The IDEAlliance “G7 Master Printer” programme recognises printing companies, prepress service providers or agencies that have been trained to use the G7 Proof-to-Print Process and can produce G7 proofs and/or prints to the G7 guidelines and tolerances.

The G7 Master Printer qualification mark means that the company uses the most modern techniques, technology, proofing, pressroom control and quality control analysis and has the necessary understanding of ISO Standards and the GRACoL® specifications required to consistently produce a close visual match from proof to print.

Single Source’s key staff, in conjunction with Dan Wilson (G7 Expert and Managing Director of Prepress I.T.), reviewed all important production aspects of file preparation, PDF/X creation, colour management, proofing, process control for film and plate making, ink conformance and attribute documentation and press and print quality control parameters.

The parameters were tested, optimised, reviewed and tested again until the whole series of production ‘Standard Operating Procedures’ were in tolerance. Where appropriate, targets from ISO Standards or manufacturers’ tolerances have been observed.

The result is a predictable production platform where the proof effectively ‘previews’ what is going to come off the press – without adjustment or guess-work.

G7 or the ‘‘Neutral Print Density Curve” calibration method is 100% ISO 12647-x compliant and uses a process to grey balance the printing press with a spectrophotometer rather than the ‘old fashioned’ matching TVI curves with a densitometer approach. Comments Dan Wilson “Any colour guru or old school scanner operator will tell you if your image (print) is grey balanced the rest of the colours will fall in the expected place. Simply matching TVI curves does not guarantee printed colours will match nor does it easily accommodate different coloured substrates or non-standard inks. The G7 methodology easily accommodates these variables.”

Single Source’s Operations Director, Paul Mainwaring added: “The whole process of adopting standardised printing procedures in combination with a G7 calibration was a significant commitment to improving the services and products we offer our customers.

We are proud Single Source has qualified as a G7 Master Printer, the quality of print we do today is such that we have received unsolicited compliments from our customers! It was a pleasure working with Dan Wilson, whose knowledge, skills and patience have been a positive contribution to our business.”

By implementing G7 Single Source are able to maintain a Customer’s Brand Integrity by creating a ‘shared visual match’ between products printed on different substrates or even printed using different processes.

G7 Master Printers are reviewed and re-qualified annually.

IDEAlliance have an online international directory which is the only source to find Qualified G7 Masters and Certified G7 Experts. www.idealliance.org

PPE has become the European market leader in portion packs through innovation, new ideas and high quality to deliver superior convenience. The group has a diverse product range with an extensive portfolio of food and non-food products.

Working with PPE group companies, Single Source is enhancing its range with additional products including quality Belgian chocolates and continental biscuits in individually wrapped portion formats.

PPE is a member of the Südzucker group of companies, a global food group based in Germany.