Prinect

Color & Quality

Prinect Color Toolbox 2011

Iterative Gray Balance Optimization
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Contents

1 Introduction 4

2 Analyzing Mini Spots 5

3 Analyzing and calculating mean Mini Spot values 6

4 Gray balance optimization with Profile Tool 7

5 Gray balance optimization with Calibration Tool 8

6 Duplicating and renaming the process calibration 9

7 Importing correction data from Profile Tool 10

8 Comparing the old and the new measurement and calibration values 11

9 Process controlling tonal values 12

10 Process controlling color values 13

11 Process controlling gray balance and density values 14

12 Comparing the measurement data before gray balance optimization 15

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1 Introduction

Iterative gray balance optimization is the process to use when

you find you continually need to make the same gray reproduc-
tion corrections manually at the press. In this case, one or more
control elements are printed in the subsequent print job as well.
These control elements are positioned in an appropriate place on
the printed sheet.

This process supports various types of gray balance control

strips.

Plate imaging and printing are carried out as usual but without
correcting the gray values for optimal reproduction. One or pref-
erably several printed sheets are pulled and the control elements
are measured. If several control elements and sheets have been
measured, you need to calculate the mean for each individual
measurement.

This task can now be performed rapidly with Color Toolbox

2011.

1. Step 2. Step 3. Step 4. Step

Quality Monitor Profile Tool Calibration Tool Quality Monitor
Print the new Calculate the mean Create a copy of Print the next job
production job with measurement data the current process with newly calibrated
calibrated printing and then calculate calibration. Carry printing plates.
plates and PCM- correction data for out gray balance Measure PCM-
GrayConL_i1 control gray balance correction using GrayConL_i1. Check
strips. Check the optimization imported correction CIELab values and
color standard and Safe the correction data. Save the dot gain against the
dot gain data for use in corrected data. process standard.
Calibration Tool.

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2 Analyzing Mini Spots

1. Step
First of all, check the measurement data from the Mini Spots. Go
Quality Monitor
to the tab Analysis and analyze the control elements. Click Add
Print the new
production job with to open all measurement data of the same type at the same time
calibrated printing
plates and PCM- by using Multiselection.
GrayConL_i1 control
strips. Check the
color standard and
dot gain The lower screenshot shows the CIELab and dot gain analysis.

5
3 Analyzing and calculating mean Mini Spot
values

1. Step
Dot gain can be viewed as either absolute or relative. The top
Quality Monitor
screenshot shows the dot gain for a 40% range as relative. All
Print the new
production job with the loaded measurement data sets are listed in a table below the
calibrated printing
plates and PCM- graph and this is where you can deselect any unsuitable data
GrayConL_i1 control
strips. Check the sets. Finally, the mean values of the data sets you have selected
color standard and
dot gain as being suitable for gray balance are calculated (lower
screenshot).

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4 Gray balance optimization with Profile Tool

2. Step
Profile Tool After you have started the option Gray Balance Optimization, se-
Calculate the mean lect first of all a reference print condition (reference profile).
measurement data
and then calculate Then open the measurement values for the control elements you
correction data for
gray balance calculated the mean of beforehand (in this case PT1-80L-PCM_
optimization
Safe the correction GrayConL_i1.txt) and start the calculation of the optimization
data for use in
Calibration Tool.
data.

Save the data for the iterative gray balance optimization in

Calibration Tool for further use.

weiter verwendet.

7
5 Gray balance optimization with
Calibration Tool

3. Step
Iterative gray balance optimization is the correction of an existing
Calibration Tool
calibration.
Create a copy of
the current process To do this, first of all make a copy (here: 80er H-SM74-8P5LC
calibration. Carry
out gray balance Ink100 PT-Optimized) of the original calibration (here: 80er H-
correction using
imported correction SM74-8P5LC Ink100 PT1) and make the corrections on the copy.
data. Save the
corrected data.

Then open this copy to edit it. The table on the left-hand side
shows the current measurement values. These measurement val-
ues should now be modified in such a way that they result in an
improved reproduction of gray balance and dot gain in black.

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6 Duplicating and renaming the process
calibration Calibration Tool

3. Step
To do this, you will need to modify the curves, which, in this
Calibration Tool
case, means correcting gray balance.
Create a copy of
the current process
calibration. Carry
out gray balance Select the correction method by checking the box according to
correction using
imported correction your selection and click “Import Correction Values”.
data. Save the
corrected data.
The correction values from the iterative gray balance optimiza-
tion are then read in.

