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SMS for design and advertising Getting started with SMS colours SMS BLOCKS Cost of ownership

SMS for print Printers (in all categories) SMS READY - or not?

SMS subscription and SMS READY certification plans (bottom of this page)

SKU P40 SMS subscription plan for brand owners (from small businesses to big brands)

SKU P43 SMS READY certification for design agencies

SKU P45: SMS READY certification for print shops

SMS READY certification for manufacturers

SMS Products and Services

SMS READY control strips (free of charge)

For instructions on how to use SMS colours in your design take a few minutes to study www.spotmatchingsystem.com/gettingstarted.

For an overview of the differences between our 6 SMS colour palettes see an overview of supported icc profiles for each version here.

For step-by-step instructions on how to use SMS colours in professional design, on how to convert your chosen SMS colours from sRGB to CMYK or Pantone, please  check out our video instructions for Adobe Photoshop and Affinity here.  More design details are also available here.

You are welcome to download the free SMS READY control strips here below to familiarize yourself with SMS colours, including doing the step-by-step training with your own design app.

If you wish to download our SMS READY control strips - either the standard size (see here below) or the mini version (without the large blue/gray on top) you can download them in sRGB format here along with instructions on how to convert the control strip to your destination CMYK gamut.

SMS Standard colours, sRGB format

The SMS Standard colours are natural colours, suited for web, TV and CMYK printing on both white coated and uncoated paper, web and TV and are hence quite practical for most brands. For instance our own SMS logo is created with the Standard v6 colours.

The SMS Standard Home & Office colours are Standard colours with a slightly surpressed colour gamut suited for online viewing on laptop displays that only cover approx. 60% of the sRGB colour gamut/45% of the NTSC colour gamut. Many PC laptops make do with this colour gamut and the idea here is to maximize the number of customers around the world that can in fact see brand colours selected from this palette on their inexpensive PC laptops. See for instance the P60 laptop available from Spot-Nordic - here.

Version 7 of the Spot Matching System nota bene contains all the 1.738 colours of v6 plus 869 new colours.

SMS ECO (e) colours, sRGB format

The ECO colours are the earthy/super natural version of our palette made especially for printing on off-white, uncoated paper, web and TV. These colours are very appropriate for environmentally concious customers.

We call it ECO because many Eco friendly papers are simply a bit off-white, recycled paper especially and from an artistic point of view, they are earthy shades.

A nice advantage to using the ECO colours in your design or as brand colours for your customers is that they can also be printed perfectly correctly in your local newspaper - according to ISO 12647-3-2013 - to WAN-IFRA standards, which is the universal standard for CMYK printing of newspapers.

To be clear, all the ECO colours can also be printed on bright white or neutral white paper like other SMS colours. These colours simply cover any media from newspaper to neutral white to bright white paper, web and TV, while other SMS colours are optimized for neutral white substrates, so if you need to print, say, an SMS Standard colour in your local newspaper, you have to accept that it will change visually depending on how white or how brown/gray the paper in your local newspaper actually is.

SMS MAX (x) colours, sRGB format

The SMS MAX colours are suited for CMYK printing on white, coated substrates, web and TV.

These colours are more vivid than our natural Standard or ECO colours but the cost of that is that they can by default not be achieved in printing on uncoated paper.

The SMS MAX colours are thus well suited for packaging applications, outdoor signage, magazine ads, web and TV but perhaps not as well suited for general brand design, where uncoated paper may be a part of what is required in the mix.

The SMS MAX Home & Office colours are MAX colours with a slightly surpressed colour gamut suited for online viewing on laptop displays that only cover approx. 60% of the sRGB colour gamut/45% of the NTSC colour gamut. Many PC laptops make do with this colour gamut and the idea here is to maximize the number of customers around the world that can in fact see brand colours selected from this palette on their inexpensive PC laptops. See for instance the P60 laptop available from Spot-Nordic - here.

SMS SuperMAX (sx) colours, sRGB format

The SMS SuperMAX colours are suited for Extended Gamut printing on white, coated substrates, web and TV.

