Ink Calculation  

Ink Calculation helps determine the ink usage for your printers. The Ink Calculation tab of the Configure Printers dialog allows you to define the [Reporting Unit] and the [Correction Factor].

 

  1. Highlight your printer, and click the "Configure Printers" icon on the toolbar, or select Setup > Configure Printers. This opens the "Configure Printer" dialog.
  2. Select the [Ink Calculation] tab (Figure 1).
  3. Select the Reporting Unit Type from the drop-down menu.
  4. Select the [Resolution] and [Ink Type] you want to use from the first column.
  5. Enter the Correction Factor in the second to last column on the right.

  6. Determine the "Cost Per Unit", and enter that value in the final column on the right. (e.g., 680 ml cartridge that costs $239.99 = $.35/ml)

  7. Click [OK].

 

Each printer has a built-in default factor to determine ink usage per drop. The default is set to 1 and takes into consideration known variables for the device in an ideal working environment. When you print a job using the default factor, the ink calculations are determined using the manufacturer's specifications. These calculations are then reported to you through RIP-Queue.

 

Because the reported data does not take into consideration variations in the printer or working conditions, it can be fine-tuned to more accurately reflect your conditions. To fine tune your correction factor, compare other known values with the reported values from RIP-Queue. This will give you a [Correction Factor] specific to your printer used in your conditions.

 

Use any of the following methods of determining a[ Correction Factor]:

  • Your printer reports how much ink is being used as a known value (X). RIP-Queue also calculates how much ink is being used (Y). X/Y = New Correction Factor.
  • Install a new ink cartridge with a known volume (X) and print until it's empty. Print the job log from RIP-Queue and manually calculate the total ink usage reported (Y) by adding up the ink used for all the jobs printed with that cartridge. X/Y = New Correction Factor.
  • Weigh an ink cartridge before and after it prints. Convert the mass to volume to get the exact known consumption (X). In RIP-Queue, compare X to the reported usage by print job (Y). X/Y = New Correction Factor.

Figure 1