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7 Importing correction data from Profile Tool

3. Step
First of all, a dialog box appears asking whether all colors or only
Calibration Tool
selected colors should be imported. In this case, you need to
Create a copy of
the current process correct all the colors.
calibration. Carry
out gray balance The values you want to import are shown in a box.
correction using
imported correction
data. Save the
corrected data. After you have confirmed with “Yes” that the correction should
be carried out, the correction values are factored into the mea-
surement values and the new measurement values are shown.

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8 Comparing the old and the new
measurement and calibration values

3. Step
A comparison shows the changes between the new and old mea-
Calibration Tool
surement values. This comparison can also be carried out for the
Create a copy of
the current process calibration curves.
calibration. Carry
out gray balance The screenshot below shows the calibration curve in yellow.
correction using
imported correction
data. Save the
corrected data. Save the corrected data by either clicking “Apply” or “OK”, and
use them to correct tonal values for the next plate imaging
process.

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 9 Process controlling tonal values

4. Step
Quality Monitor The following screenshots show the evaluation of a gray balance
Print the next job control strip from an on-going production after gray balance
with newly calibrated
printing plates. optimization.
Measure PCM-
GrayConL_i1. Check The process standard ISO 12647-2_2007BB has been selected
CIELab values and
dot gain against the under Process Standard in the left-hand menu bar.
process standard.

The dot gain curves are shown in the top diagrams and the tonal
values are shown in the table below. All the ranges contained in
the control strip are shown as a percentage.
Since the tonal values for cyan, magenta, yellow and black are
all within tolerance, they are highlighted in green.

The Lab values for paper white are also within the tolerance
range.

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 10 Process controlling color values

4. Step
Quality Monitor The screenshot below shows the result against the color stan-
Print the next job dard in Lab values.
with newly calibrated
printing plates. In addition to the primary colors cyan, magenta, yellow and
Measure PCM-
GrayConL_i1. Check black, you can also see the secondary colors red, green, blue
CIELab values and
dot gain against the and the overprint.
process standard.
Secondary colors and the overprint are hidden in ISO
12647-2_2007BBStandard but can be activated by clicking Edit
and then saving under a new name.
All values are shown in green because they are all within the tol-
erance range.
At the bottom of the screenshot you can see the ab diagram and
to its right the ΔL values.

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 11 Process controlling gray balance and
density values

4. Step
Quality Monitor Quality Monitor Version 11 upwards evaluates the ECI/bvdm
Print the next job gray balance control elements by comparing the chromatic gray
with newly calibrated
printing plates. patches and the corresponding black patch with each other.
Measure PCM-
GrayConL_i1. Check The gray balance of the calibrated proof is now excellent, thanks
CIELab values and
dot gain against the to the gray balance optimization carried out beforehand.
process standard.

Values before and after calibration

ΔCh values (C stands for chroma and h for hue angle)

before after
For gray 30% = 1,14 0,21
For gray 50% = 2,63 0,84
For gray 70% = 2,21 0,58

The larger deviations before calibration have become smaller

after optimization.
The density values shown below for your information are also within
the tolerance range.

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 12 Comparing the measurement data before
gray balance optimization

4. Step
Quality Monitor As you can see in the screenshot below, the gray balance in the
Print the next job non-calibrated printed sheet shows a slightly yellow cast over
with newly calibrated
printing plates. the entire gradation curve.
Measure PCM-
GrayConL_i1. Check Despite this, the ΔCh values are still within the tolerance range.
CIELab values and
dot gain against the
process standard.

The following graphics shows the gray balance values ​​before

optimization.

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Publishing Information Trademarks
Printed in: 01/11 Heidelberg, the Heidelberg-Logo, Prinect, Mini Spots and
Photographs: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Prepress Interface are trademarks of Heidelberger
Fonts: Heidelberg Gothic MI Druckmaschinen AG in the U.S. and other countries. All
Printed in Germany other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Subject to technical modifications and other changes.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Kurfuersten-Anlage 52–60
69115 Heidelberg
Germany
Phone +49 6221 92-00
Fax +49 6221 92-6999
www.heidelberg.com