Colour validation before production
Certified proof with FOGRA standards and ISO 12647-7 reference
The Certified Colour Proof allows you to assess the colour simulation of a file before final production, based on technical reference standards for colour control. It is an important tool for customers, designers, agencies and graphic professionals who need to validate colours, images, contrasts and the overall behaviour of the printed work with greater confidence.
- Certified colour proof to support colour validation
- Available in A4 and A3 formats
- Produced with a certification label associated with proof control
- Certified proofing workflows, such as GMG ColorProof or equivalent solutions
- Available simulation standards: FOGRA39 - ISO Coated v2, FOGRA51 - PSO Coated v3, FOGRA47 - PSO Uncoated and FOGRA52 - PSO Uncoated v3
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Certified Colour Proof (Technical Services)
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What is a certified colour proof?
The Certified Colour Proof is a printed and controlled simulation of the expected colour behaviour of a specific file, produced with reference to technical colour control standards. This process allows colours, images, tones, contrasts and visual balance to be assessed before final production, helping customers, designers, agencies and graphic professionals validate the work with greater confidence.
Certified proof with FOGRA and ISO 12647-7 reference
Certified colour proofs follow professional proofing workflows, with reference to the ISO 12647-7 standard and the selected FOGRA simulation conditions. Production may use professional colour management and simulation systems, such as GMG ColorProof or equivalent solutions, always with the aim of reproducing the chosen FOGRA reference in a controlled, verifiable way that is suitable for the intended colour standard.
Available simulation standards
In the site options, you can select the Certified Colour Proof in A4 or A3 formats and choose the simulation standard available for the job. The available standards include FOGRA39 - ISO Coated v2, FOGRA51 - PSO Coated v3, FOGRA47 - PSO Uncoated and FOGRA52 - PSO Uncoated v3. The choice of standard should be made according to the type of production, the intended print profile and the characteristics of the final product.
Certification label and proof control
The Certified Colour Proof is supplied with a certification label associated with the colourimetric control of the proof. This label identifies that the proof was produced with a technical simulation reference and validated according to the parameters defined for that process. The proof works as a visual and technical reference for colour analysis before production.
A colour reference, not an absolute guarantee of the final result
The certified colour proof is a colour control and approximation tool, not an absolute guarantee of total correspondence with the final print result. The final result may vary depending on the printing process, machine, inks, paper or substrate used, finishing, lamination, varnish, material absorption, drying conditions, lighting and normal production tolerances. Even so, it is a highly reliable solution for anticipating colour behaviour and making decisions before moving into production.
Request your certified colour proof at Ask-to-Print
If your project requires greater colour control, choose the Certified Colour Proof before moving into production. Select the format, choose the FOGRA standard you require and validate colour with a printed reference accompanied by a certification label. A solution especially suitable for graphic, editorial, catalogue, packaging, campaign, institutional and other projects where colour plays a decisive role.
FAQs
Printing and Production
When preparing a file for printing, it's essential to understand the difference between the two main colour models used in graphic design: CMYK and RGB. Although both allow for attractive visuals, they serve different purposes and produce different results — especially in print processes.
What are CMYK and RGB colours, and which should I use for printing?
CMYK – The colour model for printing
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. It is the colour model used in all professional printing processes. Colours are created by overlaying percentages of these four inks in layers on the printed surface.
- Used in offset and digital printing.
- Based on subtractive colour from reflected light — unlike screen-emitted light.
- Reproduces a more limited colour gamut, but one suited to the physical printing process.
RGB – Colour model for screens
RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. It’s a light-emitting colour model used for displaying colours on digital screens such as monitors, tablets, or smartphones. This model can produce much more vibrant and saturated colours than CMYK.
- Ideal for digital images, videos, and websites.
- Offers a wider colour gamut — meaning it covers more possible colours.
- Colours may appear more intense on screen than what can be printed.
What is colour gamut?
The gamut is the range of colours that a given colour model or device can reproduce. The RGB model has a wider gamut than CMYK, meaning it can display colours that simply cannot be printed with standard inks.
When a file created in RGB is automatically converted to CMYK, colours outside the CMYK gamut are adjusted to approximate values. This can result in noticeable visual differences between what is seen on screen and what gets printed — especially with certain RGB-exclusive or highly vibrant tones.
Which should I use when preparing files for print?
You should always work in CMYK colour mode when creating files intended for print. This ensures that what you see during design stays closer to what can realistically be printed.
If you're using design programs such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop, set the colour space to CMYK from the start. On Canva, choose CMYK export (available on the Pro version). This practice prevents colour fidelity loss.
On the Ask-to-Print Online Editor, there’s no need to worry: all files are automatically generated in CMYK with optimised colour management.
Useful tip for professionals and beginners
Even when working in CMYK, differences between screen and print may persist. We recommend using a physical CMYK colour guide to visualise true tonal values before finalising your design. This is especially helpful for branding or colour-critical materials.
