Alwan InkZone Capability

Automatic Process Control Solution

Color Control and Standardization across printing technologies

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IntroductionAbout this Document

This document deals with Alwan InkZone capability, instrument and file support.

InkZone is an option available through the Alwan Universal Web Interface (AUWI) and currently supported by Alwan PRINT Standardizer, and Alwan PRINT Verifier.

For more information about the InkZone, please contact your Alwan representative, or send an email to info@alwancolor.com.

In this document, this character style refers to software User Interface labels.

About Alwan InkZone

Alwan InkZone allows users to see Ink key information automatically and on-the-fly.It is a unique tool that allows press operators to instantly have an overview of the press behavior when it comes to ink color and density through ink keys.

InkZone is an advanced technology that can automatically provide users with:

• density information for each color and for each ink key• ∆E information telling the deviation from the aim • density aim recommendation to match color aim (Best Match function)• highlight ink keys out of tolerance for faster assessment• expected ∆E based on ink/substrate combination• evenness of ink keys across paper width

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Getting Started with Alwan InkZone Software Requirements

Alwan PRINT Standardizer X

• InkZone is available with Alwan PrintStandardizer v5.4.0 r4193 and later• InkZone is an option displayed in Alwan Universal Web Interface (AUWI)

Alwan PRINT Verifier X

• InkZone is available with Alwan PrintVerifier 5.1.0 rev.4193 and later• InkZone is an option displayed in Alwan Universal Web Interface (AUWI)

InkZone protectionInkZone can be activated by a Time-limited Demo License or by a Dongle.

Time-limited demo code

InkZone can be activated by a time-limited demo code, which is delivered by Alwan channel partners or directly by Alwan.

These time-limited demo codes will expire at a specific date.

Note that the Maximum Demo period is 90 days after first software launch date.After 90 days, it will not be possible anymore to enter any time-limited demo code to activate the option.

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InkZone: Instrument and File supportInkZone requires to have information about press ink keys in order to provide relevant information. There are two ways to get this information:

• measurement file containing Ink Key information• measuring color bar with instrument directly connected to the Alwan software with

proper settings

Measurement File Support (Alwan and Third-party)

InkZone can be used with third-party measurement files containing Ink Key information. Those files often come from in-line instruments (X-Rite IntelliTrax, PDC-S II, eXact Scan mode, etc.) and can be automatically exported by their software after measurement is complete. As example, X-Rite instruments export measurement data in SVF format, and those files can be used by the Alwan InkZone module.

For further information on how to export a measurement file with your instrument, please read related white papers, manuals, or contact your consultant or Instrument manufacturer representative.

Note that measurement files captured by APV or APS with an instrument directly connected to the Alwan software with proper settings will have all necessary information for InkZone.

When a measurement file with required data is processed by APV or APS, the Ink Zone option will display all information relative to Ink Keys in a relevant fashion.

Instrument Support with Alwan Software

Alwan software can be used to read color bars with many instruments (see list below). When using an instrument with the Alwan software, it is important to define Press Ink Key characteristics in the Print Device Manager.

In the example below, a press was added through Print Device Manager, from there, all incoming measuring done by the Alwan software for this press will have Ink Zone information to display.

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In order to do so, the Alwan software relies on the color bar description file used to measure the color bar and the press information available in the Print Device Manager for the selected queue.

Therefore, patch width and key information will be used to do the appropriate interpretation of the measurement and display the Ink Zone information.

All information is stored in Alwan measurement file and can be used for further analysis, or data exchange with other Alwan software or third-party supporting standardized measurement data.

Measurement TipsInkZone feature relies on measurement data, as such, it is important to pay attention to measurement condition and settings.

Color Bar

To enable InkZone to display information, color bars must contain at least one solid patch per color and per Ink Key. If you are not sure about your color bar, please have a look at Alwan_Control_Strip_Package provided with the installer of your Alwan application.All provided color bars meet InkZone requirements.

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First Used Ink Key

Since you do not always start printing with the first Ink Key of your press, it is important to notify APS or APV about the color bar location. In Measure tab, users can assign where the color bar is located in regard to press ink keys.

Below is an example showing that the color bar is located at the fourth (4) ink key of the press. The measurement condition is set accordingly in the Alwan software by entering “4” in First Used Ink Key.

Number of Control Strip Repetition

When measuring a color bar with the Alwan software, users can define number of repeat for the color bar used on press.

For instance, if you use a 20” color bar on a 40” press, by defining two (2) repetitions, the Alwan software will know and display InkZone information for a 40” color bar (2 x 20”).

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Supported Devices and Instruments softwareSome measurement devices can be driven by APS/X or APV/x directly, other devices require to be used by a third party Instrument software.

Instrument supported by Alwan software (direct connection)

Following instruments can be used directly by APS/X or APV/X:

• X-Rite EyeOne Pro 1 and 2 (Mac/PC)• X-Rite eXact Spot and Scan (Mac/PC, BlueTooth connection available)• Techkon SpectroJet (PC only)• Techkon SpectroDens (PC only, Spot/Scan mode must be selected on SpectroDens Interface)

If the instrument driver is not installed automatically by your system, please download it from instrument manufacturer website.

Other supported devices (connection through third party software)

APS/X and APV/X supports measurement files, according to dongle options, from most press-side instruments software including but not limited to:

• Alwan Print Verifier measurement file (APV v2.0 and later)• Komori PDC-SI and PDC-SII• Komori PDC (Print Density Control) (*)• Digital Information InkZone Move • X-Rite’s EasyTrax Software, Intellitrax Software, ATS • X-Rite's Measure Tool measurement file • X-Rite's Color Port measurement file• X-Rite ATD (Auto Tracking Densitometer) (*)• X-Rite IntelliTrax D (Density) (*)• X-Rite EasyTrax Density (*)

All measurement file containing patch size information should enable InkZone display.

(*): Systems producing SVF files with density data only.(SVF version must be v.2.0 or later). Note that in such cases, color data is not available in the measurement file and thus color information is not available on APS/X reports.

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