ColorBurst RIP Ver. 7.0 Linearization, Ink-Limit and Profile Creation Process on Windows Machines Step 1: Select your setup Environment In the interface select printer setup. Choose the folder that corresponds to your printer model. Choose the setup file for your printer (For example the setup file for the HP 5000 is named: Setup HP 5K.env). If you are not going to do your own linearization, ink-limiting and profiling you would select an environment that corresponds to the paper you are using and you can stop reading this document. Step 2: Select Linearization Target Go to FILE, OPEN and then choose the TESTFILE folder (It will be in the ColorBurst folder). Inside the TESTFILE folder will be a folder named LINEARIZATIONS AND PROFILING TARGETS. Open it and choose the file that matches your spectrophotometer. ColorBurst Strip Lin.tif is used for the X-Rite DTP 41 and the Gretag Eye One. ColorBurst XY Lin.tif is used for the Gretag Spectrolino Step 3: Print Linearization Target Print file (just click on START in the file information box that will be displayed) The file will be printed with 100% of your CMYK (Or CMYKOG if you are printing HI-FI) primaries. By printing out at 100% ColorBurst will be able to determine a printers maximum ink Density. This will be important later.
Step 4: Start the ColorBurst ColorCatch program. (the alias is on the Windows desktop. It was created during installation) Select FILE- NEW JOB. Step 5: Give Job a name and file in details Type in a name for your job, Choose your Spectrophotometer, and Choose your Spectrophotometer connection. If you like you can fill in information about your printer, Media, Ink, and Resolution. ColorCatch can recall this information later for reference.
Step 6: Measure the Linearization Target Choose the Target type that you are measuring and click on Connect. Then proceed to measure the patches. After measurements are completed ColorBurst ColorCatch will automatically save the linearization file to the Linearization folder inside ColorBurst. If you intend to build an ICC Profile, leave ColorCatch running after completing the linearization measurement. You will come back to this dialogue to measure your profile creation patches in step 11. DTP 41 Operation: Click connect to initialize the unit. Then place the Cyan strip into the unit and press the black button on top of the 41. Patches will be automatically pulled through and measured. Repeat this process for Magenta, Yellow, and Black Eye One Operation: Click connect to initialize the device. Then place the Cyan strip under the guidance bar that was included with the Eye One. Press in the button on the side of the Eye One and paused for a second. Then proceed to scanning the Cyan strip. Repeat this process for Magenta, Yellow, and Black Spectrolino Operation: Click connect to initialize the device. Using the arrows on the front panel of the spectroscan position the crosshairs at the upper left corner of the target. Use the enter button on the spectroscan to accept the position. Repeat this process in the top right and lower right corners. Once completed click start and your target will be automatically measured.
Step 7: Click the OPTIONS Menu in the ColorBurst RIP Select LINEARIZATION OPTIONS. Click on the ALLOW LINEARIZATION box. In the same window go to the LINEARIZATION FILE: space and click FIND. Go to the ColorBurst LIN folder that your linearization Job was stored in. When you have done this your DMAX settings for your printer and ink combination will be in bold letters. Now Click the REDUCE DMAX button and it will update your desired densities. Click copy to make the.lin file local. Click OK then go to printer setup and save your new environment with a new name (CAUTION: Do not name it as a Setup). Name it for your printer and ink combination Step 8: Print ink limit test In the file information window click add and go to the TESTFILE folder. Select the file: CSE MEDIA INK LIMIT.EPS and print it. The ink test chart will contain CMYK builds and is what you will use to determine your total ink limit. Select the first CMYK patch that is totally dry (no smearing, clean edges, no bleed through in the back, and absolutely no ink buildup) If none of the patches are acceptable at the 200% level or above, go back into ColorBurst and click the OPTIONS- COLOR ADJUSTMENTS TAB, Reduce your ink primaries by 10% and re-linearize (your.lin file will no longer be valid). Never ink limit below 200%. Repeat this process at 5% increments until you get a dry patch at 200%
Step 9: Open the OPTIONS menu. Select COLOR ADJUSTMENTS In COLOR ADJUSTMENTS select the INK LIMITS tab. Click on the ENABLE INK LIMITS box and type in the number you decided upon with the INK LIMIT TEST. All other features should be left at the defaults. Click OK and save the environment again with the same name you gave it earlier. (This is simply to insure that all your changes are saved in case of power outages). * The DO NOT LIMIT BLACK BEYOND A PERCENT OF ITS ORIGINAL VALUE Box must always be checked on and set at 80% Step 10: Print Profile Target Patches In the file information box click on ADD. Go to the TESTFILE folder and open the subfolder named Linearization and Profiling Targets. If you plan to measure the patches with either the DTP 41 or the Gretag EYE ONE, select and print the files STRIP CMYK PROFILE-PAGE 1.TIF STRIP CMYK PROFILE-PAGE 2.TIF STRIP CMYK PROFILE-PAGE 3.TIF STRIP CMYK PROFILE-PAGE 4.TIF If you are using the Gretag Spectrolino to measure the patches select and print the files: XY CMYK PROFILE-PAGE 1.TIF XY CMYK PROFILE-PAGE 2.TIF
Step 11: Go Back to the ColorCatch program. If you have left ColorCatch open proceed to step 12. If you closed ColorCatch select your previous job in the File Open menu. It will not overwrite your linearization. Linearization files and ICC Profiles are in different formats so the names will be saved with different extensions. Step 12: Change the Target Name (STRIP CMYK PROFILE for the EYE ONE or DTP 41 and XY CMYK Profile for the Spectrolino. Step 13: Read patches Take care to always make sure you are reading the correct row. ColorCatch provides visual feedback that helps ensure this. After each row is finished the DTP 41 and EYE ONE units will beep confirming that the row is competed and successful. If there is not an audible beep use your mouse to highlight the row that was unsuccessful and read it again. Once the job is finished it will automatically be saved to the Lin folder in a.cie format.
Step 14: Creating a profile In the ColorBurst RIP Go to ICC PROFILE OPTIONS and Click on the BUILD PROFILE TAB Click on FIND then go to the Lin folder where the measurement job was saved. Select your measurement file (it will end in.cie). Name your profile and enter a name for it in the description field (again it is advised that you give it a name that describes your printer, ink, and media combination. Click BUILD PROFILE and your profile will be generated and saved. Most profiles can be built with the Default settings. Step 15: FINAL STEP Click on the GENERAL TAB. Turn on ENABLE ICC PROFILE COLOR MANAGEMENT. Click on the OUTPUT PROFILES TAB. Hit the find button and select the profile you have created. Click OK and then save your environment again. You are now ready to print with your own custom profile. The environment will contain your linearization, your ink limit, and your profile settings.