device link profile

Generation and Application of DeviceLink Profiles

Prinect

Color and Quality

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide Introduction2

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide

In the publication series Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide we aim to take a

closer look at individual aspects of the color workflow. The focus here is on

practical applications.

The aim of Prinect Color Solutions is to optimize printing press presettings

and monitor the printing process before, during and after print. This is

achieved essentially by improved integration of the printing press into pre-

press workflows. To achieve this, parameters of the printing materials and

consumables as well as target values of the printing process for presetting

are transferred between prepress and press using the Prinect CP2000 Center.

Together with the zonal area coverage on the printing plate, this allows the

printing press to be set up quickly following a job change. For print control

using Prinect Image Control and Prinect Axis Control, information about the

printing process and the contents of the print sheet is made available via the

Prinect Prepress Interface.

Prepress supplies the parameters for presetting and monitoring the print.

The parameters are generated by the Prinect Signa Station, Prinect Printready

System and Prinect MetaDimension applications. The Calibration Manager is

responsible for creating the correct calibrations of the plate setter and the

printing process, PrintOpen for profiling printing and proofing processes

and QualityMonitor for monitoring all the components involved.

There is a complex interaction between the individual components.

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide is designed to make this interaction more

transparent for the user.

Prinect Color Solutions

Software versions

The present publication refers to the following software versions of Prinect

products:

More recent versions of the software generally also support the functions

described, although the look of the actual user interface may vary slightly.

Information about this is given in the respective product and user documen-

tation. The products and options described here are not always supplied as

standard, so some of them may have to be purchased separately.

Generation and Application of DeviceLink Profiles Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 3

The aim of the publication Generation and Application of DeviceLink Profiles is to

describe the ways of generating and using this special type of ICC color pro-

file in prepress.

DeviceLink Profiles are required for special applications in color work-

flows. Examples of applications include process conversion between different

printing processes, process calibration within a printing process and recently

also the (potential) ability to save on chromatic inks by creating special color

compositions in the data to be printed (gray component replacement).

DeviceLink Profiles in the context under review here transform data

directly from a CMYK input color space into a CMYK output color space. In

addition it is also possible to generate and apply DeviceLink Profiles from

RGB to CMYK or from CMYK to 5 and 6 colors. However, such profiles are not

dealt with here.

When using standard input and output profiles, data is transformed via a

defined device-independent intermediate color space. In doing so, informa-

tion on the black generation is lost. This can be avoided by using DeviceLink

Profiles. The disadvantage of using DeviceLink Profiles is that one or several

profiles must be created for each combination of color spaces and devices.

This document describes how DeviceLink Profiles can be created using the

Heidelberg applications, how they may be applied in workflows and what you

need to consider when doing so.

Generation and Application of DeviceLink Profiles

Software versionsPrintOpen Version 5.1 (Prinect Profile Toolbox 1.1)

Prinect Color Editor Version 2.0 (Prinect PDF Toolbox 2.0)

Prinect Printready System Version 2.0

Prinect MetaDimension Version 5.0

Table of contents

2 Prinect Color Solutions

2 Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide

3 Generation and Application of DeviceLink Profiles

3 Software versions

5 Table of contents

6 What are DeviceLink Profiles

9 Range of Application of DeviceLink Profiles

11 Generating DeviceLink Profiles using PrintOpen

16 Workflows and Application of DeviceLink Profiles

16 Prinect Color Editor and DeviceLink Profiles

21 Prinect Printready System and DeviceLink Profiles

24 Prinect MetaDimension and DeviceLink Profiles

25 Summary

26 Appendix: Glossary

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide What are DeviceLink Profiles6

ICC Profiles are standardized files that describe the color characteristics of

devices, images and graphics using colorimetric standards. Devices are image

scanners, digital cameras, monitors and all types of color printers and print-

ing processes. Images and graphics are files that may appear in a very wide

range of device-independent or device-dependent color formats. ICC Profiles

provide color management systems with the information needed to trans-

form color data between the various input and output color spaces.

