The Proofing Standards Gap
The 3DAPv3 guidelines are based on ISO 12647-7:2007, which was the current version when 3DAPv3 was rolled out in 2008-2009. However, the international standard was significantly updated in ISO 12647-7:2016.
3DAPv3 has never been formally updated to incorporate the 2016 revisions, meaning a “3DAPv3 compliant” proof does not necessarily meet the latest international “Contract Proof” criteria for certification.
3DAPv3 specifically mandates the older ∂E76 (CIELAB 1976) formula for verifying proofs. ∂E76 treats all colour differences equally in a mathematical sense, but human eyes are much more sensitive to shifts in neutral greys and skin tones than in highly saturated colours.
The ∂E2000 formula was introduced to correct these perceptual inaccuracies. The ISO 12647-7:2016 standard officially replaced ∂E76 with ∂E2000 to ensure that “passing” a proof actually matches what a human observer sees.
Because 3DAPv3 uses ∂E76, it can sometimes be too loose on skin tones and neutrals while being unnecessarily strict on highly saturated colours.
Modern standards using ∂E2000 adjust these tolerances so that printers don’t fail a proof for a minor saturation difference that a customer wouldn’t even notice.
Most high-end prepress houses and major printers in Australia have internally migrated to FOGRA 51/52 (using M1 measurement) or at least FOGRA 39/45 using ∂E2000.
Commercial liability is the barrier
The reason 3DAPv3 refuses to die isn’t about technical superiority—it’s about commercial liability.
Despite being technically “behind,” major publishers like Are Media and News Corp continue to mandate it to maintain a legacy baseline. It ensures that all advertisers—regardless of how advanced their software is—are aiming for the same common denominator that Australian web-offset presses were calibrated to over a decade ago.
3DAPv3 acts as the legal “handshake” between an ad agency and a publisher. If an ad for a major brand (like a car or high-end fashion) looks wrong on the page, the first thing the lawyers check is: “Did the agency supply a 3DAP-certified proof?” If the publisher officially supports 3DAPv3, they can’t be held liable if the agency supplied a FOGRA 51 proof that “shifted” on a press calibrated to 3DAPv3.
While sheet-fed commercial printers (producing brochures, business cards, etc) have easily moved to newer ISO standards, the massive high-speed web-offset presses used for News Corp or Are Media magazines are calibrated for specific ink-on-paper behaviours. Updating a national standard requires every major player to re-fingerprint their presses simultaneously to avoid “double standards” across different titles.
Publishers receive files from thousands of different sources—from global agencies to small boutiques. 3DAPv3 provides a safe, conservative “envelope” (especially with the 280% ink limit) that ensures almost any file will print without issues on cheap magazine stock.
What might be done to improve the situation?
While maintaining a legacy standard like 3DAPv3 provides a “safe” legal baseline for contract liability, recalibrating to modern international standards like ISO 12647-2:2013 (FOGRA 51/52) offers significant long-term operational and financial advantages.
The primary benefits of moving away from 3DAPv3 towards modern standards include:
1. Accurate Management of “Optical Brighteners” (OBAs)
Modern paper stocks often contain Optical Brightening Agents to make them appear whiter. 3DAPv3 uses the older M0 measurement standard, which does not account for UV-induced fluorescence in paper. This often leads to a visual mismatch where a proof looks yellow or a press sheet looks blue despite measuring “correctly.” Modern M1 measurement standards precisely account for OBAs, ensuring the digital proof and final magazine page actually look identical under standard lighting.
2. Reduced Waste and Faster “Make-Ready”
Older standards like 3DAPv3 rely on tone value increase (TVI) curves designed for older film-based processes. Modern ISO standards align with the natural linear behaviour of Computer-to-Plate (CTP) technology. This reduces the need for manual “on-press” adjustments by the operator to reach colour. Faster make-ready times directly translate to lower paper waste and reduced labour costs during job changeovers.
3. Perceptual Accuracy with ∂E2000
The shift from ∂E76 to ∂E2000 prevents “false failures” in the quality control process. ∂E2000 acknowledges that the human eye is less sensitive to shifts in highly saturated colours than in neutrals or skin tones. This leads to higher customer satisfaction because the printer isn’t struggling to hit a mathematical number that doesn’t affect the visual quality, while simultaneously tightening control over critical areas like brand logos and human faces.
4. Significant Ink Savings
Modern workflows often integrate Grey Component Replacement (GCR) more aggressively than the original 3DAPv3 profiles. Higher GCR makes the press run more stably, as neutral greys are made with more black ink rather than a fragile balance of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. Optimised profiles can reduce total ink consumption by up to 30% without losing image depth, which is a massive saving across high-volume magazine runs.
5. Alignment with Digital Hybrid Workflows
As publishers increasingly move toward hybrid models (using offset for bulk and digital for short-run/personalised covers), having a unified colour standard like FOGRA 51 makes it much easier to match the output across different devices. 3DAPv3 is strictly a legacy offset standard and does not translate well to modern wide-format, toner-based or high-speed inkjet presses. I
In short, the industry is stuck in a “specification gap” where the actual printing is often better than the official standard says it should be.
Perhaps it is time for the publishers to bite the bullet and update the workflows on their high-speed web-offset presses. Yes, there would be considerable up-front costs and a period of hiatus, but the benefits in the long-term are massive.
For now, we are stuck with 3DAP.
3DAP v3 Proofs at QED
By using GMG ColorProof, QED is already operating at a much higher precision than the 3DAPv3 specification requires. When asked for a 3DAPv3 proof, we simply use GMG’s FOGRA 39 or 45 MX profiles (which are more accurate), and attach (and verify) a 3DAPv3 Control Strip to satisfy the publisher’s automated intake systems. The automated systems “see” the strip, pass the verification (even if it’s using the older ∂E76), and the file is accepted.