Lexmark C534DN Help Menu Pages - Page 4

Color quality guide Page 4 of 34 Menu item Color Adjust Description Settings Initiates a recalibration of color conversion tables and allows the None printer to make adjustments for color variations in output Notes: • Calibrating starts when this menu is selected. Calibrating appears on the display until the process is finished. • Color variations in output sometimes result from changeable conditions such as room temperature and humidity. Color adjustments are made on printer algorithms. Color alignment is also recalibrated in this process. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about color printing What is RGB color? Red, green, and blue light can be added together in various amounts to produce a large range of colors observed in nature. For example, red and green can be combined to create yellow. Televisions and computer monitors create colors in this manner. RGB color is a method of describing colors by indicating the amount of red, green, or blue needed to produce a certain color. What is CMYK color? Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks or toners can be printed in various amounts to produce a large range of colors observed in nature. For example, cyan and yellow can be combined to create green. Printing presses, inkjet printers, and color laser printers create colors in this manner. CMYK color is a method of describing colors by indicating the amount of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black needed to reproduce a particular color. How is color specified in a document to be printed? Software programs typically specify document color using RGB or CMYK color combinations. Additionally, they commonly let users modify the color of each object in a document. For more information, see the software program Help section. How does the printer know what color to print? When a user prints a document, information describing the type and color of each object is sent to the printer. The color information is passed through color conversion tables that translate the color into appropriate amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner needed to produce the desired color. The object type information lets different color conversion tables be used for different types of objects. For example, it is possible to apply one type of color conversion table to text while applying a different color conversion table to photographic images. Should I use PostScript or PCL emulation printer software? What settings should I use for the best color? The PostScript driver is strongly recommended for best color quality. The default settings in the PostScript driver provide preferred color quality for the majority of printouts. Why doesn't the printed color match the color I see on the computer screen? The color conversion tables used in Auto Color Correction mode generally approximate the colors of a standard computer monitor. However, because of technology differences that exist between printers and monitors, there are many colors that can also be affected by monitor variations and lighting conditions. For recommendations on how the printer color sample pages may be useful in solving certain color-matching problems, see the question, "How can I match a particular color (such as a color in a corporate logo)?"