ISO Universal Characterization Dataset (UCD) Work Advances to Global Print Testing
by Jordan Gorski, Vice President, Global Standards and Certifications Aug 19, 2025

PRINTING United Alliance, along with other global members of the ISO Technical Committee (TC) 130 are proud to support the development of a Universal Characterization Dataset (UCD). The team driving testing has shared an announcement as testing progresses for this universal dataset. 

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Today, August 18th, 2025, the ISO TC 130 Working Group 3 is pleased to announce the start of a “World-Wide” Beta test relating to the new proposed “Universal Characterization Dataset” that aligns Fogra, Gracol and others into a new World-Wide Color Standard, known as UCD_PremiumCoated_ISO12647_2_2026_Beta_v4.icc. 

To make things easier, we will refer to this Beta Test as “UCD_v4.” This Beta test is to be performed in all regions around the world and output sheets will be sent to regional locations for gathering, then viewed at the next ISO meeting in Hong Kong in November. If all goes well the document will be sent for final publishing and we are aiming at a world-wide adoption and publication at the spring meeting in Paris 2026.

Please log into the following link www.color.org/ucd4test.xalter, to download the profile, text file and “How To” to perform the printing on your Offset or Digital solution. Thanks to many ISO experts from around the world who helped not only get “Near Neutral” (G7®) into the new updated ISO 12647-2 document but also have the foresight to deliver on a project started by many experts prior to this ISO team. I am very happy to be leading the beta testing and look forward to many print locations around the world testing this new “Universal Characterization Data” and submitting their sheets for review by the ISO TC 130 WG 3 team!

Thank and pass the word on this exciting new Beta Test!

Don Schroeder
Senior Director 
Fujifilm North America Corporation, Business Innovation Division
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Testing is open to all global printers and we welcome participation and testing to ensure the new dataset will support all printers, much like PRINTING United Alliance and Idealliance developed color aims like GRACoL® 2013 have helped support leading PSPs, brands and print buyers, in driving a shared aim, and communication for optimizing print output. 

For questions or for additional information, please contact:

Jordan Gorski
Vice President of Global Standards & Certifications
PRINTING United Alliance
+1 703-837-1096
jgorski@printing.org

GRACoL® and G7® are trademarks of PRINTING United Alliance. 

Color Color
Jordan Gorski Vice President, Global Standards and Certifications (703) 837-1096
Hire This Expert

Jordan Gorski is an Idealliance certified G7 Expert, CMP Master, and BrandQ Expert and supports the global printing and packaging supply chain through his work with Idealliance. He has over 15 years of experience in the industry, starting in pre-media and data-driven marketing and technical service, along with experience as a technical advisor and product manager in the flexographic printing and packaging industry, where he offered his professional expertise to printers, publishers, packaging printers and converters.

Jordan has a degree in Graphic Communications from Clemson University and joined Idealliance in 2017. Since joining Idealliance, Jordan has worked across the association to support training & certification programs, global partners and international affiliates, and serves as the staff liaison for ISO’s Technical Committee 130, Committee for Graphic Arts Technical Standards (CGATS), U.S. Technical Advisory Group (USTAG), the International Color Consortium (ICC) and Idealliance’s Print Properties Committee (PPC), driving global standards and innovation across the supply chain with Idealliance as part of PRINTING United Alliance.

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