DisplayMaker Legacy ColorMark+ User Guide Part Number 0706133 Rev C 1
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Revision Log Revision Log See the accompanying Release Notes for specific changes to the software and hardware between releases of the manual. Date Description May 1999 Initial release. Aug 1999 Revised for version 1.1. Chapter 2 documents extensive changes to the Profile Creation Wizard, and new support for the ColorMark Calibrator. Sep 2000 Revised for version 2.0. Chapters 2 and 4 replaced with new procedures. Chapter 5 updated with new features that were added to version 1.5.
About This Manual iv This manual explains how to use the ColorMark+ Advanced Color Management System. ColorMark+ enables you to create custom color profiles and manipulate properties in ColorSpan RIP Saver files. ColorMark+ is a suite of software applications that enhances the standard ColorMark Color Management System and ColorSpan Print Server Software. ◆ Chapter 1, Getting Started, provides software installation instructions and an overview of the product.
Related Documentation This manual is a supplement to the System Control User Guide, which shows you how to use the ColorSpan print server, and the ColorSpan Printing Tools User Guide, which show you how to print to ColorSpan printers. The following related technical support documents are available from the MacDermid ColorSpan Technical Support web site at www.colorspan.
Conventions vi This manual uses the following informational conventions: Note A Note is a special technique or information that may help you perform a task or understand a process. Caution A Caution alerts you to something that has the potential to cause damage to hardware, software, or data.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Revision Log.............................................................................................. iii About This Manual ................................................................................... iv Related Documentation......................................................................... v Conventions..............................................................................................
Supported Applications ..................................................................... 3-6 Laying Out a Document .................................................................... 3-7 Printing Separations........................................................................... 3-7 Working with ICC Workflow Jobs on the ColorSpan Print Server ......... 3-9 Server Errors You May Encounter ...................................................... 3-9 Tips for Printing with Gamut+ Inks ...................
CHAPTER 1 Getting Started This chapter explains: Getting Started ◆ Installing ColorMark+ - includes system requirements, supported server hardware and external devices, and supported printers (page 1-2) ◆ What is ColorMark+? (page 1-6) ◆ Color Management Overview - you should understand this information to effectively use the ColorMark+ software (page 1-8) 1-1
Installing ColorMark+ The ColorMark+TM Advanced Color Management System software is an enhancement to the ColorSpan® Print Server Software. To install the ColorMark+ software, you will need these parts from the ColorMark+ product kit: ◆ ColorMark Key — this device enables the ColorMark+ software. During the installation, you will enable the server’s parallel port so the ColorMark Key can be detected.
Note If you have both types of printers connected to a single server, and want to create profiles for both types, you must have both version 1.5 and version 3.0 installed on the server. In this case, be sure to install version 1.5 first, then install version 3.0. Unless otherwise specified, this manual refers to version 3.0 or later. For further information about ColorMark+ version 1.5, refer to the User Guide that accompanies the software.
To install the ColorMark+ software: 1. Install the electronic ColorMark Key on the print server. The electronic ColorMark key identifies the server as having the ColorMark+ software installed. Securely attach the ColorMark Key to the parallel port of the print server. It will only fit on the correct port. 2. Power on the ColorSpan server and access the BIOS setup program. If you are using a ColorMark Pro 1.5G, 1G, or 8000, or RIPStation 700/800 or 1G, go to Step 5.
9. Install the external device. If you are using an external input device, connect it to the serial port on the ColorSpan print server otherwise used for the ColorMark Calibrator. Refer to the Quick Start Guide that accompanies the server for specific location. Connect the device to power as described in its accompanying manual. If the server does not detect the device, try disconnecting the power supply plug from the device, then reconnecting it.
What is ColorMark+? ColorMark+ is a suite of software applications that enhances the standard ColorMark Color Management System and ColorSpan Print Server Software. ColorMark+ enables you to: ◆ Create and edit custom color profiles — profiles measure, or characterize, the color properties of a specific media and ink combination to ensure accurate and consistent color matching. When you create a profile, it is automatically saved in both ColorSpan (.CX) and ICC (.ICM) formats.
