Activity 7: Create a print curve to align a press to a custom specification for tonal match

Background

ColorFlow provides reference device conditions that encapsulate the grayscale and color response of standard industry specifications and typically customers align to those industry specifications.

However, you may have situations where you want to match color results measured from a customer proof or printed reference sheet. In those cases, you can create a custom reference device condition and create a print calibration curve to align to the printed reference. 

This activity will create a print calibration curve to match the color response of a custom device condition.

Tasks

Goal
Create a custom CMYK device condition using a set of print measurement data and then create a print calibration curve to align your print results to the custom device condition.

Task 1: Create a custom device condition for the measured print results

1. Click the Device Conditions tab.
2. Click the Add button .
3. Expand the Devices display if it isn't already open, and drag CMYK Reference to the viewer window. You can click the X to put the Devices panel away.
4. Click the Properties icon .
5. In the Name box, enter XX custom device condition (where xx = your initials).
6. Click OK.
7. Create a Tint Ramp chart:
   1. Click the Measurement icon .
   2. In the Charts section, click the Add button .
      A chart appears in the Charts list with a default name. You can double-click to rename the chart, such as XX Tint Ramp where XX is your initials.
   3. From the Chart Type list, choose Tint Ramp. 
   4. In the Tint Set section, click the Edit button .
   5. Click the Add button   and enter 0 10 25 50 75 90 100, or choose the Tint Set from the drop-down menu if it already exists.
   6. Click OK.
   7. Click Save.
8. Enter the measurement value:
   
   1. Click the Measure... button at the bottom of the panel.
   2. In the resulting dialog, click Enter Manually.
   3. In the Channels Binding section at the bottom left, click C,M,Y,K Same.

   4. In the Tonal Response section in the top left, enter the following EDA values:

      Tint in	EDA
      0	0
      10	14
      25	34
      50	69
      75	84
      90	94
      100	100

   5. Click OK and close the Device Measurements dialog box.

9. In the Device Condition list table, find the CMYK device condition you just created and select the Show in Target Lists check box.

Task 2: Create a print calibration curve to align to the custom device condition

1. In ColorFlow, click the Print Curves tab.
2. In the Calibration Curves section at the top-left, click the Add button .
3. In the Devices dialog box, add a new device : 
   1. In the Device Name box, enter XX Offset Press Custom (where XX = your initials).
   2. From the Device Type list, choose Offset Press - Sheetfed.
   3. Click Create.
   4. Drag the device you just created to the viewer window and close the Devices dialog.
4. Click the Properties icon  on the press icon.
5. From the Plate Setup list, select None. You can also select a plate setup defined in the Plate Curves tab.
6. From the Screening list, select  20u Staccato or add the value to the list if it doesn't exist.
7. From the Substrate list, choose Type 1 or 2 (coated art) 170 g/m2.
8. Leave Process Inks with the default values.
9. For Other enter Custom Device Condition
10. Click OK.
11. Create a Tint Ramp chart:
    1. Click the Measurement icon  in the Offset Press panel.
    2. In the Charts section, click the Add button .
       A chart appears in the Charts list with a default name.
    3. From the Chart Type list, choose Tint Ramp. 
    4. In the Tint Set section, click the Edit button .
    5. Click the Add button   and enter 0 10 25 50 75 90 100 or select the appropriate Tint Set if it exists.
    6. Click OK.
    7. From the Process Ink Set list, choose CMYK.
    8. Click Save. Change the default name of the chart to CMYK_Custom_Tint_Ramp
12. Enter the measurement values. In a real-life situation, you would print the chart and measure the chart using a measurement device. For the purpose of this training, you will enter the supplied Effective Dot Area (EDA) values:
    1. Disconnect any measurement device and click the Measure... button.
    2. In the Characterization Print Curve dialog, Leave the default value  Linear (None) and click OK.
    3. In the Connection Error dialog, click Enter Manually.
    4. Leave the Tonal Response Metric: as Murray-Davies Effective Dot Area
    5. In the Channel Binding section at the bottom-left side, click C, M, Y, K Same

    6. In the Tonal Response section at the to- left side, enter the following EDA values:

       Tint in	EDA
       10	12
       25	29
       50	57
       75	82
       90	93

    7. Click the OK button on the bottom-right side.

13. To review the measurement value:
    1. Click the Measurements tab.
    2. Select the chart and click View.
    3. Select the Show Measurements check box.
       You will be able to view and edit measurement values in the Tonal Response section. 

    4. Hit Cancel at the bottom right to close the Tonal Response panel, then hit the X button at the top right to put away the Device Measurements panel.

14. Define the calibration target as an industry specification:
    1. Click the Calibration icon  in the link area between the Calibration Target and Device Condition panels.
       
    2. Ensure the Show curves in Prinergy check box is selected under the Conversion Name.
    3. Click the Process Inks tab and click on the Target list.
    4. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the list, where you can choose the Custom Device Conditions. Choose XX Offset Press Custom (the custom device condition you created) from the Target list.
    5. Leave Curves Method: Tonal Match, which is the default selection.
15. Click OK.
    A print calibration curve is generated to match the tonality of the custom device condition you want to match. 
16. In the Calibration Curves table list at the top left, find the curve, double-click to select the default curve name and enter XX New print calibration curve Custom Device (where XX = your initials). Press Return or Enter to set the curve name.

Task 3: Output a job using the custom device condition print calibration curve

1. In Prinergy, create a new job, and name it XX tonal match for custom spec (where XX = your initials).
2. Refine Chart_TintRamp_CMYK.pdf with 1stRef-Normz.
3. Output the PDF file using Virtual Proof.LoosePage with the print curve you just created:
   
   1. In your Virtual Proof.LoosePage Process template dialog box, from the Output To list, choose Virtual Proof.
   2. Leave ColorFlow Color Relationship Management unchecked.
   3. Expand the Calibration & Screening panel.
   4. Click the ColorFlow Current State radio button.
   5. Expand the Print Curve drop down list and select curve XX new print calibration curve for tonal match .
4. Open the generated page in VPS and measure the 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% black patch. 
   Confirm that the plate calibration curve has been applied (your measurements may vary by a few decimal points): 10% measures 10; 25% measures 29  ; 50% measures 60; 75% measures 81; 90% measures 89.6.

Outcome

You have created a print calibration curve to tonal match to a custom print specification.