ASSOCIATION INSIGHTS ─ Ghent Workgroup (GWG)
GETTING TO KNOW THE
place “non-printing” objects like finishing and converting steps, Braille, information panels, etc. within PDF files. In an effort to promote and ensure the best practices developed by the GWG, the Ghent Output Suite was developed. and packaging workflows with Currently in v5 (GOS5), this the ultimate goal of facilitatworkflow test suite has been ing best practice workflows for evolving for almost 15 years. each of those industries. This During that time, it has been is all done in partnership with increasingly used by members member industry experts, print to troubleshoot and identify service providers, software problems in output configuraand hardware manufacturers tions. It has also been used by along with other industry assomany hardware and software ciations and standards bodies. nonmembers to tune and valiThe goal is to ensure the global date their product offerings, blind exchange of PDF/X files and GWG vendor members and process data to enable print can achieve GOS in addition to service providers to meet their preflight certification and be client’s expectations. This ultiacknowledged through a certimately facilitates consistent, fication process. A new output higher quality output as well workflow conformance certifias process automation, and the cation program for service progoal of Industry 4.0 (IoT). viders has been introduced with In addition to preflight proGOS based on one successfully files and application settings implemented by member orgacurrently availnization PDFX-ready in able in many Switzerland. This new Read More… graphic arts appliprogram facilitated by Find article at cations and workPrintingNews. GWG members will offer com/21149202 flows, the group output conformance cerhas also develtification to their service oped job tickets for ad submisprovider constituents. The goal sion and soft proofing. In the is to expand the service proarea of packaging, in addition vider conformance certificato output settings and preflight, tion globally to further ensure the group created Processing the consistency and quality of Steps, which subsequently was output. submitted to the International Expanding Reach Standards Organization (ISO) While the group was and is now represented as ISO founded in Western Europe, its 19593-1. It is designed to stanmembership subsequently grew dardize the use of metadata to
GHENT WORKGROUP By David Zwang
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he Ghent Workgroup (GWG) is an international organization made up of graphic arts experts, users, hardware and software vendors as well as educational members building best practices for print and packaging workflows. Founded in 2002, it is perhaps the fastest growing, global best practice organization for the graphic arts. The initial idea for the GWG took hold among a group of professionals representing Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland, who at that time were working toward consensus on PDF creation and preflight settings. The process was complex, and it became clear that a more coordinated “global” approach was needed then and for the future.
Expanding Scope It has been almost 20 years since its founding and a lot of work has been done. In the beginning, the GWG had a strong focus on the creation of tools and best practices for publishing workflows. Since then, as the print and packaging industry and its requirements have evolved, the group has expanded its scope to include commercial print, digital print, sign and display
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WhatTheyThink - Wide-Format&Signage | April 2021
3/18/21 2:16 PM
