Graphic Intelligence Agency

Friday was spent buidling profiles at the GIA. We are working on the Mutoh Falcon II Outdoor which uses an Eco-Solvent Ink. There are many more variables in profiling these types of devices. First, distance adjust, head height, substrate thickness, and four different heaters need to be set to give desired results. All of this needs to be done before you even determine an ink limit and linearization. Look to Clear Papers written by the GIA to describe this process in more detail.

Graphic Intelligence Agency Originally uploaded by colorcritical.

In the Office! 7/26 - 7/31

I am back from Norway and in the office this week. This last week in Noway has been interesting working with Fotophono. We produced a methodology to track drift in the resultant linearization of the LightJet 430 Agfa matte paper. They have been finding the densities to be well within spec but there has been a slightly noticible difference in their grey scale. We measured this difference and calculated a .5 delta e in i1 Share and i1 Spectrophotometer. The next day it drifted another .7 delta e. We have come to the conclusion that a threshold needs to be established and whenever the delta e is over that threshold they will need to re-profile. This seems to be a good working model. Devices will drift, it's just a question of how much and will it make a difference. You would think the process of re-linearization would produce similar color but it only produces similar density.

Office Originally uploaded by colorcritical.

End of the day discussion on profiling.

ColorCritical is in Norway, working for GretagMacbeth and Graphic Intelligence Agency training a well known imaging lab in Oslo called Fotophono. We trained them on proper profiling of the Lightjet 430 using Onyx, ProfileMaker Pro, i1 Spectrophotometer, iQueue, Caldera's Cameleo running the Xerox ColorGraphx X2. The stillness in everyone is due to the typical shock one can get when they see an well working ICC workflow.

Fotophono Oslo Originally uploaded by colorcritical.

Profiling the Epson 2200

We are working this week with Tim Mantoani Studios here in San Diego profiling a few fine art papers by Hahnemuhle, the Photo Rag and Torchon. It's important to let the target sufficiently dry before measuring otherwise differences in ink density will yield unlinear results, The results can be a bad profile where some patches are dry and have stopped fading yield accurate measurements, whereas others can be even slightly damp and not be finished with dry time yield different density, therefore measuring unlinear.

Mantoani Studios Originally uploaded by Mountain Goats.

MC Designs

Today we worked for Mitch at MC Designs, Mitch ownes a print shop out of his garage. He has an Encad and an HP 5500 Large Format Printer. We built him a custom profiled workflow and a custom workflow for simulating pantone colors he used to get on his Encad. This is always a challange, make one device produce similar color to another device. We accomplished this with ICC color management. Mitch produces some excellent quality and we are very fortunate to be working with him at MC Designs.

MC Designs Originally uploaded by Mountain Goats.