◆ Macintosh Formatting - The Apple ColorSync software requires that ICC profiles have a particular type and creator before it will display them as an available color profile. Macromedia Freehand for Macintosh also has special header information it requires for ICC support. The Macintosh utility Prepare ICC Profile, included with ColorMark+, makes the necessary changes automatically. See “Macintosh File Format” on page 3-5 for instructions.
Color Management Overview To take full advantage of the ColorMark+ software, you should understand the following concepts: ◆ How Color is Defined ◆ Why Color Management is Needed ◆ How Color Management Works Each of these topics is introduced on the following pages. The entire scope of color management issues as they relate to digital imagery and wide format output is beyond the scope of this manual. For further information, refer to the publications listed on page v.
Colors on your monitor need to be reproduced by printing ink on paper. Spot colors are reproduced with pre-mixed inks, while process colors, such as the Standard Web Offset Press set (SWOP), are reproduced with cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks (CMYK). Spot color inks (for example, the PANTONE Matching System) provide a much larger color gamut than CMYK process inks used by ink jet printers and offset presses.
The CIE L*a*b* Color Model The non-linear CIE Yxy color model was mathematically transformed in 1976 to the uniform CIE L*a*b* model, in which distances between colors more closely match those perceived. All colors of the same lightness lie on a circular flat plane, across which are the a* and b* axes. Positive a* values are reddish, negative a* values are greenish, positive b* values are yellowish and negative b* values are bluish. Lightness varies in the vertical direction. Fig. 1-1.
How Color Management Works ◆ The conversion of scanned RGB data to CMYK separations differs from one program to another. ◆ Proofing devices vary widely in color rendering (i.e. the way they visualize colors) due to pigment and substrate characteristics. ◆ Viewing proofs and printed matter under non-standard lighting conditions introduces errors of judgment. ◆ Ink-based press adjustments permit wide variations in ink densities. ◆ Alternative ink sets and paper types affect color rendering.
ColorMark Profiles ColorMark format (.CX) profiles are stored on the ColorSpan print server, and can be copied between ColorSpan servers. Once created and stored, they are used by the ColorMark CMS, and can be edited using the ColorMark+ software. Fig. 1-2.
ICC Profiles The International Color Consortium (ICC) has defined a highquality, extendible, and interchangeable color profile format. The format is based on the Apple ColorSync 1.0 profile format. The ICC color profiles are described in a platform-independent format and can be used to translate color data created on one device into another device’s native color space.
Once created by ColorMark+, the ICC (.ICM) output profile is copied to the user’s workstation, where it is used by applications that support ICC profiles. The user’s application sends color-corrected output to the ColorSpan print server in the form of grasslike separations (one for each process color). In this case, no color correction is performed at the server (although calibration is performed on the server).
CHAPTER 2 Creating Profiles This chapter explains how to create a color profile. The profile creation process yields one ColorSpan format profile and one ICC profile. Refer to Chapter 3, Applying Profiles, for instructions on using these different profiles.
Creating Profiles The profile creation process involves the following steps: 1. Preparation ◆ Perform an AutoSet calibration (for DisplayMaker, except FabriJet). Getting the cartridges properly aligned and jets mapped as needed is essential to creating an accurate profile. ◆ Calibrate the external input device (spectrophotometer) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 2. Select Ink and Media ◆ Select the color set for the profile. Each color set has a different profile target.
Preparation 1. Load the combination of media and ink that you want to profile. 2. Perform an AutoSet calibration (for DisplayMaker, except FabriJet). Getting the cartridges properly aligned and jets mapped as needed is essential to creating an accurate profile. Refer to the printer’s User Manual for instructions. 3. Calibrate the DTP41 or DTP41T. (The GretagMacBeth Spectrolino does not need calibration.) 4. From the System Control interface on the server, rightclick a printer icon to open the icon menu. 5.
The Select Color Set dialog box appears. Fig. 2-2. Select Color Set 7. From the Select Color Set dialog box: ◆ Click Next to accept the color set shown, or ◆ Click a color to eliminate it from the profile (a minimum of CMYK must be selected), then click Next Note ColorMark+ creates profiles with CMYK (including medium and light densities of cyan and magenta), plus zero or two or more Gamut+ colors (red, green, blue, orange).
