Celmac's Rumney achieves Fogra Digital Print Partner (DPP) certification

Jonny Rumney, Celmac’s NSW State Manager, has received his Fogra Digital Print Partner (DPP) certificate, allowing him to help Fogra certify a business for Process Standard Digital (PSD) certification. He is one of only two people in Australia and New Zealand who holds this accreditation, which replaces the previous DPE (Digital Print Expert) certification.

“This is the fourth time I have taken the exam which happens every two years. During that time I went to Munich twice for training and then an exam. At one time Fogra was in Australia and I then completed the exam at our office, and this time, due to COVID, completed the exam online. This was the first time it was done online,” says Jonny.

He explains why Fogra came up with the PSD standard: “The industry has been crying out for some kind of standard for digital printing for a long time, especially in the wide format space. There has been some great work done with offset with the ISO 12647-2 standard. Some people try and promote that they conform to this standard but it is not possible in the wide format space, as the ISO standard states that you must use a certain colourant offset ink and one of a few offset papers. This is irrelevant to someone wanting to print on self-adhesive with a Latex, UV or Eco Solvent printer.

“We analyse your PDF workflow, viewing conditions, proof setup, RIP setup, drift detection for your spectrophotometer, and three print conditions (printer, substrate and ink combinations). It must then conform to a PSD A,B or C rating. We then submit prints and a report back to Fogra in Munich and they then verify what I have audited. If it’s all good, the customer gets a shiny PSD Certificate,” adds Jonny, confirming that he assisted with both VFX Print Group and Dashing Group’s Fogra certification.

To further explain why a company should look to obtain Fogra PSD certification, Johnny draws attention to Fogra’s slogan – ‘Printing the Expected.’

“By controlling your workflow as mentioned above, you will have much fewer reprints. The objective of doing the audit is not to fail the printer but to work with them to become a better printer. The certification lasts two years and renewal requires a different process with new challenges,” says Jonny, re-emphasising that the reason behind this is for the printer to learn more and improve his craft.

Jonny goes on to point out that marketing is another perk of achieving Fogra PSD certification. “It is a seal of quality, and you get listed on the Fogra website as a certified customer. Take VFX Print Group as an example. Shortly after being accredited for the first time, they won print work from a major international client because of their Fogra PSD certification.”

Pictured:  Jonny’s Fogra DPP Certificate and Jonny receiving his first Fogra certification in Munich from Fogra’s Berthold.