What is Fogra and what is the Fogra Process Standard Digital (PSD) certification?
Fogra is a highly respected, not-for-profit scientific research institute for the printing and media industries. Located in Germany, it conducts audits that provide an independent quality benchmark, enabling both vendors and print businesses to objectively assess the capabilities of their presses and production processes.
The research house is actively involved in several ISO committees (e.g. ISO TC 130) concerning colour management and printing. Based on ISO standards, the organisation developed a number of certifications that can be achieved by print providers, proofing systems and proof providers.
To be able to award the full Fogra Process Standard Digital (PSD) certification, the organisation carries out an on-site audit of your production process by scrutinising three aspects:
- Output process control – to demonstrate predictable and repeatable print output
- Colour fidelity – to evaluate colour accuracy and true image reproduction
- Colour workflow – to review the creation, pre-flight and processing of documents based on PDF/X data, applied colour management strategies, system knowledge and standardised viewing conditions.
Fogra also offers a PSD (Process Standard Digital) PrintCheck Digital certification, which, based on the ISO/TS 15311 international digital printing standard, confirms that digitally printed output meets the highest levels of colour fidelity, accuracy, uniformity, print resolution, detail sharpness and stability. Printouts are measured and analysed for colour accuracy and consistency in its laboratory, while uniformity and resolution are inspected visually.