The Select Media dialog box appears. Fig. 2-3. Select Media 8. From the Select Media dialog box: Creating Profiles ◆ Select a media name from the list, or click Add New Media to enter a custom media name. ◆ Check the Backlit Media? checkbox if the media is a translucent film (supported only with the DTP 41-T). Be sure to set the switch on the DTP41-T device to “TW” for backlit media. ◆ Check the Textile Media? checkbox for fabric and soft signage media.
The Choose Saturation Level dialog box appears. Fig. 2-4. Choose Saturation Level 9. From the Choose Saturation Level dialog box, enter a new Maximum Ink Level, or click Next to accept the default shown. The software searches for an external device or printer’s onboard device. Linearize 2-6 10. Choose whether to use the external device, onboard device (camera), or file for linearization.
11. Check the Skip Camera checkbox if you do not want to print and read the onboard device linearization target. If you choose Skip Camera, linearization will finish faster, but you will not be able to Calibrate the profile with the onboard device. 12. Check the Skip Printing check box if you want to skip printing the linearization targets and use previouslyprinted onboard and external device targets, or files with onboard and external device density data.
Read the Color Characterization Target 17. Select a target quality. Best reads the most targets and is the most accurate, but it takes the longest to complete. 18. Click Next. The software searches for an external device or printer’s onboard device (camera). Profiles with up to six colors (CMYK plus two Gamut+ colors) can be generated by the camera or external device. Profiles with more than two Gamut+ colors require an external device. 19.
Fig. 2-6.
Save the Profile to Disk 25. If you wish, edit the profile. Refer to Chapter 4, Editing Profiles, for instructions. 26. Click Save to save the profile to disk. A dialog box appears, informing you that the profile needs to be completed. 27. Enter a file name for the profile, and click Save. The Edit Profile window reappears, with the gamut of the profile shown as a black outline over the picture of the CIE color space.
If You Make a Mistake If you make a mistake while reading target strips (or patches using the ColorMark Calibrator), you can overwrite, insert, or delete readings at any time before you click the Accept Readings button. Accept Readings Delete strip Insert strip Fig. 2-7. Inserting or deleting strips To overwrite a strip: 1. Click the Insert button. The cursor changes to the Insert symbol. 2. Click once on the strip you want to overwrite. 3. Read the strip.
To delete a strip: 1. Click the Delete button. The cursor changes to the Delete symbol. 2. Double-click an existing strip. The existing strip you selected is deleted.
CHAPTER 3 Applying Profiles This chapter shows you how to use a profile you created by following the instructions in Chapter 2, Creating Profiles. The profile creation process yields one ColorSpan format profile and one ICC profile. This chapter shows you how to use these different profiles.
Copying a Profile to Another Server or Workstation Once you have created a ColorSpan (.CX) profile, you can begin using it immediately on the server on which it was created. ColorSpan profiles can also be copied between ColorSpan servers that are running the same version of the ColorMark+ software. To install an ICC profile on a client workstation, copy the file from the server into the folder that is appropriate for your operating system.
ColorSpan Workflow Selecting a ColorMark Profile Once you have created a ColorSpan (.CX) profile, you can begin using it immediately on the server on which it was created. ColorMark profiles can also be copied between ColorSpan servers that are running the same version of the ColorMark+ software. ColorSpan profiles do not use any files on the client workstations. The profile you specify determines the color and calibration data applied to each document.
◆ From the Manage Profiles dialog box, you can view the profiles that apply to the current printer, and reset the calibration data for any profile. If you select a profile here and click Default, the software asks you whether you want to apply the profile to all ports routed to the printer. If not, no changes are made. Click Reset to reset calibration data for the highlighted profile Click to delete (only if created with ColorMark+ 2.0 or later) Fig. 3-2.