There are various classes of ICC Profiles. Input profiles describe image

scanners and digital cameras, monitor profiles describe luminous or projec-

tion output devices and output profiles describe printing processes, printers,

proofers and photosetters from a wide range of technologies. There are four

other profile classes in addition to the device profiles. One of them is the class

of DeviceLink Profiles. These contain a color transformation from an initial

device color space directly into a second device color space. This clearly dis-

tinguishes them from the profiles mentioned first, which transform the

input or output color space into a device independent color space (PCS, Profile

Connection Space). This means that there are always two profiles required in

order to transform data from one device color space into another device color

space. DeviceLink Profiles are able to transform data directly but are not as

flexible in use as the other profiles.

What are DeviceLink Profiles

The ICC profile format specification recognizes the following seven classes of

profile:

• Input Device Profiles

Description of input devices (scanners, digital cameras) by a transformation

of the device color space into the PCS. The device color space is generally

RGB.

• Display Device Profiles

Description of luminous output devices (monitors, projectors) by a transfor-

mation of the PCS into the device color space. The device color space is

generally RGB.

• Output Device Profiles

Description of output devices and printing processes (offset printing, news-

paper printing, gravure printing, inkjet printing, photosetters etc.) by a trans-

formation of the PCS into the device color space and of the device color

space into the PCS. The device color space is generally CMYK, but may also

include RGB or color spaces with more than four printing colors.

• DeviceLink Profiles

Transformation of an input device color space into an output device color

space. The device color spaces may include RGB, CMYK or more than four

printing colors.

More about profile classes

What are DeviceLink Profiles Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 7

As color transformation always proceeds via the three dimensional PCS

(CIELAB or CIEXYZ color space) when using input, monitor and output

profiles, information may be lost under certain circumstances. This occurs,

for example, when data for one printing process (CMYK) is to be converted into

data for another printing process. In this case special information about color

composition, and particularly about the use of the black, is lost. An extreme

case is a text or gray image composed of the black ink which, after a trans-

formation, is suddenly composed of all four colors. In a few cases this behavior

is undesirable and the problem may only be solved by calculating special

DeviceLink Profiles that indicate a defined behavior in this situation.

There are two ways of calculating such DeviceLink Profiles. Basically,

profiles are calculated from the characterization data of the devices. The

special characteristics of the printing processes are taken into account for the

calculation. In addition to the maximum area coverage when overprinting,

these include black generation and gamut mapping.

• ColorSpace Conversion Profiles

Transformation of a device-independent color space into the PCS and of the

PCS into the device-independent color space. Device-independent colors

may be CIELAB, RGB and other color spaces that are precisely defined

colorimetrically.

• Abstract Profiles

Transformation of the PCS into the PCS, for example a LAB-to-LAB transfor-

mation or a LAB-to-XYZ transformation. These may be used for color

correction in image editing systems and linked in such cases to an input

profile of a scanner.

• Named Color Profiles

Contain color tables such as Pantone or HKS and allocate both color

measured values (CIELAB) and device-dependent color values (CMYK) to a

color name.

More about profile classes continued

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide What are DeviceLink Profiles8

DeviceLink Profiles can now be calculated using two methods. One method

is to calculate a new profile from scratch, based the characterization data of

both processes or printing conditions. Total area coverage, black generation

and gamut mapping must be set according to the output printing conditions

here. The other method is to calculate a new profile from the existing profiles

of the two processes or printing conditions. Area coverage and gamut map-

ping are taken from the output profile and the black generation can be de-

fined via relevant parameters.

The Heidelberg PrintOpen software uses the second method, on the basis

of existing profiles. Our experience has shown that this method, when

employed correctly, has no disadvantages compared to the first method.

However, it does require an intelligent CMM (color space transformation).

Color management and digital data transfer of documents demand clear corre-

lations between the digital tone values and the printed color values. Digital

tone values are normally available in the form of CMYK process color values.

In packaging printing, individual process colors may be exchanged for other

product-specific colors. The printed color values are dependent on the printing

process (sheet-fed offset printing, web offset printing, gravure printing, flexo

printing), the process standard (inking, dot gain) and the materials used (print-

ing material, ink). The digital tone values and assigned color values are usually

described by the term characterization data.

