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The Color Management Process includes calibration of monitors, scanners, printers and correct media profiling to ensure proper color ouput.
ENCAD offers basic over the phone technical support for color profiling. You may also wish to contact your RIP vendor directly for color management technical training. Most industry training classes offered are 2 days in length. The basic color management steps below are suggested to obtain correct color output.
Step 1. Maintain a controlled environment (ideal temperature and humidity ranges preferred) Step 2. Calibrate scanner using an IT8 Target. Note: RGB input control
Step 3. Calibrate monitor using Adobe’s PhotoShop® monitor calibration or 3rd party monitor calibration software. Note: RGB input control
Step 4. Calibrate printer by performing the the color deadband and color calibrations. Note: CMYK (G, O, ML,CL,MM,or CM) output control
Step 5. Print a test swatch (target) to printer from the color calibration software (I.e. Colorblind®, Praxisoft™, Colorwise™, etc.) or from the RIPs color calibration software. Notes: Each calibration is Ink and Media specific. In a typical workflow you would begin with this step when profiling to a new media type or when printheads reach near end of life. The purpose is to adjust the color shifts which normally occur due to humidity changes, printhead life, or most importantly when media is changed or introduced.
Step 6. Use a spectrodensitomer device to measure the swatches or targets (input manually or automatically) and build the correct linearization curves.
Color Savvy’s ColorMouseToo™ CM2S Spectrophotometer (suggested low end cost tool) *manual operation
Color Savvy’s ColorControlStation™ (suggested medium-end cost tool) *automatic operation. X-Rite® offers higher end calibration equipment for professional color calibration and management.
Build and modify linearization curves (there are various types of RIP color calibration software and 3rd party color calibration software). The purpose is to adjust for ongoing color shifts.
Step 7. Save the new profile to the .icc file format (.icm is not suggested) and give profile a recognizable name to link into the RIP software later. I.e. GXOcto850_QISRevBacklit Step 8.Now lets print! At RIP ensure 3 critical input selections have been made prior to printing: - Ink Type (GS+, GX, GO) - Media Type (be very specific) - Monitor Type (Input RGB)
Step 9. At the RIP ensure critical output selections have been made prior to printing: - CMYK output mode - Output Profile is correct (this setting will have the largest impact on color more than anything else) - Dithering preference (varies)
Note: calibrating to Pantone® processed colors can be difficult (typically 90 to 93% of the Pantone colors can only be targeted due to the wide Pantone color range) and may be unobtainable due to gamut differences. This is a limitation of most wide format printers with current ink chemistry solutions. The color adjustments may be made in PhotoShop®, but can be extremely frustrating.
Review At the RIP (Raster Image Processor), four critical settings must be made to ensure proper color output. Always keep inputs to RGB format, the RIP will convert to CMYK colors (ensure this output mode is selected).
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