ICC Workflow Once created on the ColorSpan print server, the ICC profile must be copied to a client workstation, where it is used by a supported application to create color-corrected output. When copying ICC profiles to another ColorSpan print server, be sure to also copy the corresponding ColorSpan (.CX) profile. The server always needs the .CX profile to properly RIP and print files.
hand. Copy it to your Macintosh and uncompress it with Aladdin/Stuffit Expander or MindVision MindExpander. (You can also download this utility from the ColorSpan print server at ftp://[address]/colormark/mac_icc/, where [address] is the IP address of the server. For more information about the print server’s built-in FTP server, see “Copying a Profile to Another Server or Workstation” on page 3-2.) To prepare a new ICC profile (.ICM file) for use on the Macintosh, drag it to the Prepare ICC Profile icon.
Laying Out a Document Since you will be printing separated output to the ColorSpan server, it is important that no unsupported spot colors are specified within the document or within any graphic files that are imported into or linked to the main document. If spot colors do exist in, for example, various imported EPS graphics, the separated output will consist of one for each process color plus one for each spot color.
In the Apple LaserWriter 8 setup dialog box, leave the Print Color as “Color/Grayscale.” When creating color separations, which are required for ICC output, this setting causes the application (rather than the LaserWriter driver) to apply color correction and create the separations. Fig. 3-3.
Working with ICC Workflow Jobs on the ColorSpan Print Server Server Errors You May Encounter Once the ICC workflow print job has arrived on your ColorSpan print server, it will generally behave like a ColorSpan workflow print job. There are several exceptions, however: ◆ The full-screen preview will show only the color separations as grayscale images. To scroll through the plates, press the PageUp and PageDown keys on the computer keyboard. ◆ MediaSaver is not available for ICC workflow print jobs.
Tips for Printing with Gamut+ Inks Images printed to extended process color ink sets (such as HiFi CMYKOG) on offset presses are often saved in Lab color space. For best results on ColorSpan printers, always save images in RGB color space. This will produce the largest gamut and least number of color space conversions. Inside the normal CMYK gamut, most colors will be reproduced using the CMY inks even in the ROGB (Gamut+) hue areas.
CHAPTER 4 Editing Profiles This section explains how you can edit output profiles.
How the Color Curves Affect Printing When you alter a color profile, you are determining when and how the various inks will be used to print certain colors. You are not globally altering the appearance of colors in the printed output. To do this for individual images, use the Color Adjustment Tool (see Chapter 5, Manipulating RIP Saver Files, for instructions).
Editing Profiles You can edit profiles that you created with ColorMark+, or edit certain ColorSpan-created profiles and save them with a different file name. Note 1. You cannot use ColorMark+ 3.0 to edit profiles created with previous versions of ColorMark+. From the System Control interface on the server, rightclick a printer icon to open the icon menu. 2. From the printer icon menu, select Manage Profiles... The Manage Profiles dialog box appears. 3.
4. Click the Options button. The Options dialog box appears. 5. Set the Primary Colors properties. Fig. 4-2. Primary Colors properties Use the Primary Colors control to specify where you want Cyan, Yellow, and Magenta used along the lightness (L) axis of the L*a*b* color space, as a percentage of the distance from the bottom (black) to the top (white) of the axis. Changing these parameters can eliminate the appearance of contrasting dots of color in lighter areas.
6. Set the UCR Black properties. Fig. 4-3. UCR Black properties This dialog box allows you to select a preset UCR curve, or select Custom and adjust: ◆ Black Level Curve — the smoothness of gradations between gray tones; a higher percentage yields smoother gradations ◆ Maximum Black Ink — the amount of black ink used for a given percentage of black called for in the image Black and gray hues are created by printing with either Black or a combination of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow inks.
7. Set the Gamut Boundary. Fig. 4-4. Gamut Boundary properties For ColorMark format (.CX) profiles, this option allows you to change the shape of the boundary surface of the gamut. This parameter affects the transitions between adjacent colors in the gamut, as well as between high chroma and low chroma values within hues. By lowering the gamut face length, you can eliminate the presence of “hard dots” of one color in an adjacent color.
8. Set the Rendering Intent. Fig. 4-5. Rendering Intent properties ◆ Render Intent - controls the render intent of the profile (not just the Black curve): Perceptual - good for photographic images, compresses the gamut and shifts all colors into the printable gamut. Saturation - good for charts and business graphics, maintains the original image color saturation. Relative Colorimetric - remaps out-of-gamut colors to the closest printable color, without affecting other in-gamut colors.
