Description
SMS READY Agencies are certified by Spot-Nordic to be qualified to use SMS colours correctly in design for all media (i.e. the media they offer services for) and how to appropriately use the SMS READY control strips to ensure correct CMYK printing to requested standards.
SMS READY Agencies agree to keep all displays used for SMS work at the Agency calibrated and correct and equally to instruct their customers to keep their digital displays, where they view proposed SMS colours calibrated and correct, using approved display calibrators from Calibrite, Datacolor (Spyder) or built-in calibrators.
Displays used for displaying SMS colours used by the Agency and its customers need to display at least 100% of the sRGB colour gamut for P20, P20x and P20sx colours but for P20o, P20xo and P20e colours displays capable of displaying 45% of the NTSC/approx. 60% of the sRGB colour gamut are sufficient.
That means that their customers can safely select or approve SMS colours on their own screen and the Agency will make sure to use the SMS colours correctly on their end and deliver them correctly for reproduction in any media, ensuring visual consistency of the brand colours cross-media.
Agencies who want to become SMS READY need to appoint at least one so-called “super user”, who is responsible for the Agency working according to instructions provided by Spot-Nordic, to ensure correct reproduction of SMS colours for each media.
The super user, who will be the technical contact has to be fluent in the English language and must furthermore be knowledgeable in the use of graphics programs used by the agency.
The appointed super user must proof his or her ability to work with SMS colours professionally – see instructions here and will, once he or she has proven ability in converting SMS colours from sRGB to the relevant media – Print Graphics, Web Graphics and/or Video Graphics receive his or her own SMS READY Expert certificate, that will remain valid during the certification period of the Agency – see further details about the SMS READY Expert certification – P21 here above.
The appointed super user will be taught how to use the SMS READY control strip correctly and will be provided with an Excel sheet, enabling them to check the dE00 of each colour of the SMS READY control strip (requires a qualified spectrophotometer – for instance the i1Pro3 Basic – see here).
If necessary the super user will receive support in proper use of the spectral instrument (what M standard to use for measurement etc.). SMS READY certified agencies may also order any amount of the Colormeter Exact pocket spectro at a discounted price of €499. The Colormeter Exact is perfect to keep track of brand colours for various customers and to do quick quality checks on the go. This instrument is not as precise as for instance the i1Pro3 instrument, but once you have measured a printed colour that you know is correct (confirmed with a high end spectro such as the i1Pro3, Xrite Exact or TECHKON SpectroDens), it is safe to use the Colormeter Exact instrument to confirm if an SMS colour is correct or not.
Agencies may also appoint an existing SMS READY Expert to take responsibility for SMS colours on behalf of the agency.
For best results, it is recommended that all designers and staff responsible for colour reproduction at the Agency do the SMS READY Expert training and apply for their own SMS READY Expert certificate. This will enable them individually to better understand how SMS colours work and what is required to ensure correct reproduction.
SMS colours are simple as pie when you know what to look for but complicated if you don’t. Instructions on how to work with SMS colours are available here.
Personnel that are registered by the Agency for SMS READY Expert certification do not have to buy their own SMS P20 colour palette, since they are allowed to use the P20 colour palettes of the subscribed agency where they work to complete the choirs requested to get the SMS READY Expert certificate in the field of Print Graphics.
The price per SMS READY Expert certificate is thus only EUR 60 per each extra SMS READY Expert.
SMS READY Agencies are permitted to cover the cost of SMS subscription of their customers – or simply refer the customer to Spot-Nordic.
Spot-Nordic will assist SMS READY Design Agencies and freelance Graphic Designers in locating SMS READY Experts, print shops and manufacturers if requested and will recommend them for work that requires constant colour consistency in all media.
In order to be able to receive support and order services for SMS customers, agencies and designers need to to register each official brand (registered trademark or company for example) that uses SMS colours for their official promotion and send copies of current SMS colours and key SMS designs and individual campaigns to Spot-Nordic in sRGB format with the respective SMS colours included within the layout.
This is a condition for service by Spot-Nordic for each respective brand, while this also helps to promote the Agency/Designer, customer/brand and print shop(s)/manufacturers involved in the successful and colour consistent promotion of each brand.
Since SMS CMYK colours are based on colours derived from colours printed to ISO 12647-2, it is strongly recommended that the agency ask print shops they work with to get our SMS READY print shop certificate, which ensures that they are in fact able to print chosen SMS colours in CMYK with sufficient accuracy (a dE00 of 3 or better at least).
Certification bundle includes:
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- P20 v7: 2.607 labelled sRGB Standard colours in PDF and ASE format: Included
- P20x v7: 2.607 labelled sRGB MAX colours in PDF and ASE format: Included
- P20e v7: 2.607 labelled sRGB ECO colours in PDF and ASE format: Included
- P20o v7: 2.607 labelled sRGB Standard Home & Office colours in PDF and ASE format: Included
- P20xo v7: 2.607 labelled sRGB SMS MAX Home & Office colours in PDF and ASE format: Included
- P20xs v7: 2.607 labelled sRGB SMS SuperMAX colours in PDF and ASE format: Included
- P21: SMS READY training for one employee (super user) Included
- A lifetime access to Spot-Nordic colour services and brand registration for an unlimited number of brands is included in the SMS READY agency certification.
A brand registration means that Spot-Nordic will keep a copy of all customer colours and artwork in sRGB format to ensure quick and flawless service for each registered brand.
Spot-Nordic will keep a copy of all customer colours and artwork in sRGB format during the brand registration period and provide services for that brand according to the pricelist here above. - 30 minute “Crash Course” for key staff members (max 3 at the time) in what to keep in mind when preparing jobs containing SMS colours and how to ensure that SMS colours are kept correct everytime – especially in print.
- Further discussion, SMS training and advisory services beyond 30 minutes: EUR 140 per hour (max 3 participants).
- Technical support via email and Messenger/Skype/What’s App (English only).
- 25% discount off SMS subscriptions for Brand Owners that the Agency subscribes and pays for.Before beginning work on a new job, where an SMS colour is to be used, feel free to contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com with information about the job, what type of job it is, what type of substrate/material and what printing standard your print shop uses and which CMYK icc profile is recommended.
Be sure to advise your print shop(s) and manufacturer(s) about your SMS READY certification and what that means and if they themselves are interested in getting their own SMS READY certification, please ask them to contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com.
We are furthermore happy to communicate with your print shop or manufacturer to establish this on your behalf.
For best results we recommend registration of all print jobs, including re-prints – see P17 here above.
If there are changes made to printing standards, including Fogra and GRACol, which may affect the final CMYK composition of SMS colours, registering all print jobs with us will enable us to update ongoing print jobs globally to keep your SMS brand colours correct.
Please instruct your printer(s) to always include print related information (print standard) to their quotes for smooth printing and re-printing, and preferably to send additional print related information, if required after printing – see P17 above.
SKU P43: EUR 450
Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order your SMS READY agency certificate or buy it online in our webshop.
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