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 Proofing. 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. 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 by right-clicking the job and selecting Edit > Job in 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. Select Submit Proof. 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. 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. This opens the Edit Quick Set - Advanced Options dialog (Figure 2).
3. In the Workflow tab (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 Off 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 Verifcation 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. If they do not, use the other patches in the chart to determine if the proof is lighter/darker, under saturated/over saturated, or a different hue. Continue comparing the sections from the chart with the sections of the strip until you have verified that your 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.