9. Set the Non-Primary Colors. Fig. 4-6. Non-Primary Colors properties These options appear only for profiles that contain Blue, Orange, Red, or Green. They are used to specify how these Gamut+ (nonprimary) colors are used. The dialog box allows you to select a preset curve, or select Custom and adjust: 4-8 ◆ Maximum/Minimum Lightness — shift the range downward to eliminate the appearance of contrasting dots of color in lighter areas.
CHAPTER 5 Manipulating RIP Saver Files This chapter shows you how to adjust the color, positioning, and other features in RIP Saver files with the Post-RIP Manipulation Tool.
Using the Post-RIP Manipulation Tool The Post-RIP Manipulation Tool enables you to manipulate RIP Saver files that were RIPed with ColorMark profiles, but not those sent as separations (created with ICC profiles). It also does not support ColorMark profile jobs saved with the Canonical image quality. 1. Open the RIP Saver Permanent, or a RIP Saver Temporary queue. 2. Scroll to the RIP Saver file you want to adjust, and click the file listing to select it. 3.
4. To crop the image, adjust the outline in the preview image, or enter numeric values in the Crop Box section. To adjust the outline on this and the Picture Placement tabs, position the mouse cursor over one of the small square “handles” at the perimeter of the image, then drag the outline. To discard all changes, click the Revert Page button. 5. Click the Color Adjust tab to adjust the color of the image. Fig. 5-2.
After clicking one of the radio buttons, you can drag the crosshairs Adjust Control or enter a number next to the control to adjust these attributes: ◆ Brightness ◆ Contrast ◆ Saturation - adjusts the amount of gray in the image. The less gray, the higher the saturation. High saturation corresponds to intense, vivid colors; low saturation to quiet, dull grayish colors. ◆ Hue - adjusts the overall color cast of the image.
Brightness -40 Brightness +40 Contrast -40 Contrast +40 Original Image Saturation -40 Saturation +40 Hue -40 Hue +40 Fig. 5-3.
Blue Original Image Green Magenta Yellow Fig. 5-4.
6. Click the Picture Placement tab to locate the image on the printed page, scale, or flip the image. Fig. 5-5. Post-RIP Manipulation Tool dialog box (Picture Placement tab) Using the Post-RIP Manipulation Tool ◆ Composite Box - if the image is smaller than the page size, you can move the image anywhere within the page area. Either drag the preview image, or enter new values in the Left and Bottom fields. You can also scale the image larger or smaller, within the dimensions of the page size.
7. Save or cancel your changes. ◆ To save your changes, click the Save button. ◆ To discard your changes, click the Revert Page button. ◆ To discard your changes and exit, click the Cancel button. Note The Post-RIP Manipulation Tool does not update the Preview image shown in the Document Details dialog box, which is created from color data that was current when the job was RIPed. 8. Drag the RIP Saver file icon to the Standard or Priority output queue. This queues the file for printing. 9.
APPENDIX B Glossary This appendix contains a glossary of special terms used in this manual. Words in italics are defined in this glossary.
additive primaries Red, green and blue are the primary colors of light from which all other colors can be made. bit Binary digit, the smallest unit of information in a computer, a 1 or a 0. It can define two conditions (on or off). bit depth The number of gray levels or colors that the pixels in a bitmap can contain. Bit depth is a binary unit of measurement.
CIE (Commision Internationale de l’Eclairage) An international group that developed a set of color definition standards. CIE L*a*b* A perceptually uniform color space proposed by the CIE for use in the measurement of small color differences. CMS (Color Management System) This ensures colors uniformity across input and output devices so that final printed result match originals. The characteristics or profiles of devices are normally established by reference to standard color targets.
color proof A printed or simulated printed image of each process color using inks, pigments, or dyes to give a visual impression of the final reproduction. color separation The separation of a color image into four layers corresponding to the four inks (CMYK) used in process printing. Each layer is a halftone image in itself. continuous tone An original is continuous tone (or “contone”) when, instead of being composed of halftone dots, the transitions from color to color are continuous and invisible.
