Print Calibration Swatch  

After you have clicked [Print Swatch], a new dialog opens (Figure 1)

 

Use the Measurement Device pull down menu to select, or Add the device that you will use to read in the swatch. Click the […] button to configure the device.

 

Spectral density is a more robust way to measure density because of the narrower filters used and dynamic tuning to an ink's spectral response. It is best used with spot color inks. When the spectral density method is used, the color device returns spectral measurements to ONYX software, and the spectral density is derived from there. When this box is unchecked, the swatch is read using the standard "Status T" method.

 

This value determines how many patches are printed per color channel of the printer. For example, if you choose 31 patches per ink for a linearization swatch on a CMYK printer, Cyan will have 31 patches; Magenta will also have 31 patches, etc.

 

The Spot Color options determine how a spot color will be treated as part of the swatch.

 

Measure: prints patches of the spot color in the swatch along with the process colors. These patches will be measured by the color device and will give the spot color a unique linearization.

 

Flood Fill: prints an even flood fill of the spot color in the swatch, using the ink restriction value for the spot color. The spot color will not be measured.

 

No calibration: This option allows you to keep a spot channel linear. This means that it will print the exact ink amounts defined in an image, rather than having calibration curves applied. This option is desirable for 2½ dimensional UV printing or other specialty ink applications where the channel data will be used for something other than color reproduction.

 

No selection: Substitutes the Black linearization for the spot color linearization. When building your linearization, the measurement data for the spot color selected here will match the measurement data of the black ink. This option is for spot colors that cannot be easily measured or linearized because they cannot be read by a color device, e. g. white or metallic.

 

NOTE: If you have a CMY ink configuration, the spot color is replaced with Cyan instead of black.

 

  • Page Size - Select the [Page Size] that you want to print the swatch with.
  • Copies - Select the number of copies
  • Orientation - Select [Landscape] or [Portrait]. [Landscape] is generally used because it reduces media waste.
  • Print Reflected - Select the [Print Reflected] check-box to print a mirror-image of the swatch. This option is useful when printing on backlit or transparency media.
  • Print Label - Select the [Print Label] check-box to print a text label after the image. You may want to use Print Label to record what settings the swatch was printed with.

 

  • Color - This option prints patched based on the color space of the printers ink configurations.
  • Separations – This option prints each plate as one color.

 

Figure 1