CALIBRATION LINK SETUP GUIDE Ver.1.00 Canon Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW OF CALIBRATION LINK ................................................................ 3 COLOR CALIBRATION USING CUSTOM PAPER ............................................................... 4 OPERATING CALIBRATION LINK ........................................................................................ 4 CALIBRATION LINK ENVIRONMENT AND PAPER CONDITIONS .................. 5 RANGE OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY .....................................................................
OVERVIEW OF CALIBRATION LINK Calibration link is a color management system exclusive to Canon that delivers a mean color difference of ΔE00 ≤ 2.0*1 in the printing results between printers that support calibration link*2.
COLOR CALIBRATION USING CUSTOM PAPER In the past, executing color calibration was only possible with genuine Canon paper (including feed confirmed paper*1), for which the calibration targets were pre-incorporated into the printers. However, you are now able to perform color calibration even using custom paper*2 by purchasing a printer with a spectrophotometer unit mounted and using it to create the calibration target for the custom paper.
CALIBRATION LINK ENVIRONMENT AND PAPER CONDITIONS RANGE OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY ・ In order to accurately adjust the color tones of printed material, calibration link should be set up and operated in an environment where the temperature and humidity are kept constant in the range of 15 to 30°C and 40 to 60%. ・ Since the recommended use environment varies according to the paper type, use within the recommended environment range suiting the paper type.
PAPER THAT CAN BE USED WITH CALIBRATION LINK Genuine Canon paper Calibration link is possible with the paper marked with "Yes" in the following table. The paper that can be used with calibration link varies depending on the Country or Region of Use selected when the MCT was installed.
Custom paper Calibration link is possible with the paper that meets the following conditions. Item Size Specifications For creating calibration Roll widths * (iPF6450) targets 406.4 mm to 610 mm For executing color Roll widths * calibration iPF6400/iPF6450: 254 mm to 610 mm (automatic adjustment) iPF8400: 254 mm to 1,118 mm iPF9400: 254 mm to 1,524 mm Sheets size (iPF6400/iPF6450 only) A4/LTR to A1 Thickness 0.1 to 0.
SETTING UP CALIBRATION LINK Calibration link setup is performed after setting up the printer and spectrophotometer unit. Set up the printer and spectrophotometer unit by following the setup guides included with the printer. The following items are used for setting up calibration link.
If you are using custom paper, calibration link setup is performed using the following procedure. 1. PREPARE THE COMPUTER FOR MANAGING PAPER (P.10) Install the MCT and printer driver on the computer for managing paper. 2. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE PRINTER WITH SPECTROPHOTOMETER UNIT MOUNTED (P.
1. PREPARE THE COMPUTER FOR MANAGING PAPER Use the "User Software CD-ROM" included with the printer to install the MCT and printer driver on the computer for managing paper. Install the MCT for each model (iPF6450, iPF6400, etc.) of printer that will perform calibration link. Install the corresponding printer drivers for all of the printers that will perform calibration link. (For example, if you have two iPF9400 units, you need to install two iPF9400 printer drivers.
3. Select the printers to perform calibration link on in Printer in the Select Printer dialog box and click the Next button. 4. Check that there is no existing custom paper in the printers or printer drivers in the Added Custom Paper list. 5. If there is existing custom paper, it all needs to be deleted first. Select all of the custom paper in the list and click the Delete button. All of the existing custom paper is deleted from the printers and printer drivers.
2. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE PRINTER WITH SPECTROPHOTOMETER UNIT MOUNTED Use the MCT installed on the computer for managing paper to add the custom paper to the printer with spectrophotometer unit mounted and the printer driver, and then create the calibration target. Use rolls at least 406.4mm (16 inches) wide for the custom paper. For the specifications of the custom paper you can use, see P. 7. Custom paper is added to the printer with spectrophotometer unit mounted by using the following procedure.
