After using the Print Standard Verifier tool to check if the printing process of your organization conforms with the Fogra PSO or PSD standard, the verification ends with a series of values that we will now explain.

Below you will see the Fogra PSO/PSD standards with their constraints. Benchmarked values and their ∆E are specifically defined for each standard. Globally, the controller will check the compliance of the printed control strip to the FOGRA39 dataset (coated paper) with rules and tolerances defined in the standard. CalderaRIP makes you print that particular control target while doing the print process check.

Fogra PSO: Offset Simulation

The PSO standard (developed by Fogra and issued by bvdm) is based on ISO 12647-2. It is not a trademarked certification, hence not only Fogra/bvdm but also different organizations, consultants, etc. can provide certification according to PSO.

For details on the Fogra-bvdm certification program, refer directly to the dedicated website.

This offset label is intended to do an informative print evaluation for simulating the behavior of an offset printer. Offset certifications shall always take place on real offset devices.

Fogra PSD

The Fogra certification called Process Standard Digital is based on the project of standard ISO 15311. It relies on 2types: absolute (accurate color rendering) and relative (adaptation to the medium white point, better for gradients). It possesses three quality types: A, B, and C.

	Quality type A. Reference applications are full-page color advertisements, and large-format professional studio photos (fine art). This type is equivalent to ISO 12647-2 when printing on paper 1 or 2 (i.e. using coated stock). Level A can be identified as “stringent” for colour critical applications.
	Quality type B. Reference applications are product advertising, collaterals, and printed products with prestigious character for the areas of culture, fashion, art, or architecture. Level B represents “normal” tolerances for industrial typical printing.
	Quality type C. Reference applications are printed matter of a non-luxury nature, editorial section of periodicals and publications. Level C is identified with “relaxed”.

It should be noted that the quality types “A”, “B” and “C” should not be confused to interpret print products to be “better” or “worse”. They are simply reflecting an identified “reference” implementation that happens to be identifiable by applying the collection of aim values and tolerances.

Fogra PSD Absolute (Side-by-Side)

This standard defines the quality of a digital validation print process and the validation itself. PSD absolute evaluates a print with an absolute rendering. It considers the comparison of colors side-by-side.  It can be used to validate a print or a configuration print where the medium is independent.

Fogra PSD Media Relative

The relative standard is production oriented and adapts itself to the white point, relative rendering. It cannot apply to every case so the gamut has to be checked before. Working in "relative" will allow us to use media with gamuts that are not so far from the targeted one (here is Fogra 39).