density range of an image, but rather the distribution of its density. The brightening (with gamma > 1) or darkening (with gamma < 1) occurs mainly in the midtones. With gamma > 1, highlights are compressed and shadows are expanded; with gamma < 1, highlights are expanded and shadows are compressed. Gamma correction is often used to smoothly expand details in the shadows. This is often required with transparent originals. Monitors also require gamma correction. gamma curve A particular type of tone curve.
gray scale A range of grays with regular density intervals from white to black. A gray-scale image is an image that contains various levels (or shades) of gray. halftone A technique used to reproduce a continuous-tone original, such as a photograph. The printing press prints a matrix of miniature dots of varying size, or lines of varying thickness. A limited set of inks (for example, only black ink or CMYK inks) can thus give the naked eye an illusion of many shades of gray or many colors.
lightness Indicates how light or dark a color is, or how close it is to black. linearization A procedure to normalize device performance between that measured from an output sample and reference data from a profile. lpi Lines per inch, the measure of frequency (the spacing) of the lines in a halftone screen, usually ranging from 55 to 200. The higher the frequency, the smaller the halftone dots, and the higher the quality. midtone The middle range of tones in an image.
primary color A base color that is combined with other colors to compose a wide range of secondary colors. profile The color characteristics of an input or output device — including its gamut, colorants, and modes of operation — used by a CMS to ensure color fidelity. proof A single reproduction of an image to verify its density or its color without actually having to print it on a printing press.
screen frequency (screen ruling) The spacing of the lines in a halftone image, usually measured in lines per inch (lpi). Each line is composed of a number of halftone dots. secondary color Color obtained by mixing two primary colors. shadows The darkest areas in an original or an image, represented in a halftone by the largest dots. The dot area of shadows ranges from about 80% to 100%. Compare with highlights.
B-10
APPENDIX C Configuring TCP/IP This appendix provides an overview of the issues involved in configuring your print server, network, and workstation for TCP/IP communications. This is necessary to transfer files or send print jobs to the server over TCP/ IP.
Configuring the Network for TCP/IP In order to use the print server’s built-in FTP server to transfer files, or send print jobs to the server via TCP/IP, your office network operating system and workstation operating systems must support the TCP/IP network protocol. The latest versions of the Macintosh OS and Microsoft Windows both support TCP/IP, as does the Unix operating system. A World Wide Web browser or FTP client software is required to transfer files via FTP.
Configuring the Print Server for TCP/IP To transfer files or to print via TCP/IP, the print server must be assigned a unique IP address. Many companies are running a TCP/IP-based network to provide Internet services to their employees. In this case, it is a relatively simple task for the network administrator to assign an IP address to the print server.
Configuring Your Workstation for TCP/IP To transfer files or send a print job via TCP/IP, your workstation (Macintosh, Microsoft Windows-based PC, or Unix workstation) must be configured as follows: ◆ Your workstation must have an Ethernet adapter (interface card), which must be properly installed and connected via Ethernet cabling to the network. ◆ You must have TCP/IP software installed and configured on your workstation.
TCP/IP Glossary DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, a standard that enables each client on the network to request and receive an IP address from a DHCP server. These addresses expire after a certain time so that a pool of addresses can be shared among a group of workstations. DHCP also allows static (permanent) IP addresses to coexist with the dynamically assigned addresses. DNS - Domain Name System, a method for matching a host name to an IP address, for example: the host name www.colorspan.
C-6 TCP/IP Glossary
Index Index-1
! E .CX profiles 1-12 .
L installation 1-2 supported external input devices 1-2 supported servers 1-2 L*a*b* color space 1-10 N Non-Primary Colors 4-8 O Overview 1-6 P Picture Placement 5-7 Post-RIP Manipulation Tool 1-7, 5-1 Primary Colors 4-4 Product overview 1-6 Profiles ColorMark format 1-12, 3-3 creating 2-1 ICC format 1-13 T TCP/IP C-1 configuring C-1 glossary C-5 Technical support A-1 Troubleshooting A-1 U UCR Black 4-5 V Versions 1.5 and 3.
Index-4