Characterization data records are created with the aid of test elements. The test

chart according to ISO 12642 (IT8.7/3), which consists of defined color patches

for the CYMK process colors, is well known. Besides this standard test chart,

there are other manufacturer-specific test elements and further developments

of ISO 12642 in America (IT8.7/4, specially for packaging printing) and

Germany (DIN 16614 (ECI2002), for general application with finer scanning of

the color space.

Test elements according to ISO 12642 / IT8.7/3 (left) and DIN 16614 / ECI2002 (right)

Standardized characterization data records for defined printing conditions

have been established for process standards common in America and Germany

(SWOP, PSO). In addition there are other individual characterization data

records produced by various print shops and publishing houses.

More about characterization data

Range of Application of DeviceLink Profiles Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 9

DeviceLink Profiles may be used for process conversion, process calibration

and ink saving. Different applications require different calculations. These

different calculations are supported by PrintOpen. DeviceLink Profiles purely

for limiting total area coverage are not supported by PrintOpen, but can be

made available where required.

Process conversion

Process conversion is used when a transformation is to be carried out between

two different processes. This includes conversions between different printing

processes, such as offset and gravure printing or offset and newspaper print-

ing, but also applies to conversions within a printing process, for example

between coated and uncoated papers in offset printing.

With process conversion the target printing process defines the color

composition and gamut mapping. It is not absolutely necessary to preserve

the black generation. Newspaper printing generally employs moderate gray

component replacement due to the lower area coverage. Undesirable limit-

ations and printing problems can occur if the black is preserved when trans-

forming from offset printing into newspaper printing. Caution should be

exercised here.

On the other hand there might be undesirable transformations especially

in text and gray images. The decision on which strategy to adopt for color

composition will ultimately vary from case to case.

It is also necessary to take into account whether images or graphics are

to be transformed and whether the data to be transformed comes from un-

known sources. This must be taken into account when calculating DeviceLink

Profiles, in order to avoid losses in quality.

Process calibration

Process calibration is used when a transformation is to be made between two

similar processes. This includes conversions within a printing process in

which, for example, different sets of printing inks or different dot gains need

to be compensated for and where these calibrations cannot be carried out by

“one-dimensional” dot gain corrections.

In process calibration there is no fundamental change in the color compo-

sition or gamut mapping. In general it is necessary to preserve the black ge-

neration here, particularly in order to avoid changing objects produced using

gray component replacement (images, text, graphics).

Range of Application ofDeviceLink Profiles

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide Range of Application of DeviceLink Profiles10

Ink saving

A recent idea is to use DeviceLink Profiles to save on inks and therefore reduce

the cost of printing. This involves a transformation between two identical

processes where the colored inks used to produce the dark areas are replaced

by black using gray component replacement in the color separation. This

reduces the total area coverage for tertiary colors in chromatic images. The

savings achieved on long print runs can be considerable.

The black must not be preserved when calculating the DeviceLink Profiles

for this application. Since the gray values are printed using a high proportion

of black, a possible conversion of black-generated gray values into chromati-

cally composed gray values is not so critical. Ultimately a judgment has to be

made between ink saving and maintaining quality, since extreme gray com-

ponent replacement leads to a noticeable reduction in the quality of images.

Area coverage limitation

It is already possible to take account of the maximum area coverage by a suit-

able choice of parameters when calculating ICC profiles. In certain cases,

however, defined limitation might be necessary. The standard profiles of

offset printing for paper types 1 and 2 (ISOcoated) have a maximum total area

coverage of 350%. If this is too high and the intention is to print with only

320%, special DeviceLink Profiles are available for limitation. These profiles

are designed to preserve the black and carry out a reduction in the chromatic

inks if the total area coverage is exceeded.

Limiting profiles are available on request.

Generating DeviceLink Profiles using PrintOpen Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 11

The “Device link profile” dialog box can be called up via the “Special” menu in

the main program functions “Generate”, “Calculate” or “Compare”.

PrintOpen user interface with the mainprogram functions – selection of the“Device link profile” dialog box in the“Special” menu

Device link Profile dialog box – selection of profiles and parameters

In this dialog box, two device profiles are linked to form one DeviceLink

Profile. Various parameters can be set here.