These colours are super vivid and are optimized for FOGRA59, CRPC7, XCMYK or CMYKOGV printing on coated, white substrates.

The SMS MAX colours are thus well suited for packaging applications, web design and TV graphics but are not practical for general brand design, where uncoated paper may be a part of what is required in the mix and also due to the fact that these colours cannot be printed in any print shop.

SMS certified proofs/colour tickets

P6c / P6u , w

SKU: P6c or P6u:  ISO certified proof according to ISO 12647-7-2016 with customer's SMS colour tickets for sending out for quality control during production, 8 tickets pr. A4, 16 tickets pr. A3, 32 tickets pr. A2.
We recommend attaching each colour ticket to a job description for your Printer/manufacturer, describing where in your layout your SMS colours are to be found (Example: "Logos on pages 1, 5, 7 and 29, product images on pages 1, 6, 7 and 19").
This is especially important in the case where your SMS colours are printed in CMYK, since they become a part of your CMYK layout and thus you need to pinpoint them if you want the Printer/operator to pay attention to ensure that your SMS colours are printed correctly from beginning to the end of production.

or

SKU: P7c or P7u: ISO certified proof according to ISO 12647-7-2016 with colour samples of your logo / logos and other brand related artwork.

Intended for professional agency promotions of new design / new visual brand identity proposals primarily. 

Perfect as a part of a printed brand standard for production partners.

Design by advertising agency / designer.

or

SKU: P8c or P8u: ISO certified proof according to ISO 12647-7-2016. Proof can in this case contain whatever - photographs, layout, text and graphics. In this case it is a very good idea to insert those SMS colours that are used in said layout, approx. 1,5 x 1,5 cm at least each colour along with a short description on where each colour is to be found in the layout.
It is important for designers to keep in mind that unless it is made clear where each SMS colour is within the layout, the Printer/operator is "blind" and can basically only do his best to keep the job within the normal parameters of his ISO standard and to ensure that the job is in register. 

Please contact us before you prepare your own PDF for SMS proofing to ensure correct settings.

- A4 - (8.2 x 11.7"): EUR 70 + postage for SMS subscribers, EUR 113 + postage for non-subscribers.

- A3 - (11.7 x 16.54"): EUR 113 + postage for SMS subscribers, EUR 142 + postage for non-subscribers. 

- A2 - (16.54 x 23.38"): EUR 142 for SMS subscribers, EUR 178 for non-subscribers.

Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order.

 SMS P20 colour palettes for professional design

What is included?

Each of the P20 palettes (as of version 7) here below, includes lifetime access to technical support and services by Spot-Nordic for services and proofs where colours from the respective colour palette are used.

Designers and design agencies can also register individual brand logos and brand colours with Spot-Nordic, where colours from the respective SMS colour palette are used. To register a brand, a copy of the brand colours and key artwork (logo etc.) should be sent to support@spotmatchingsystem.com with the SMS colour patches in bitmap sRGB format and preferably the SMS colours in ASE palette format - see here.

Take a moment to study the SMS colour palettes

Please take a moment to study the difference between the Standard, ECO and MAX , Standard Home & Office, MAX Home and Office and last but not least the SuperMAX colour palettes - see supported icc profiles.

In short, the Standard (original) colour palette is best suited for general design, where you want to be able to show your SMS colours in all media, apart from newspapers.

The ECO version covers all media - including newspapers and is appropriate for customers who are eco concious or simply like subtle colours that can be displayed in any media in CMYK printing on any substrate.

The MAX version is created primarily for packaging applications where uncoated paper is not a part of the visual brand identity.
Those are the most vibrant SMS CMYK colours.

The Standard and MAX Home & Office colour palettes are slightly subdued palettes suited for the same purposes as the original Standard and MAX colour palettes, but in addition all colours can be displayed correctly on typical PC laptop displays that only have a colour gamut covering approx. 45% NTSC - which is approx. 60% of the sRGB gamut.

