What is ISO/TS 23031 about?
ISO/TS 23031 describes procedures for the assessment and validation of the performance of an optical spectrometer intended for use in capturing the spectral reflectance factor or the spectral radiance factor of printed areas comprised of non-fluorescent or fluorescent materials, respectively. While it does not describe the application to transmitting materials directly, many of the procedures can be applied to transmitting systems by backing them with a reflective white backing material.
ISO/TS 23031 does not address spectral measurements appropriate to other specific application needs, such as those used during the production of materials (e.g., printing paper and proofing media), which are well described by ISO standards under the jurisdiction of ISO/TC 6. It does not describe the special requirements for testing instruments that make in-process or online colour measurements.
Who is ISO/TS 23031 for?
ISO/TS 23031 on assessment and validation of the performance of spectrocolorimeters and spectrodensitometers is useful for:
- Performance assessor of optical spectrometer
- Manufacturers of spectrodensitometers
- Print buyers and brand owners
- Printing equipment manufacturers and suppliers
- Printing production personnel
Why should you use ISO/TS 23031?
As the optical and electronic technologies improved, the instruments became smaller, more precise, and more affordable. At the same time, the science of metrology matured to the point that the colour-measuring instrument’s performance out-paced the ability of the national testing laboratories to produce and certify standard materials suitable for testing.
ISO/TS 23031 has been prepared to provide the users of portable spectropolarimeter and Spectro densitometers with guidance on the methods for validation of the performance of those instruments. Since calibration is not possible, the use of a series of certified reference materials (CRM) or a series of stable, idealized reference materials is required.
Converting the measured data to colorimetric values (XYZ or L*a*b*) improves the situation slightly, but the dilemma of comparing 3 individual readings from one lab or instrument to 3 individual values from another lab, remains a problem not conveniently described in the standards literature. It is the intent of ISO/TS 23031 to document and describe objective ways of assessing and comparing the performance of a colour-measuring instrument with the ultimate goal of identifying an optimum method for application in the graphic reproduction workflow.