First the profiles to be linked are opened. Profile 1 is the profile that de-

scribes the input color space and profile 2 is the profile that describes the

output color space.

Generating DeviceLink Profilesusing PrintOpen

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide Generating DeviceLink Profiles using PrintOpen12

The example shown here is a process conversion from an offset printing

process on coated paper (ISOcoated) to an offset printing process on uncoated

paper (ISOuncoated). The profiles are, however, not restricted to CMYK. RGB

profiles or profiles for more than four printing colors may also be selected.

Options for linking the profiles together are the “Rendering Intent”,

“Preserve black” and “Shadow compensation”. The four Rendering Intents,

the four Preserve black options and the Shadow compensation that may only

be selected in the case of “Rel. colorimetric” give a total of 20 different

combinations for linking the profiles.

A description for the new profile can be entered in the “Description tag”

text field. This text then remains in the description tag of the profile and in

many applications is displayed instead of the file name. Once the calculation

is successful, the profile may be saved. For this, the description tag or part of

the description tag should be chosen as the file name.

Rendering Intents

The four rendering intents specified by the ICC are available for selection.

Which rendering intent is selected depends on the intended application of

the DeviceLink Profiles.

For a process conversion between various printing processes such as an

offset-gravure conversion, the rendering intent “Perceptual” is selected. The

various gamuts of the processes are mapped to one another as accurately as

possible here. For process calibration between similar printing processes,

such as the calibration of different screenings and dot gains within a printing

process, the rendering intent “Rel. colorimetric” is selected, since the gamut

remains the same. If the intention is to simulate the color tone of the paper

from the input process in the output process, as could be the case for a proof,

the rendering intent “Abs. colorimetric” is selected. If the intention is to

achieve an output result in a different process that is as similar as possible to

that of the original process, again the rendering intent “Rel. colorimetric” is

selected. For an exact reproduction of product colors, the rendering intent

“Abs. colorimetric” may also be selected.

The rendering intent “Saturation” is of no real significance here.

Rendering intents are labels to describe the intended rendering of images and

graphics on an output device or output process. Rendering intents are closely

associated with gamut mapping.

The gamuts of output processes (e.g. offset printing, gravure printing, news-

paper printing), yet also of other processes such as inkjet and laser printing or

output on a monitor, vary in size and are generally smaller than the gamuts of

digitized originals or scenes. Four different strategies have been defined to

calibrate the different gamuts of originals and output processes. Two strategies

are based on measured parameters of the devices and processes, while the

other two strategies are based on calibrated values allowing for the differences

in the output processes, the materials used and the viewing conditions.

The selection of the rendering intent depends on the content of the originals as

well as the characteristics of the output processes. Natural originals and

More on rendering intents

Erzeugung von Device-Link-Profilen mit PrintOpen Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 13

scenes are generally treated differently than computer-generated graphics. The

implementation of rendering intents is to a great extent manufacturer-specific.

• Absolute Colorimetric

The rendering intent “Absolute Colorimetric” is used for the exact and

measurable rendering of color values. “Absolute Colorimetric” finds

application in the simulation (proof) of an output process on a different

output device or when outputting defined color values in the print.

Colors of the original that are within the color space of the output process are

rendered correctly. Colors that are outside the color space are represented by

the closest color that can be rendered. This can mean that very light, very

dark or very saturated details in the originals can no longer be reproduced

distinctly. For the simulation of an output process, the printing material will

only be simulated if the brightness and hue of the paper are within the color

space of the output process.

• Relative Colorimetric

The rendering intent “Relative Colorimetric” is used for the exact rendering of

color values relative to the media. “Relative Colorimetric” finds application in

the partial simulation of an output process on another output device relative

to the white of the medium.

Colors of the original are rendered relative to the white of the media. The

white point of the origi-nal is mapped to the white point of the rendering.

Colors that are outside the color space are represented by the closest color

that can be rendered. This can mean that very light, very dark or very

saturated details in the original can no longer be reproduced distinctly. For

the simulation of an output process there will be no simulation of the printing

material. If the simulation is carried out on press paper, the result matches

that of the rendering intent Absolute Colorimetric.

