This document summarizes the development and publication of ISO 15397 from 2009 to 2014. It provides an overview of the standard, including its scope, references, definitions, list of required paper property criteria, and related ISO standards. It also includes quotes from the introduction describing the standard's purpose of improving communication between the paper and printing industries by outlining key paper properties and measurement methods. Finally, it lists the founding contributors to Paperdam, the organization that helped develop and promote ISO 15397.

1. ISO 15397 landing Beijing 2009 - London 2014
Luc LAN
| 1 © The Paperdam Group Luc LANAT TC 6 Delft 2014 04 08

2. ISO 15397 journey
§ NWIP 15397 proposed sept 2009
§ ISO 15397 published on Feb 3, 2014
§ Developed by TC 130 WG 4
§ Edited by Paperdam working group
§ Reviewed by / presented to:
– TC 6
– ERA (European Rotogravure Association)
– ECI European Color Initiative
– CIE Comité International Eclairage
| 2 © The Paperdam Group Luc LANAT TC 6 Delft 2014 04 08

3. INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Graphic technology — Communication
of graphic paper properties
Technologie graphique — Communication des propriétés des papiers
graphiques
| 3 © The Paperdam Group Luc LANAT TC 6 Delft 2014 04 08
ISO
15397
First edition
2014-02-01

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ISO/FDIS 15397:2013(E)
Contents Page
Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................iv
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v
1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
2 Normative references ......................................................................................................................................................................................1
͵ ‡”•ƒ††‡ϐ‹‹–‹‘• .....................................................................................................................................................................................2
4 List of required criteria for communication of paper properties .....................................................................5
5 ISO standards related to required criteria ................................................................................................................................6
5.1 Sampling and general information useful for technical communication ............................................. 6
5.2 Brand name and paper mill ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 Grammage ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.4 Bulk and/or thickness ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.5 Roughness for evaluation of surface properties ........................................................................................................ 7
5.6 Gloss ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
ͷǤ͹ ’ƒ…‹–› ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
5.8 Brightness and whiteness of unprinted paper ............................................................................................................ 8
5.9 Colour measurement of paper white point in printing conditions (D50/2°) ................................... 9
5.10 Colour measurement of unprinted paper in outdoor conditions (D65/10°) ................................10
5.11 Supported colour gamut in the context of prepress design ..........................................................................10
5.12 Fluorescence in the context of prepress ........................................................................................................................10
ͷǤͳ͵ –‘”ƒ‰‡…‘†‹–‹‘•ǡ‹ϐŽ—‡…‡‘ˆƒ‰‹‰ƒ†–‡•–‹‰…‘†‹–‹‘•ˆ‘”’”‘‘ϐ‹‰•—„•–”ƒ–‡• ........11
5.14 Bending resistance (bending stiffness) for Sheet-Fed Offset printing substrates .....................11
Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................12

5. ISO 15397 Scope
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104 Graphic Technology — Communication of graphic paper
105 properties xxxx updated after comments on DIS, to be
106 proposed at Shenzhen for FDIS stage version 2013 03 22 after
107 ATIP WG and Paperdam meeting and CN TCGxxxxx
108 1 Scope
109 This International Standard specifies the list of paper substrate relevant properties to be communicated
110 between the paper and the printing industries.
111 This International Standard is applicable to papers intended to be printed in rotogravure, cold-set web offset,
112 heat-set web offset, sheet-fed offset, and flexographic printing processes and to proofing substrates.
113 Where multiple measures exist the preferred procedure and its International Standard is defined.
114 All measuring methods of properties specified in this International Standard are described in ISO Standards.
115 2 Normative references
116 The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
117 references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
118 document (including any amendments) applies.
119 ISO 186, Paper and board — Sampling to determine average quality
120 ISO 187, Paper, board and pulps — Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing and procedure for
121 monitoring the atmosphere and conditioning of samples