The Home & Office palettes are extremely practical if the idea is to use colours that can be viewed correctly on just about any digital display, - even cheap PC laptops.

Spot-Nordic in fact offers the very PC laptop that was used to create the Home & Office colour palettes for sale - see here.

The SuperMAX colour palette is built for so-called Extended Colour Gamut, - i.e. process printing of colours that require more than just CMYK process.
Those colours are the most vibrant SMS colours and are best suited for packaging (coated substrates only).

P21: SMS READY Expert certification. The certificate confirms the ability of the certificate holder to use SMS colours and convert them correctly from sRGB to other colour spaces, ensuring correct reproduction of said SMS colours. SMS READY individuals may always contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com for technical assistance. Included is the SMS Standard P20o v7 colour palette SMS READY Experts are authorized to assist registered SMS users and SMS subscribers onsite or remotely (designers, brand owners, printers, manufacturers) within their respective category (PRINT, WEB, VIDEO) as well as to take the role of so-called "super users" at SMS subscribed agencies, print shops and brands/companies - see our subscription plans here below.                                                                                                                            Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                              EUR 180                              Add to cart

P20e ECO, version 7 - earthy colours for all design purposes and maximum online consistency. Labelled SMS colour patches (v7) for professional design and colour correct marketing in all media. 869 new colours! Completely neutral black and grays (line 42). See a list of supported colour spaces here.  2.607 SMS colours delivered in PDF and ASE format. Instructions on how to design and convert SMS colours to CMYK are available here. Further information on how to use SMS colours in design here.                                                                                                                            Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                           EUR 120                               Add to cart

P20o Standard, version 7 - Home & Office - natural colours for all general purposes and maximum online colour consistency. Labelled SMS colour patches (v7) for professional design and colour correct marketing in all media. 869 new colours! Completely neutral black and grays (line 42). See a list of supported colour spaces here.  The Home & Office colours are furthermore adapted for "regular" PC Laptops showing approx. 60% of the sRGB colourspace for maximum colour consistency cross digital displays. 2.607 SMS colours delivered in PDF and ASE format. Instructions on how to design and convert SMS colours to CMYK are available here. Further information on how to use SMS colours in design here.                                                                                                                            Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                         EUR 120                                  Add to cart

P20 Standard, version 7 - natural colours for all general purposes Labelled SMS colour patches (v7) for professional design and colour correct marketing in all media. 869 new colours! Completely neutral black and grays (line 42). See a list of supported colour spaces here.  2.607 SMS colours delivered in PDF and ASE format. Instructions on how to design and convert SMS colours to CMYK are available here. Further information on how to use SMS colours in design here.                                                                                                                            Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                         EUR 120                                    Add to cart

P20xo MAX, version 7 - vivid colours for packaging and maximum online colour consistency. Labelled SMS colour patches (v7) for for professional design and colour correct marketing in all media. 869 new colours! Completely neutral black and grays (line 42). See a list of supported colour spaces here.  The Home & Office colours are furthermore adapted for "regular" PC Laptops showing approx. 60% of the sRGB colourspace for maximum colour consistency cross digital displays. 2.607 SMS colours delivered in PDF and ASE format. Instructions on how to design and convert  SMS colours to CMYK are available here. Further information on how to use SMS colours in design here.    Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                       EUR 120                                     Add to cart

P20x MAX, version 7 - vivid colours for packaging Labelled SMS colour patches (v6) for for professional design and colour correct marketing in all media. Completely neutral black and grays (line 42). See a list of supported colour spaces here.  2.607 SMS colours delivered in PDF format. Instructions for P20x users on how to design and convert their own SMS colours to CMYK are available here. Further information on how to use SMS colours in design here.    Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                       EUR 120                                   Add to cart

P20sx SuperMAX, version 7 - super vivid colours for packaging (ECG - Extended Colour Gamut) Labelled SMS colour patches (v7) for for professional design and colour correct marketing in all media. NOTE: sx colours are not suited for regular CMYK printing. They require printers/printshops that offer ECG - Extended Colour Gamut printing. Completely neutral black and grays (line 42). See a list of supported colour spaces here.  2.607 SMS colours delivered in PDF and ASE format. Instructions for P20sx users on how to design and convert their own SMS colours for extended gamut printing are available here. Further information on how to use SMS colours in design here.    Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                      EUR 120                                    Add to cart