• Perceptual

The rendering intent “Perceptual” is used for the harmonious rendering of

color values in the print while taking into account the different gamuts of

original and print. The main application of “Perceptual” is in the color

separation of images.

Here gamut mapping is carried out in such a way that all natural colors of the

original are rendered by the correct hue but with limited contrast. The gamut

mapping method is manufacturer-specific and may be set in part by the user

when generating the profiles.

• Saturation

The rendering intent “Saturation” is used for rendering color values of the

original with emphasis on saturation in the print, allowing for the preserva-

tion of the saturation of the color values in the original. The main application

of “Saturation” is in the color separation of graphics and charts (Business

Graphics).

Here gamut mapping is carried out in such a way that the colors of the origi-

nal are rendered as correctly as possible for saturation but with limitations in

lightness and hue. The gamut mapping method is manufacturer-specific and

may be set in part by the user when generating the profiles.

More on rendering intents continued

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide Generating DeviceLink Profiles using PrintOpen14

Preserve black

Four different options may be selected for preserving black.

If “none” is selected, the black generation of the DeviceLink Profile is

adopted from profile 2, the output profile. The black generation of the input

profile is overwritten. This is always useful if the processes are very different.

For example, an offset process on art paper with a total area coverage of 350%

is to be converted to a newspaper printing process with a total area coverage

of 240%. Separations in offset printing use a skeleton black, whereas news-

paper printing uses a relatively high gray component replacement. In this

case, gray component re-placement requires the option “none” to be selected

for “preserve black”.

For the preserve black option “K=K” the black color separation is trans-

ferred from the input process to the output process without any modifica-

tions. Only the chromatic color components are converted, so that the overall

color perception is preserved as far as possible. This option is, for example,

useful when one of the chromatic printing colors is replaced by a similar

color (blue-shade magenta by a red-shade magenta) and all other process

conditions remain the same. “K=K” is also recommended where a document

contains a lot of text and graphics. “K=K” prevents the black elements from

suddenly having a considerable chromatic color component.

When selecting “Basic” for preserving black, the calibration of the black

color separation occurs on the basis of a gradation curve. Different color

values or densities of black are converted, so that they produce the closest

possible appearance in the new printing process. As with “K=K” the chromatic

color components are converted so that the overall color perception is pre-

served as far as possible. With this process there is a risk that a 100% black is

not achieved and text and graphics may be poorly reproduced. This is always

the case where the output color space is smaller than the input color space.

Selection of the “Preserve black” option

Generating DeviceLink Profiles using PrintOpen Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 15

When selecting “Special” for preserving black, both the highlights and

middle tones of black on the one hand and the shadows of the black on the

other are treated differently. In the highlights and middle tones the black is

converted using gradation mapping. This preserves the gradation. The

original black is preserved in the shadows. The chromatic printing colors

are converted in such a way that the color perception is preserved as far as

possible.

The option “Special” should normally be selected, as it produces the best

visual results for images, text and graphics.

Shadow compensation

In PrintOpen the option “Shadow compensation” only works in conjunction

with the rendering intent “Rel. colorimetric”. With this option, different

shadows of the input and output process are mapped to one another. At the

same time the chromatic colors are also mapped. This makes shadow com-

pensation a special form of gamut mapping (linear gamut mapping). This

option is useful if the differences in color space between two processes are

not too great and the aim is to obtain the closest possible rendering.

Useful options

With the many potential combinations of options (20 in total), it is a good idea

to have some sort of limitation. A few of these combinations are given in the

following table.

Profiles for limiting the area coverage have the rendering intent “Rel.

colorimetric”, Black preserve “K=K” and no shadow compensation.

Heidelberg CMM

The calculation of DeviceLink Profiles is carried out by the Heidelberg Color

Management Module (CMM). The options Rendering Intent, Preserve black

and Shadow compensation are parameters of the CMM and are available not

only for calculating DeviceLink Profiles but also to the workflow applications

Prinect Color Editor and Prinect Printready as well as the RIP application

Prinect MetaDimension. This ensures that behavior is similar both for trans-

formation using DeviceLink Profiles and when using individual device pro-

files. The Heidelberg CMM basically calculates DeviceLink Profiles before

each color transformation.

