The standard also aims to achieve greater international harmonisation with the introduction of Universal Characterisation Data (UCD). Uniform reference data has been developed for important printing conditions – especially for coated papers (PC1). This is intended to reduce regional differences between existing standards, such as those between Europe and the USA. The newly introduced Colour Tone Value (CTV) represents a significant advancement. In contrast to classical densitometric measurement, it is based on colour location measurements (e.g. CIELAB values) and describes the perceived intensity of a hue. A key advantage of this method is its visual uniformity: a linear gradation of the CTV values also corresponds to an even perception by the human eye. For example, a 50% value is actually perceived as the optical midpoint between paper white and solid colour. The deviation from this ideal line is described as ΔCTV and serves as the basis for process control. Near-Neutral Calibration (NNC) differs fundamentally from the classic TVI method. While TVI considers the individual process colours separately and sets them according to fixed target curves, NNC is based on the evaluation of neutral grey tones, which are created from the three chromatic colours cyan, magenta and yellow. The target values have not been rigidly predetermined, but are dynamically derived from the actual printing conditions, such as the paper white or the measured solid tones. The aim is to achieve a stable and visually neutral grey axis across the entire tonal range. These different approaches mean that the printed image may vary slightly depending on the calibration method. For central reference conditions, however, the target values have been deliberately adjusted so that both methods lead to comparable visual results.

The twelve new printing conditions ultimately form a flexible basis for different production environments. They are defined in such a way that they are compatible with both the classic TVI method and the NNC method, which allows a high degree of adaptability in practice. Overall, the revision of ISO 12647-2 represents an important step towards more modern, flexible and internationally standardised print production. It integrates both proven and new methods and so a common foundation for different ways of working has been created. It is expected that the standard will be finalised by the end of 2026, with publication to follow later in 2027. A transitional period of around three years is usually planned for practical implementation.