P60a_512 ColourBox PC Laptop/Notebook suited for graphic work using the SMS Home & Office colours: 15.6" display PC laptop, 16GB/512GB SSD, suited for home and office or school work. The SMS Home & Office colours are created based on the physical gamut of the display of the P60 laptop, which is approx. 45% of the NTSC colour gamut or approx. 60% of the sRGB, so this PC laptop could be referred to as a "typical" PC laptop used by millions of people around the world today.  Included with the purhase are the SMS ECO v7 colour palette  (2.607 colours), the SMS Standard v7 Home & Office colour palette (2.607 colours) and the SMS MAX v7 Home and Office colour palette (2.607 colours). A second display can be connected via Mini HDML if you are also working with the original SMS colours (that require at least 100% sRGB). See more details here.                                                                                                                            Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                       EUR 549                                      Add to cart

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P60b_1TB ColourBox PC Laptop/Notebook suited for graphic work using the SMS Home & Office colours:   15.6" display PC laptop, 16GB/1TB SSD, suited for home and office or school work. The SMS Home & Office colours are created based on the physical gamut of the display of the P60 laptop, which is approx. 45% of the NTSC colour gamut or approx. 60% of the sRGB, so this PC laptop could be referred to as a "typical" PC laptop used by millions of people around the world today. Included with the purhase are the SMS ECO v7 colour palette (2.607 colours), the SMS Standard v7 Home & Office colour palette (2.607 colours) and the SMS MAX v7 Home and Office colour palette (2.607 colours). A second display can be connected via Mini HDML if you are also working with the original SMS colours (that require at least 100% sRGB). See more details here.                                                                                                                            Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order by email.                      EUR 599                                      Add to cart

P9: SMS CMYK colour for CMYK printing to ISO 12647 standard see supported colour spaces:                                                                                                                                         EUR 30 per colour per variation.    Add to cart

SMS SWITCH! Existing logo / layout converted to your own custom SMS colours

P10: SWITCH Existing logo / layout page or ASE swatch palette converted to the SMS colour standard of your choice (ECO, Standard, Standard Home & Office, MAX, MAX Home & Office or SuperMAX).  Delivered in sRGB and one CMYK format of your choosing. A lifetime SMS brand license is included.                                                                                           EUR 140 per company/institution/brand                                 Add to cart

Subscription to the Spot Matching System

Brand Owners/Brands/Companies/Institutions

Suited for small and large entities, that have an official logo in colour(s) or official colours,
as well as for individual product- and service brands that require cross-media colour consistency .

Each SMS subscription is valid for one entity / one brand only.

Brand Owners that wish to subscribe to SMS need to appoint at least one so-called "super user", who is responsible for that designers, working with the brand colours of the brand owner, will work 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 on behalf of the brand owner, has to be fluent in the English language and must furthermore be advanced in use of the Adobe Suite.

He or she, after proving his or her ability to work with SMS colours and to convert them to all relevant media for correct reproduction will receive an SMS READY Expert certificate, which will remain valid during the term of his or her work for the subscribed brand (see P21 here above).

Optionally the Brand Owner may appoint an existing SMS READY Expert on a freelance basis to handle all communications with Spot-Nordic, Advertising Agencies, Printshops and Manufacturers responsibe for reproduction of the SMS colours of the brand - see further information about the SMS READY Expert certification - here above.

Brand Owners are optionally allowed to hand over communications and responsibility (including super user responsibility) over their SMS brand colours to an SMS READY Agency, - see here below "Advertising Agencies / Creative Agencies".

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 subscription period - 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 subscribers 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.

Spot-Nordic will assist Brand Owners that subscribe to SMS in locating SMS READY Experts, Design Agencies, Printers and/or manufacturers if required.

