​ GRACoL G7 ​Certification provides outside credibility from industry experts that we maintain a high standard of excellence and quality.

What is the G7 certification process?

Gracol G7 is a standard formulated by the Idea Alliance to form tighter controls for printing and proofing in the printing industry. The process for completion requires that the printer bring in a G7 certified expert for the entire evaluation process. The expert furnishes targets that are imaged to plate on a linear curve (the 50% dot must read ±1%). The target is printed at standard densities and is read and profiled (minimum of 6 press sheets randomly chosen in a run of 500 after densities are met). A curve is built, the target re-imaged and printed at standard density. Again, 6 random sheets are chosen for certification.

This process is repeated for every class of stock we use. All final sheets and G7 Kodak Matchprint proofs are evaluated and sent to RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) where they are again read and evaluated for success. The evaluation includes the Heidelberg 74 and both web presses. In the past, we only evaluated one web press. This time we did base-lines from both presses to give us better spectral data for building the final press curve.

Why Gracol G7 Certification is Important…

• We are certified by a 3rd party Industry Expert, verifying that we have met the conditions required to be certified. This gives us outside credibility from industry experts that we are excellent printers.
• We can give all of our customers the exact same specifications which we follow.
• This will help us be more efficient in the pressroom, especially during press checks as color will be closer than ever before.
• We have identified and corrected any poor performing press conditions and have verified that our instruments are working properly.
• We can now print 175 line screens on uncoated stock.
• There are commercial print buyers who will only deal with G7 certified printers.

To maintain a Gracol G7 Certification, you must go through the evaluation process on an annual basis.