Suite Application Kit is a joint project of German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm) Wiesbaden, European Color Initiative (ECI), EMPA / Ugra St. Gall, Switzerland and FOGRA Graphic Technology Research association Munich, Germany.

The Altona Test Suite Application Kit is produced, published and exclusively distributed by bvdm. The Application Kit consists of of a set of PDF files, specially designed for testing digital output devices – in particular, proofing solutions, conventional and digital printing systems. However its use is not limited to output devices. The purpose of the Altona Test Suite is to check PDF/X-3 compliance and color accuracy for all software and hardware modules used in a composite PDF workflow for print production. Important parts of the Application Kit are numerous reference prints and color specimens (process color solids) which are carefully produced within very small tolerances (a total of 16 variations for offset printing and continuous printing). The Application Kit also includes a CD-ROM with the accurately created Altona Test Suite files, characterisation data and ICC profiles in accordance with the standard printing conditions under ISO 12647–2 [2].

A comprehensive documentation explains the elements of Altona Test Suite Application Kit in detail, instructions for use (according to the terms of use) and all necessary information related to the standardized process control.

The comprehensive Altona Test Suite Application Kit can be used for a variety of purposes: for process control, to check the PDF/X-3 compatibility of workflow systems, to adapt digital proofing systems to the standard process and as color specimen (process color solid). The central focus is on a visual comparison of the reference prints of the Altona Test Suite Application Kit with off-press proofs, on-press proofs and production prints in order to evaluate the color quality of digital proofing systems and the adaptation of production printing to the standard process. The Application Kit is documented in English and German and is available internationally. The Application Kit is the first comprehensive set of reference prints, data files, control wedges and information for systematic process control worldwide.

Altona Test Suite was developed, extensively used and evaluated in 2002 and 2003 at the Digital Proofing Shootouts organized by bvdm and ECI. In May 2003, the Altona Test Suite was the core element at the „digital proofing shootout“ of the IPA in Chicago, and in September 2003 it was used at the „Seybold San Francisco 2003 PDF Workflow Shootout“. Altona Test Suite has gained a fine reputation – also internationally – and is now regarded as a standard test instrument.

The Altona Test Suite Application Kit project of bvdm/ECI/ugra/FOGRA was extremely complex to implement and required extensive preparations. Sponsors and project partners from the supply industry were gained e. g. for papers and printing inks used. There was close technical coordination with these partners during the project. The materials, data and systems used (prepress, printing form production, printing, process control, quality checking) were comprehensively reviewed, optimized and adapted to each other. New and additional systems for process control, measuring and control equipment were developed in the course of the project and used for the first time. Special test forms were developed for quality control in production printing and statistically significant print production control. FOGRA specialized in the subsequent quality control of production printing.

Extensive preliminary tests and harmonisation was carried out from the spring of 2003 onwards. A special challenge was to keep narrow tolerance limits for both tone value increase and solid tone values during the print run of the reference prints. The deviations in the color of individual papers from the paper types according to ISO 12647–2 and the printing inks according to ISO 2846–1 placed further high demands on the practical implementation.

Thanks to all participating experts from ECI, bvdm, FOGRA and ugra and to the experts from the sponsors for their great commitment. The project could not have been successfully completed without the untiring and often unselfish contribution of these experts over many months.

Altona Test Suite – Applikation Kit (with serial number) Art. No. 85230
16 numbered reference prints (size 297 x 420 mm) in 4 envelopes
7 color specimens (process color solid) (size 190 x 260 mm) in 1 envelope
15 Altona Test Suite data files on CD-ROM
6 Characterisation data on CD-ROM
6 ICC Profiles on CD-ROM
Documentation (PDF) on CD-ROM

Documentation 132 pages DIN A4, 4-color-print, english and german

All parts of Applikation Kit in black coverbox 245 x 325 x 25 mm

Regular price: Euro 480,00 plus VAT and shipping costs

Special price*: Euro 240,00 plus VAT and shipping costs

*The special price applies for members of the Printing and Media Industries Associations (vdm) in Germany and for members of ECI, FOGRA and ugra.

Please order via website www.altonatestsuite.com.

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