Subscription includes:

• SMS CMYK version of corporate/brand colours for industry standard printing (Fogra, G7 or custom colourspaces), Web and Television, Standard, ECO or MAX colours in all print or RGB variations required.
  
  Or

• Re-colourization of an exisiting brand logo to SMS colours suited for visually consistent industry standard printing, for web and TV.
  Issuing of a unique SMS ID for the logo as a whole (v.s. individual SMS colours) - see P10 SWITCH here above.
  
  In this case the brand owner needs to decide whether to align to ECO, Standard, Standard Home & Office,, MAX, MAX Home & Office or SuperMAX SMS standards. Included are all CMYK print variations required - see SMS features.
  
  For P10 re-colourization, the logo and the brand colours should be sent to support@spotmatchingsystem.com in sRGB, PNG or PDF format. Each individual logo colour must be shown clearly, preferably as a colour cube/patch and will be issued a custom SMS name, to be used in all design for the customer and when communicating with Spot-Nordic.
  

• Web and Television version of the chosen SMS colours, SMS logo and SMS images are included.
  
  Please provide Spot-Nordic with the names of Designers/Agencies, print shops etc. (outside of your own company) that are allowed to request SMS colour variations on your behalf or make changes to your SMS brand colours. Make sure to communicate your customer ID to them, once you have subscribed.
  

• Your brand colours in HEX format for use in the office (delivered in Excel format) Included

• 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

• P17: Print job registration (job ID) incl. technical settings and substrate description for easy re-printing: Included

• Saving of customer's official brand identity manual in sRGB format:  Included

• "Crash Course" for key staff members via Skype or Microsoft Teams (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 (using both SMS tickets and spectral measurements).
  
  SMS training and advisory services beyond 30 minutes or for non-subscribers: EUR 140 pr. hour (max 3 participants).

• Technical support via email and Messenger/Skype/What's App (English only). Brand Owner may direct any questions concerning their Brand Colours to support@spotmatchingsystem.com for handling.
  
  Support includes communicating with Printshops and manufacturers to confirm their printing standard as well as communicating with Advertising Agencies / Designers, responsible for layout / design of the job in question to ensure successful reproduction of SMS colours in CMYK
  

• Discounted prices for SMS products (see above).
  
  In addition the following services are available:
  

  P14b: Closest PANTONE spot colour to a standard SMS colour for paper, plastic or textile: EUR 30 per colour.

P16: Rating of SMS printed colours (physical copy must be sent to our address): EUR 50 per job.

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 Printer/manufacturer uses and which CMYK icc profile is recommended.

We are happy to communicate with your Printer/manufacturer to establish this on your behalf.

If there are changes made to international printing standards or specifications, including the ISO 12647 standard, 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/icc profile to be used) to their quote for smooth re-printing, and preferably to send additional print related information, if required after printing - see P17b below.

SKU P40: EUR 950 per year.                                                                                                                                            

Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to subscribe or place your order in our webshop.

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SMS READY certification for agencies and print shops

Advertising Agencies / Creative Agencies

SMS READY Agencies are Agencies that are certified by Spot-Nordic to be able 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 employee.
 
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.

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 (see instructions here).

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.

Subscription includes:

• 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.
  

• 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 furtermore 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 in the Brand Owner section. 
  
  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 P17b below.
  
  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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Print shops

Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com to order or buy it online in our webshop if you have already passed the SMS test and decided your own rating (gold, silver or bronze).

Other Manufacturers

Manufacturers that carry the SMS READY certificate may create their own icc profiles using the actual colours of the Spot Matching System to minimize the dE00 of each individual SMS colour and even add them to the normal colours used for characterization for specific colour gamuts. Based on our experience, using the SMS colours to build an icc profile gives the most accurate result – and offers also the advantage that each manufacturer can provide a colour by colour dE00 prediction for each individual SMS colour.

