Newspapers AQL Policy

Use these quality criteria alongside the AQL quality inspection guide to determine the severity of defects present in a given lot.

Cutting	Optimum	Minor	Major	Critical

Print-to-cut registration

1/64"

1/32"

> 1/32"

Handling	Optimum	Minor	Major	Critical

Dog ear

None

–

Present

Printing (Lithography)	Optimum	Minor	Major	Critical

Print plate registration

1/16"

1/8"

> 1/8"

Fold alignment

–

1/32"

> 1/32"

Water spots

None

–

Present

Oil spots

None

–

Present

Tinting

None

–

Present

Slurring

–

20% +/- 3%

20% +/- 6%

Dot gain

–

20% +/- 3%

20% +/- 6%

Print plate registration

None

–

Present

Graininess

None

–

Present

Ghosting

None

–

Present

Print plate registration

None

–

Present

Stray marks

–

1/32 × 1/2" max

1/16" × 1/2" max