HP Scitex FB550 Tips for improving printing quality - Page 8

Any user with access to Caldera's Extranet can access these profiles. Before exploring other troubleshooting tasks it is recommended to use these first. Additionally, lower ink saturation also means lower overall ink cost. FB550/750: Ink saver profiles can be used in the HP FB550/750 printers by cloning them from the HP FB500/700 ink saver profiles. Photo Plus, Photo & Max DPI should not be cloned as they do not directly map into the correct print mode. III.3.3 Onyx RIP Default Onyx color profiles generally use low ink levels and ink limits for all media types and ink sets. The Foam PVC color profile and printer's Foam PVC media setting uses a low/low lamp setting and is suggested for any media types with swath edge banding. III.3.4 Custom Profiles When, or if, custom media profiles are generated and used consider selecting ink restrictions and limits that are appropriate for the media and lamp settings. Refer to the RIP software specific documentation on proper profiling methods and additional information or techniques on profiling with UV ink. III.3.5 Linearization Using a spectrophotometer to linearize a color profile can reduce ink coverage, as this process usually decreases the amount of ink in each ink channel. As a general rule, linearization is suggested to get better color reproduction and more balanced greys. III.4 Print Modes Select an appropriate print mode for your application considering viewing distance and matte or glossy finish types in addition to the overall throughput speed. In general, slower print modes used to generate higher quality output will use more ink overall and the use of a low/shuttered lamp configuration subsequently can increase the potential for swath edge banding. The slower throughput and the smaller media advances will give the ink, in most cases, more opportunity to cure but some materials with high surface tension are ultimately prone to swath edge banding. In these cases, select the Foam PVC profile from Onyx or the 'Ink Saver' profile in Caldera or use the Emulation print mode and the corresponding printer's media wizard selection to help mitigate these problems. III.5 Ink Sets The use of an appropriate ink set for your output or application can impact image quality, in this case, horizontal banding. As a general rule, CMYKcm ink sets are preferable for applications where the viewing distance is close up, such as POP or image reproduction. Light inks improve mid-tone reproduction and reduce hard dots in areas such as skin tones. On the other hand, CMYK ink sets are suggested for signage applications with longer viewing distances, especially those with large areas of solid coverage. Reducing the amount of overall ink by not calling for light inks will contribute to a more solid and uniform coverage in those. 8