Each manufacturer of an SMS READY product is kept in the loop as we develop and new colours and even new SMS colour palettes are added, making it possible for them to help promote SMS colours as an excellent choice for brands and designers and at the same time, given the fact that the Spot Matching System is based on the ISO 12647 standard for CMYK printing, they help promote this standard alongside their own product(s).

Version 7 of the Spot Matching System, presented in October 2025 is the first SMS colour palette and currently the only colour palette in the world that contains colours intended for expanded gamut printing, - CMYKOGV or XCMYK.

SMS READY products are promoted and recommended by Spot-Nordic and its dealers.

The SMS READY certification is available for instance for manufacturers in the following categories:

Digital Displays/Monitors/TV displays/LED displays       

Manufacturers in these categories that manufacture digital displays that can be calibrated with display calibrators such as the Calibrite or Spyder display calibrators and are capable of displaying at least the Home & Office version of the SMS colours - requiring the physical colourspace of the display to be at least 45% NTSC/60% sRGB (for a certification for the ECO (e), Standard Home & Office (o) and MAX Home & Office (xo)) - or 100% of the sRGB gamut for a full range SMS READY certificate - ensuring correct displaying of all 6 colour palettes of the Spot Matching System, can apply for an SMS READY certificate for their displays.

Colourserver + RIP / Workflow server

Manufacturers of workflow servers, that are capable of outputting PDF files prepared with the icc profiles included for reproduction of SMS colours for either direct or indirect output can apply for an SMS READY certificate.

Colourserver + RIP + Printer/Press + (optional) substrate - combination.         

Manufacturers of Colour servers, digital printers/digital presses/proofing devices + optionally specific substrates, that are capable of handling PDF files prepared with icc profiles included for reproduction of SMS colours for direct output and consistent printing of SMS colour to standards within a combined MAX dE00 of 2 or less can apply for an SMS READY certificate.

Inks, dyes and paint (any material)         

Manufacturers in these categories that have the technology and capacity to commit to producing a recipe and a colour sample (if requested), ink, dye or paint which, when applied to the intended material, will match any requested SMS colour, visually and instrumentally, in D50 or D65 light, with a MAX dE2000 difference of 1 or less, once the sample is dry, can apply for an SMS READY certificate for their products.

Paper/substrates suited for printing

Papertypes that are consistent with papertypes suited for printing of SMS colours - see here, that the manufacturer commits to manufacture with a white point within a dE2000 of 2 or less from the respective standard white point can apply for an SMS READY certificate.

Printer/digital press + Paper/Media (combination)        

Any combination of a Printer + Paper/Media capable of reproducing either SMS ECO, SMS Standard or SMS MAX colours within a MAX dE00 of 2 or less, is qualified for an SMS READY certificate.

The certification can be issued both to either the manufacturer or to a authorized local reseller of the Printer or the media (SMS READY Expert training required).

Product Manufacturers         

Product manufacturers in any category, that are capable of consistently reproducing products dyed in SMS colours within a MAX dE of 2 (colour measured with a 0/45 instrument at either D50 or D65 and compared to the SMS master LAB values) can apply for an SMS READY certificate.

QC software and hardware   

Software and hardware (including spectral and density measurement devices) that support and aid with consistent printing of SMS colours can apply for an SMS READY certificate.
Spectral measurement devices need to measure any SMS colour within a dE00 of 2 or less from the actual LAB value of the printed sample to be considered.

Contact sms@spot-nordic.com for more information and assistance.

Software Manufacturers         

Software manufacturers in any category, that wish to include the colour palettes of the Spot Matching System within their software can apply for an SMS READY certificate.

Spectrophotometers/spectrodensitometers         

Spectrophotometers / Spectro Densitometers that are capable of consistently measuring SMS colours within an accuracy and MAX dE of 0,2 (0/45 instrument at either D50 or D65 and colours compared to the SMS master LAB values) can apply for an SMS READY certificate.

Other products   

Please contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com if you are manufacturing a product that doesn’t belong in one of the above categories, that you believe could benefit from an SMS READY certification.

Contact support@spotmatchingsystem.com if you believe your product is SMS READY.

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