PROCESS STANDARD OFFSET (PSO)
Process Standard Offset (ISO 12647 ff) is a guide to creating optimal, stable and reliable print products. The PSO is in accordance with the international series of standards ISO 12647. It describes an industrially-oriented and standardized approach to manufacturing print products.
The complex production process is streamlined to be as efficient as possible and simultaneously guarantees predictable color quality of intermediate and final results. From data collection to final print product, PSO enables a qualitatively secured production. Process Standard provides offset with sensible and feasible nominal values and tolerances for print production. In no way does it restrict the maximum quality achievable!
It is a guide for the implementation of ISO standard 12647 and enables the reliable cooperation of all parties, the supervision of all production machines as well as data quality.
WHY PSO?
Data is rarely compiled at a place where it can be printed. In digital form, information hails from all corners of the world, photos are shot at studios, graphics are produced by creative minds, charts are generated by business systems – and everything is shaped by agencies, publishers or advertising departments.
Printing takes place in one or several printing companies, nationally as well as internationally. However, the printing result should always remain consistent. Process Standard Offset defines the standard and ensures a cooperation of all sectors, thereby providing the basis for standardized, reliable, consistent and high-quality production. Data is prepared in accordance with the guidelines of PSO, thus enabling workflow optimization, error prevention and quality consistency.
THE GOALS OF PSO
- RELIABLE PRODUCTION
Due to accurately defined formats, interfaces, workflows and values, print production becomes reliable and qualitatively measurable.
- CONSISTENTLY HIGH QUALITY
The implementation of PSO leads to high-end print products of consistent quality. The manufacturing processes are supervised, guided and verified by suitable test equipment and control methods.
- MEASURABLE QUALITY
Quality becomes measurable, demonstrable and verifiable!
- HIGHER EFFICIENCY
The complex production process is streamlined to be as efficient as possible and simultaneously guarantees predictable color quality of intermediate and final results.
PSO NOW!
The introduction of PSO is a substantial decision. Popular improvisation techniques and ”magic tricks“ are eliminated in favor of standardized and reliable work methods. Since quality can now be measured, companies frequently gain a new perspective on their own products.
PSO is neither ”witchcraft“ nor ”rocket science“. Moreover, it is no theoretical construct which ignores daily practices. The standardization enables companies to utilize their resources in the best possible way. PSO is like car tuning for print and media productions – only more reliable!
IS THE INTRODUCTION OF PSO WORTHWHILE?
Can one afford not to introduce PSO? Mistakes, unnecessarily wasted material, excessive time investment, reclamations, reprints and a worst-case complete breakdown cost a lot of money. Not to mention the additional expense due to missing skills. The more efficient the production process, the more precise the implementation, the more accurate the results, the faster the success. That is what PSO is all about!
Just calculate how much money you have lost in the past six months due to inconvenience, reclamations and unnecessary time and material investments, simply because interfaces were not defined properly and thus color information was distorted over the course of production. You will realize how quickly the expenses necessary for introducing PSO will turn profitable. A larger contract, free of misprints, can amortize the initial costs in one swoop.
Source: PSOInsider
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