Abstract
Annex A of ISO (International Standard Organization) 13655 defines specimen backing requirements used for the measurement of color in the graphic arts industry. Due to the varying aspects of print processes, different vendors and print manufacturers are using various backing substrates for color calibration or measurements. This study is aimed to discover and evaluate backing products available on the market based on the ISO requirements, including those officially recognized backing materials as well as materials designed for other purposes but could be used as ISO compliant backing. The results identify some cost-efficient surface materials that are feasible for packaging suppliers as well as the graphic arts industry.

About Jinkai Qian
Jinkai Qian joined Techkon USA since 2015 as an Application Engineer for providing consultation, training, and technical support to clients globally. Being an certified G7 expert and BrandQ supply chain expert, his goal is to bridge the gap between brand and print supplies for efficient communication and  print color fidelity. Meanwhile, Jinkai is actively involved in the company’s research & development projects on both hardware and software.

Prior to employment at TECHKON, Jinkai spent several years working at different aspects of the graphic arts industry, such as brand color reproduction, prepress automation, etc. Jinkai currently holds a master degree in Print Media from Rochester Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Digital Printing from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.