Specifications for Print Production

PRINTING United Alliance develops, validates, and publishes technical guidelines and specifications that streamline the print and packaging supply chain. These resources are designed to build efficiencies, remove costs, and drive revenue growth across the industry.

What Are PRINTING United Alliance Specifications?

Specifications are developed collaboratively by industry experts and working groups to address the evolving needs of the graphic communications industry. These guidelines cover various aspects of print production, color management, workflow optimization, and cross-media publishing, ensuring consistency and quality across the supply chain.

Featured Specifications

GRACoL®

A set of guidelines to help print buyers, designers, and specifiers work more effectively with their print suppliers. Access profiles, datasets, test charts, control wedges, and other color tools.

SWOP®: Specifications for Web Offset Publications

A key factor in the success and quality of publication printing, providing standardized guidelines for web offset printing processes.

XCMYK Expanded Gamut

An extended-gamut CMYK printing method that yields a much wider color gamut than traditional 4-color printing, enhancing color vibrancy and accuracy.

PrintWide® Profile

An extremely large-gamut CMYK dataset designed to encompass the gamut of virtually all inks or colorants in known color printing systems, serving as a CMYK translation space and G7-aligned saturation booster.

ECG: Expanded Color Gamut

Expanded Color Gamut (ECG) is a project aimed at establishing global characterization charts and processes for multicolor print processes, enabling more accurate and consistent color reproduction.

Print Properties Committee (PPC)

Where did these specifications come from? These industry standards and specifications are developed by the Print Properties Committee (PPC)—a member-only group of color experts, print providers, and technology leaders who have shaped the future of print for over 40 years. Learn more about the PPC and how you can get involved.

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