3DAP – is it still relevant?

3DAP is an outdated standard. It was established in 2007 and promoted to the printing and publishing industries in Australia. In particular, it was adopted by a great many magazine publications. It was last updated in 2008 to 3DAPv3, in order to match the ISO 12647-7-2000 requirements. 3DAPv3 allowed for three of the five ISO paper stock characterisations to be specified – PT1, PT3 and PT4. 

 

Unfortunately, 3DAPv3 no longer meets the latest ISO standard for contract proofing (ISO 12647-7-2016). In addition, 3DAPv3 required only ∆E76 tolerances for measuring colour variations when verifying proofs. These tolerances were tightened in 2000 when the ∆E2000 differentiation formula was adopted, which better represents perceived differences, particularly in saturated colours – but the 3DAPv3 requirements were not updated.

 

3DAPv3 was based on FOGRA 39 characterisation data – which are still current and are used by offset and web printers in Australia in profiles which are much more up-to-date than the superseded 3DAPv3 standard.

 

In 2024, any printer or publishing house that previously specified 3DAP standards would now be using ISO standards (even if they have not updated their material specifications and still request “3DAP” proofs), because the ISO standards are more universally understood and internationally recognised.

 

QED can print verified proofs that match FOGRA39 characterisation data, and print a 3DAPv3 control strip to measure and validate the output to ISO 12647-7-2016 requirements. Such a proof meets more stringent standards than the outdated 3DAPv3 proof, and would be accepted by all printers and publishing houses in Australia who request a “3DAPv3 proof”. ISO Paper Types 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all supported.