3. Once the Add and Edit Custom Paper dialog box has been displayed, click the Add Button. 4. The Step 1: Select the standard paper dialog box is displayed. In Paper Category, select the category of media type to use as the basis of the custom paper you are adding. Select the category that you think is the closest to the custom paper you are adding. 5. The media type names of the Canon genuine paper and feed confirmed paper within the selected category are shown in Media Type Name.
6. The Step 2: Set the custom paper name dialog box is displayed. Enter an arbitrary name to display in the printer control panel and printer driver, and then click the Next button. Depending on the selected standard paper, you might not be able to enter the Name in Printer Driver and add the created custom paper to the printer driver as-is. In this case, create the custom paper information by changing the standard paper to another paper.
9. Since Step 4: Paper feed adjustment is automatically performed when creating the calibration target later, it is omitted at this point. Click the Next button. 10. The Roll Paper Settings dialog box is displayed.
Configure the following settings as necessary, and then click the Next button. Setting Details Configures the method for cutting roll paper when it is ejected after printing. ・ Automatic Cut: Rolls are automatically cut by the cutter unit. Automatic ・ Eject Cut: When the Cut key is pressed on the printer control panel, the Cutting rolls are cut by the cutter unit. Select this if you do not want the printed Settings material to drop immediately after printing, such as to wait for the ink to dry.
12. The Test Print Settings dialog box is displayed. Select the print priority and print quality of the test print using Print Priority and Print Quality. Set the level to test print using Maximum ink usage and the image to use using Image used in test print, and then click the Start Print button. 13. Determine and set the ink level that is thought to give the best visual test print results with no bleeding or scraping of ink. 14.
・ If you set the Head Height lower than the automatically set height in parentheses ( ), check that the printhead does not rub against the paper. (If the printhead rubs against the paper, there will be scratches in the printing results.) If the printhead rubs against the paper, this can cause damage to the printhead. ・ If you change the Vacuum Strength, check that the printhead is not rubbing against the paper. (If the printhead rubs against the paper, there will be scratches in the printing results.
17. The Add and Edit Custom Paper dialog box is displayed. Select the paper that you want to create the calibration target for from the Added Custom Paper list and click the Create Calibration Target button. 18. Click the Execute button in the Execute create calibration target dialog box. Creating the calibration target takes approximately 40 minutes. 19. Once the calibration target is registered in the printer, click the Next button in the Execute create calibration target dialog box. 20.
3. EXPORT THE CUSTOM MEDIA INFORMATION FILE Export the media information file for the custom paper you added to the printer with spectrophotometer unit mounted to the computer for managing paper so that it can be added to each of the printers and each of the printer drivers on the computers. The custom media information file is exported using the following procedure. 1.
3. The Add and Edit Custom Paper dialog box is displayed. Select the paper you want to export to media information file from the Added Custom Paper list and then click the Export button. You can select multiple custom media information files. 4. Specify the location to save the Custom Media Information File. Click the OK button to export the custom media information file to the specified folder. This completes exporting the media information file for the custom paper.
4. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE OTHER PRINTERS Import the exported custom media information file and add the custom paper including the calibration target to all of the printers except the printer with spectrophotometer unit mounted. Adding the calibration target to the other printers allows you to perform color calibration using the custom paper. Custom paper is added to the other printers by using the following procedure. 1.
5. Select the exported custom media information file (.am1 file) and click the Next button. You can select multiple custom media information files. Custom media information files that are displayed grayed out in the list cannot be selected because they cannot be used in the printer being added. 6. Select Update the printer control panel and printer driver from Update Target in the Confirm Update dialog box. Add the custom paper to the target printer.
5. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE COMPUTERS FOR PRINTING Add the custom paper to the printer drivers of computers for printing. You can print on custom paper by adding the custom paper to the printer driver on the computer for printing. Use the "User Software CD-ROM" included with the printer to install MCT and the printer driver on the computer. MCT and the printer driver need to be installed for each model of printer. Install the MCT for each model of printer to print on.
5. Once the Add and Edit Custom Paper dialog box has been displayed, click the Import button. 6. Select the saved custom media information file (.am1 file) and click the Next button. You can select multiple custom media information files. 7. Select Update the printer driver only from Update Target in the Confirm Update dialog box and then click the Execute button. The custom paper is added to the printer driver on the computer for printing.
