Certified Proof

How to ensure that the colors in the final print match the design? The answer is a certified proof – a key tool in professional print production.

Proof = assurance of color accuracy

A certified proof (contract proof) is a color mock-up of your print job, produced on a special proofing printer to reproduce as accurately as possible what the future offset print will look like—regardless of technology, printing location, or machine operator. It serves as a shared reference standard between the client and the printing house, which must be achieved in production.

To improve our services for clients, our printing house POINT CZ has acquired a new proofing printer EPSON SureColor SC-P5000 STD Spectro with a built-in spectrophotometer, ensuring top-notch color accuracy and consistency.

New Technology

This technology enables automated printing and measurement according to FOGRA51 (coated paper), FOGRA52 (uncoated paper) and FOGRA45 (LWC paper) standards. This certification guarantees compliance with ISO 12647-7:2016 and confirms final color accuracy within the permitted ΔE00 tolerance.

Each certified proof includes a MediaWedge control strip with color patches and a validation label with measurement results confirming whether the proof meets the standard.
The spectrophotometer—a device that analyzes color accuracy using the light spectrum—enables verification of every proof according to the ISO standard.

Pantone Colors with 99% Accuracy

Certified proofs also support Pantone color simulation using the extended CMYKOGV gamut*.
Each Pantone color is evaluated by its ΔE value, which shows its deviation from the original values. Saturated or fluorescent shades may show slightly higher deviations, but most colors can be simulated with very high fidelity.

*The gamut is the range of colors a printing technology can reproduce. CMYKOGV (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Orange, Green, Violet) is an extended gamut that allows printing more shades than standard CMYK.

Technical Standards and Paper Types

Certified proofs at POINT CZ comply with the ISO 12647-7:2016 international standard, which defines the requirements for color proofs used for visual and measurable comparison with the final production. It includes:

• Tolerances for color deviations (e.g. ΔE)
• Requirements for print homogeneity and stability
• Definition of the control strip (MediaWedge)
• Lighting conditions for evaluation (e.g. D50)

Standard versions:

• ISO 12647-7:2007 – older version based on ΔE76
• ISO 12647-7:2016 – current version with stricter tolerances using ΔE00

FOGRA, the German Graphic Technology Research Association, publishes characterization datasets defining target values for different paper types. These datasets are the basis for ICC profiles, which ensure color accuracy in proofs and in the actual printing process.

We use ICC profiles according to paper type:

• FOGRA51: coated white paper – profile PSOcoated_v3.icc
• FOGRA52: uncoated paper – profile PSOuncoated_v3.icc
• FOGRA45: lightweight coated paper (LWC) – profile PSO_LWC_Improved.icc

Choosing the correct profile according to paper type is crucial to ensuring color accuracy in offset printing.

Price List – Certified Proof

A5 – 260 CZK (excl. VAT), A4 – 360 CZK, A3 – 560 CZK, A2 – 860 CZK. Price includes: validation label, measurement report, and Pantone color simulation. Discount: 10% for orders of more than 3 pcs.

Who Is It For?

A certified proof is ideal for graphic studios, advertising agencies, packaging print buyers, catalogue producers, and anyone who wants to achieve maximum color accuracy between the digital preview and the final offset print.
It is useful both in prepress preparation and in the production of packaging and corporate materials in offset printing.

POINT CZ = Your Color Confidence

Our printing house POINT CZ guarantees quality not only in offset and digital printing, but now also in professional proofing, split delivery, consulting, and other services.

Need advice on proofing? Get in touch with us.