EFI ColorProof XF & Epson 7800

[vinnybear]

I used to work for a company that put me through color management training, which unfortunately was pretty specific to the equipment they had.
We were able to create true press match proofs, pretty much 'out of the box.' We ran a test target on the press (after returning the press to a 'known repeatable state'), read the target with the i1 and developed the destination or simulation profile. We then linearized the proofer, ran out the target, read it with the i1 and developed the source profile. These were plugged in to the Kodak (Best) RIP in their respective places, absolute colorimetric chosen as the rendering intent (for paper white), an just like that, we had a press match. The equipment was:
1. Press: Heidelberg CD102
2. Proofer: HP DesignJet 5542 (Kodak Polychrome)
3. Spectrophotometer: GretagMacbeth i1
4. Color Software: GretagMacbeth Eye One Pro Suite
5. RIP: Kodak (Best) RIP

I now work for a different company, and using the same principles, am having difficulty producing a press match. Our equipment is:
1. Press: ManRolland 6c
2. Proofer: Epson Stylus PRO 7800
3. Spectrophotometer: GretagMacbeth i1
4. Color Software: GretagMacbeth Eye One (not pro suite)
5. RIP: efi ColorProof XF

I have followed the same proceedure that I did with the first company for establishing a press (destination or simulation) profile, a linearized proofer (source) profile and selected them in their respective places in the efi ColorProof XF RIP. The results are not a match, not that the proof looks horrible, but it does not seem to be doing a good job of in-RIP conversion of colors to match the destination profile. I am wondering if it could be something to do with the .epl file or some other function of the RIP software that is specific to this software that was not in the Kodak (Best) RIP software. I know that this supposed to be just the upgrade from the last version of the Best RIP, but I am at a loss and have been over and over the manual.

Please help if you can, it is very much appreciated.

[Lammy]

once EFI took over the best it rip completely changed. Our first trainer that came in to set it up had used Best for years and couldn't figure out the EFI Colorproof. We ended up hiring another guy to come in for a day to do it.

From what I recall, when you linearize the proof it creates a file that is the paper description that you then have to move to another folder to be able to use. I'll have to dig out my notes for anything more specific. We also had to iterate the profile at least 3 or 4 times to get a good match within 2 deltaE

[Jim Stone]

Ok, saw the entries.
The XF software and the Bestcolor software are the same only EFI decided that since they know owned it they had ot do some remodeling.
I think you will still find in the allpication folder in the XF folder an application called "profilekeeper". This you use to marry your Baselin to your icc profile to a spacific paper description.
EFI changed things around and hid controls so well that they now insist a color management specialist take a somewhart expensive course of "Installer Training" form Chromaticity. I am looking forward to the course. There are things I still cannot find and I know they are there somewhere!

[mikeegloff]

Here are my notes form some off site training.
my Delta e's run about .7

current paper OCE Satin Photo 10Mil, which has a lower delta that Epson's

Epson / Efi 3 9-2006

Before running any profiling run nozzle check auto

Check for lastest Epson driver on PC

Install Adobe photoshop profiles as reference data

Load tool crib for DTP70

Backup EFI, flexM folders


Pull latest patches extract zip to C:\Program Files\EFI\EFI Colorproof XF 3.0

Launch EFI Color Manager

Create Base Linerrization

Start res 1440x720
Ink Type Ultrachrome
Ink Mode CMYKcmkk
Print mode normal
Paper type match your paper type close as possible
Paper unique name
½ tone superenhanced2

Profile settings
Proof CMYK
Photography RGB

Step 1 under advanced K3 inks only light to solid
Lt cyan 5
Lt mag 5
Light k 0

Uncheck unidirectional
Dmax start around 280

Dry time = 15 minutes if ink is not dripping

Measesure step 2 &3
After step 3 select advanced select match profile (approval) or DuPount analog proof (looking for a very large color gamut)
Rotate the max ink C, M Y setpoint is at max apex of curve and outside you refernce gamut fyi watch magenta may need to fudge
K setppoint back off numbers until L numbers are just below max saturation, then bump up 1 so it’s at the edge of max saturation

measeure Step 4 - Advance tab
leave norm start point alone
change dot gain K to zero (K3 inks)

Do step 5

Read spec sheet, create report, lower left gamut paper and reference profiles line should not cross each other warning K3 inks red may be very close
Use Monaco profile viewer look @ L 50 to overlay profiles paper profile should be outside reference profile

If profiles are two far out of wack rerun base linearization and change light to solid step 1 advanced if red is out change only red
C 5 -> 15+
M 5 -> 15+
K 0

Move .bpl and .epl tp printer profile folder
OK to delete .bpl file - used for pre EFI colorproof 2.5

Create print medium profile
use the ECI2002

keep all items managed in efi / My profiles


Color setup
RIP res quality to normal under worflow speed
check bi-directional
check rip and print on the fly only if rip box is a dual procosser

Workflow - color
check use color management
Profile 1st ref match to source (Swop06 Gracol etc)
* absolute or relative paper white or profile white
Simulate off
Black point off
uncheck use embedded profile

Simulation set the same as source
Additional Settings
load optimized profile (see below)
visual correction this is for only minor tweaks, usually +- 1-2%

To insure color accurcy only send CMYK, tiff's or cmyk pdf xla ,. to the hot folders, anything else could screw up the color, ie ps driver coltrolling color

Use profile connect to link paper base lin and paper profile (this should link on the fly if efi color manager was used to create both)

Optimize profile color manager
select your workflow use eci 2002
create new lab correction
Total in gamut should be 99% or higher
Keep running until delta e’s stop going down
paper white point may suffer in order to drive down peak DeltaE this is OK, white point is usually less than Delta 1


FYI
For every print res change, a new linerzation and profiles need to be made
For every change in color management an new optizamtion is made

Note when using Xrite white point editor make sure the rendering is set to colormetric

[Dub]

Maybe this will help: Under the color tab in your workflow: Your source profile should be your output (press profile or SWOP etc.) using relative colormetric if you are using proofing media that matches your stock and want no stock simulation spray, use absolute if you want to simulate stock based on white point of profile etc. Leave the simulation blank - this is important. Then go back to your lin tool and do a profile optimization as others have suggested. This takes your baseline linearization that is patched to your paper icc profile (epl+icc) and adjusts it as close as possible to your output profile (source profile) and creates a .3cc file. This is your lab optimization that is loaded in the additional settings area. Hope this helps, send me a IM and I can email you screen shots if you like.

-Dub

[cisko]

I would agree with Dub, and I believe that Absolute Colorimetric is your major problem. The employee who profiled ours uses Perceptual but I prefer the Relative Colorimetric setting.