6. EXECUTE PAPER FEED ADJUSTMENT AND COLOR CALIBRATION Execute paper feed adjustment and color calibration on the paper you are using for printing, and put the printer and paper into a state where calibration link is possible. The time required for paper feed adjustment and color calibration is approximately 15 minutes for each paper type. Furthermore, refer to the following for details on the size and amount required. An unused roll at least 254.0 mm (10.
3. Press the OK button. The Set./Adj. Menu is displayed. 4. Press or to select Adjust Printer, and then press the OK button. 5. Press or to select Feed Priority, and then press the OK button. 6. Press or to select Adj. Quality, and then press the OK button. 7. Press or to select Auto(OtherPaper), and then press the OK button to execute the paper feed adjustment. 8.
OPERATION OF CALIBRATION LINK USING CCMC CCMC can be installed from the "User Software CD-ROM" included with the printer or downloaded and installed from the Canon website. For detailed information on how to operate CCMC, refer to the "User's Guide" on the "User Manual CD-ROM" included with the printer. The following introduces an example of operating calibration link using CCMC.
CHECKING THE PRINTER STATUS is displayed next to the printer name such as if a certain amount of printing has been executed after executing color calibration. If you select the printer, you can check the detailed status of the printer in the Calibration sheet in the main window. EXECUTING COLOR CALIBRATION REMOTELY For printers where a message such as It is recommended that you execute color calibration to keep the printer in the best condition.
Q & A Q1. HOW DO I ADD CUSTOM PAPER TO WORK WITH? A1. Use the following procedure. 1. Add the new custom paper and calibration target to the printer with spectrophotometer unit mounted by following the procedure in "2. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE PRINTER WITH SPECTROPHOTOMETER UNIT MOUNTED" on P. 12. Always use the same computer for managing paper for adding custom paper and calibration targets. 2.
Q3. HOW DO I ADD A COMPUTER TO USE? A3. Use the following procedure. 1. Connect the printers to the new computer and install the printer drivers for the printers that perform calibration link. If the printer drivers are already installed, first uninstall them and then install them again. 2. Add the custom paper to the printer driver in the new computer by following the procedure in "5. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE COMPUTERS FOR PRINTING" on P. 24. Q4.
Q6. WHAT DO I DO TO ADD CUSOM PAPER ADDED AT A DIFFERENT OFFICE? A6. Always add custom paper that was added at a different office to the printers and computers for printing from the computer for managing paper using the following procedure. 1. Save the media information file for the custom paper that was added in Office A on the computer for managing paper in Office B. 2. Add the custom paper that was added in Office A to the all of the printers in Office B by following the procedure in "4.
Q7. WHAT DO I DO IF THE COLOR TONES OF THE PRINTED MATERIAL DO NOT MATCH? A7. If the color tones do not match between printers even after configuring the calibration link settings, check the following table and perform the corrective actions for the corresponding items. Execute color calibration after you have finished all of the corrective actions. Item Corrective Action Is the custom paper you are using compatible Use custom paper that meets the conditions with calibration link? listed on P. 7.
Item Corrective Action Is the message The calibration target in the Read the media information file that contains media information file is the latest calibration target information into not up-to-date. displayed in CCMC? the target printer by following the procedure in "4. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE OTHER PRINTERS" on P. 22. Is a message recommending that you Click the Calibration button in CCMC to execute color calibration displayed in CCMC? execute color calibration.
Item Corrective Action Do the ICC profile settings match in all of the Open the Matching sheet (Windows) / printer drivers? Matching pane (Mac OS X) in the printer driver and make the ICC profiles the same in Printer Profile Settings in all of the printer drivers. Check also whether the ICC profiles saved on the computers are the same. To display the Matching sheet/pane, click Color Settings / Set in Color Mode in Advanced Settings in the Main sheet/pane, and then click the Matching sheet/tab.