6. Paperdam understanding on how to
use ISO 15397
§ QUOTE OF INTRODUCTION (1)
§ This International Standard is intended to improve communication
between the graphic papermaking industry and the printing industry
based on their need to be able to produce quality printing. Paper
properties and how they are measured are presented and their use
in the printing context is described.
§ This International Standard describes data to be provided for
reliable printing. A substrate description can be assessed to be in
conformance with this International Standard, not a substrate itself.
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7. QUOTE OF INTRODUCTION (2)
§ Printing press settings depend on paper grade, and several paper
properties are required in order to define a grade.!
§ Paper measurement standards developed within ISO/TC 6 are
referenced in this International Standard. They were mainly used to
develop paper industry test methods and allow the papermaking
processes to be reproducible and reliable within paper mills. It is
advisable that paper purchasing specifications be based on paper
industry standards. This recommendation also applies to paper
proofing substrates. Special requirements for paper substrates for
the reliable production of printed products need to be
communicated on the basis of standards developed by ISO/TC 6
whenever possible.!
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8. QUOTE OF INTRODUCTION (3)
§ The evaluation of colour of the unprinted paper is critical to define
prepress white point settings. This measurement can be performed
with either diffuse:0° integrating sphere instruments (papermakers’
equipment) or 45°:0° instruments (printers’ equipment). Results are
often close if the UV calibration is performed correctly. This
International Standard specifies 45°:0° instruments (printers’
equipment) to perform this evaluation as per ISO 13655, because of
their wide availability at printers' facilities.!
§ For the evaluation of printed colours, measurement devices are
developed according to ISO 13655 which differ from the colour
measurement devices which conform to ISO 2469 and ISO 5631-1,
ISO 5631-2 and ISO 5631-3. The latter type of instrument is used
within paper mills for quality evaluation during paper manufacturing
and unprinted paper colour evaluation.!
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9. QUOTE OF INTRODUCTION (4)
§ Properties linked to the printing process (e.g. dimensions, blistering
and picking resistance in offset, missing dots in gravure) are not
described in this International Standard, since they are implicitly
needed when purchasing the paper meant for this printing process.!
§ Properties that are not based on ISO standards are not described
here.!
§ The bibliography lists basic references in graphic technology
standards,[1][2] Paper and board standards,[3] previously published
references,[4] commercial classifications,[5] conditions of sale,[6] and
reference lists of printing characterization data publicly available.[8]
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10. Paperdam understanding on how to
use ISO 15397
§ Companies can use ISO15397 as guidance for implicit customer
requirements in the sense of ISO 9000 series.
§ Clause 4 is titled «List of required criteria for communication of paper
properties». This list of properties communicated may relate to a product
family or a specific brand named product. The recommended wording is
« List of properties as per ISO 15397 criteria ».
§ A « company » as such cannot claim to be in conformance with this
standard or compliant to ISO 15397.
§ Third parties may assess conformance of communication to ISO 15397.
§ Companies may choose to use it for its communication or not, meaning that
the list of properties communicated will be conforming to ISO 15397 list of
required criteria or not.
§ As any other ISO standard, ISO 15397 is of voluntary application.
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11. Paperdam Scope
§ The objects of the foundation, hereinafter referred to as Paperdam are to contribute to the role of paper as a
product within international standardisation. The main working area, but not excluding other areas, is in the
graphic technology.
§ Paperdam acts as per ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Global Relevance Policy as
documented and published by ISO.
§ Paperdam can organize and sponsor exhibitions, conferences, studies or other activities within the scope of its
objects.
§ The following subjects shall not be discussed during any meetings or contacts on behalf of Paperdam:
1. Sales and purchase prices, including price changes or pricing policy.
2. Discounts, rebates, allowances or other factors affecting sales or purchase prices.
3. The commercial terms or conditions of sale or purchase.
4. Production output, capacity, capacity utilization rates or changes in output, capacity or capacity utilization rates.
5. Individualized sales/order figures or customer lists.
6. Production, marketing, Research and development or other costs.
7. Investments, production, product development or marketing polices or plans.
8. Research and development plans or results.
9. Stock levels.
10. Allocation of customers.
11. Sales territories.
12. Market sharing.
13. Sharing of sources of supply.
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12. Paperdam Foundation contributors
April 2014
Contributors from 7 paper companies:
1. Jan ANDERSSON Holmen
2. Hans-J. DRENK Norske
3. Jouni MARTTILA SAPPI
4. Jozie DAHLMANS SAPPI
5. Peter PETERMANN Stora Enso
6. Jan LINDSTRÖM UPM.
7. Thomas HERBST Leipa
8. Joan FONT Lecta
9. Carsten WIESE Steinbeis
Stakeholders and Honorary :
1. Wilco de GROOT IGT, Convenor TC6-TC 130 JWG 39
2. Luc LANAT Convenor and Chairman of Paperdam Foundation, past ATIP President
Follow our work :
§ Arjo-Wiggins (thru ATIP)
§ Papeteries de Clairefontaine (thru ATIP)
§ UPM China
§ Gerd CARL
§ Marcus EDBOM SCA
§ Wim DOOTSELAERE IP
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13. Please visit our website
for more information
www.paperdam.org
| 13 © The Paperdam Group Luc LANAT TC 6 Delft 2014 04 08