One of the primary purposes of printing a proof is to give you an idea of what the final output will look like and identify potential problems without using your production printer.

 

RIP-Queue requires a minimum of two active printers for proofing: one for the final output and one for the proofing.  

 

To proof an image properly, your printers must meet the following conditions:

• Your proofing printer must be able to match the color of your final output printer as closely as possible. Inability to match the final output printer will result in some color problems in your proof (See Comparing Gamuts below).
• Both printers need accurate profiles.
• Both printers need to be maintained and calibrated regularly to ensure that target densities are accurate.
• The proofing printer should be calibrated using the Verification Strip and Visual Tolerance Chart to verify color accuracy. These files are located in the Sample folder of your program files.

The first step in the proofing process is to determine whether your proofing printer completely encompasses the gamut of your final output printer. This ensures that your proofing printer can accurately create the colors of your final printer. The Media Analyzer Tool in Media Manager allows you to compare gamuts.

After you have compared the gamuts of the proofing and final output printers, you must configure your proofing printer. This determines the settings you want to use for proofing.

 

To Configure a Proofing Printer:

1. In RIP-Queue, highlight the printer you want to use as the final output printer, and click Configure Proofingicon. This opens the Proof Creation Settings dialog (Figure 1).
2. Use the Printer drop-down menu to select the printer you want to use as the proofing printer.
3. If you are using Quick Sets, select the Quick Set you want to use.
4. Set the Maximum Width and Height for the proof using the appropriate fields. This does not set the actual width and height of your images. Instead, it sets a limit on the size of the proof.
5. Enable [Proof All Pages] if you want to print all the pages of a multi-page document. Otherwise, only the first page will be printed.
6. Select the [Rendering Intent] using the drop-down menu. See Rendering Intents for more information.
7. Select which colors you want to exclude from the workflow by selecting them in the [Pure Hues] area.
8. Click [OK]. You are now ready to proof.

You can print a proof from RIP-Queue, Job Editor, or by using a Quick Set.

 

To Proof from RIP-Queue:

1. Highlight the desired job in RIP-Queue.
2. Right-click the job, and select [Proof] (Figure 2). RIP-Queue creates a new job and appends "-Proof" to the job name. The original job is placed on hold until you release it.

 

To Proof from Job Editor:

1. Open the job in Job Editor from RIP-Queue by right-clicking the job and selecting [Job Editor]. If you open the job any other way, you will not be able to proof it from Job Editor.
2. Modify the image as desired, and click the [Print] tab.
3. Click [Submit Proof] button (Figure 3). RIP-Queue creates a new job and appends "-Proof" to the job name. The original job is placed on hold until you release it.

 

To Proof using Quick Sets:

1. Highlight the final output printer in RIP-Queue, and select Edit Quick Set icon on the toolbar. This opens the Edit Quick Sets dialog.
2. Highlight the Quick Set you want to configure, and click [Edit]. In the new window, click [Advanced] button. This opens the Edit Quick Set - Advanced Options dialog (Figure 4).

3. In the [Workflow] of “Print” tree (Figure 3), enable [Create Proof Automatically].

4. Click [OK]. Each time you submit a proof using this Quick Set, RIP-Queue will automatically proof it.

Immediately after calibrating your proofing printer, you should print a Visual Tolerance Chart. This chart verifies that your proofing printer is accurate and that it maintains accuracy over time. Print the chart (located in the ONYX Graphics/product name/Samples folder) using the [All Profiles Of] in f Quick Set. Cut the Chart along the white lines, and punch holes using a hole puncher on each white dot. Each time you calibrate a printer, you should reprint the chart.

 

TIP: Storing the print out of direct light will help prevent fading.

 

A Verification Strip is printed on the bottom of each proof you print. Compare the Visual Tolerance Chart to the appropriate section of the Verification Strip by placing the marker (V) in the chart over the corresponding patch marked with a V in the strip. If the colors match, your proofing printer is accurate. When you are comparing patches, you are looking at brightness, saturation and hue. If the Verification Strip does not match, compare other patches Visual Tolerance Chart until you have verified the proofing printer is accurate.

 

If you find differences in the chart and the strip, you may need to recalibrate your printer. If you still have problems, you may need to reprint your Visual Tolerance Chart.