Purpose Rendering Intent Preserve black Shadowcompensation

Process conversion, images Perceptual none cannot select

Process conversion, graphics Rel. colorimetric Special on

Process calibration, general Rel. colorimetric Special off

Process calibration, Paper white Abs. colorimetric Basic cannot select

Ink saving Rel. colorimetric none off

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide Workflows and Application of DeviceLink Profiles16

Workflows and Application ofDeviceLink ProfilesThe following describes the application of DeviceLink Profiles generated with

PrintOpen or other applications in the Heidelberg software products Prinect

Color Editor, Prinect Printready System and Prinect MetaDimension.

Prinect Color Editor and DeviceLink Profiles

Prinect Color Editor is a plug-in for Adobe Acrobat which can be used for

color management of the objects in a document. With Prinect Color Editor,

all colors are converted to the process colors to be printed in the current

printing method.

Profile Import

The DeviceLink Profiles are conveniently stored in the relevant profile folder

of the plug-in. However, they may also be in a different location. It is not

necessary to specially import the profiles.

Parameterization

The color definitions present in the document and their conversion by the

Job Parameter Settings are displayed in the upper part of the main dialog box.

In this example the document contains printable colors that have been

separated for the printing process “ISO Coated” and device-independent

colors such as CIEL*a*b* and RGB.

Workflows and Application of DeviceLink Profiles Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 17

Display of document colors and the profileembedded in the document before con-version

In the display window for the color values of the current object the color

magenta, for example, is shown as 100% as well as a simulation of the con-

version based on the job setting. The settings in Job Setting are shown in the

following screenshots.


The DeviceLink Profiles for transformation of CMYK images and CMYK

graphics are specified in the Device Colors tab. In this example a process con-

version from a print on coated paper is parameterized to a print on uncoated

paper. The rendering intent and shadow compensation (BPC) are not relevant

and are ignored.

It is a good idea to use different DeviceLink Profiles for images and gra-

phics. With images, for example, a profile for process conversion (Rendering

Intent “Perceptual”, Preserve Black “none”) may be selected, and for graphics

a profile for process calibration (Rendering Intent “Rel. colorimetric”, Pre-

serve Black “Special”).

Settings for Device Colors

DeviceLink Profiles for the other device-dependent colors can also be

entered. This may be necessary where there are no PDF/X documents being

processed (PDF/X documents must not contain any device-dependent RGB

elements) or if Multi Image and Multi Graphic elements are present.

DeviceLink Profiles from RGB to CMYK and from MultiColor to CMYK can be

calculated using PrintOpen in the manner described above.

Gray Images and Gray Graphics must be treated as CMYK elements. The

“Preserve Black” function is not relevant here.

A press profile must be specified in the Color Management section. This

press profile must be embedded in the document after conversion. The PDF/X

Output Intent must not be used for the conversion.


Color Management Settings

In this case the press profile is the output profile that was used to cal-

culate the DeviceLink Profile. A PDF document can contain device inde-

pendent color data (Lab, RGB). This data is transformed into the target color

space directly with the output profile.

It may also be necessary to select the option “Ignore Embedded CMYK

Profiles”, so that special objects with embedded profiles can also be trans-

formed.

Under “Spot Color” and “Miscellaneous” (not shown here) it may be

necessary to parameterize the handling of spot colors in the document as

well as overprinting.

The parameterization can be saved as a new setting. After returning to

the main dialog box, the settings can be applied to the document.


Display of the document colors and theprofile embedded in the document afterconversion

The new value for magenta, for example, is shown in the display window

for the color values of the current object. The new press profile has been

embedded in the document. Therefore we now have a PDF/X file again.

Application

Using the above-mentioned settings makes it easy to convert a PDF or PDF/X

document into a PDF or PDF/X document calibrated to the printing process.

This document can then be outputted on a proofer or a platesetter.


Prinect Printready System and DeviceLink Profiles

The Prinect Printready System is a prepress workflow system based on the JDF

format for automated processing of prepress data. As part of the Heidelberg

Prinect system, Prinect Printready System is a modular system which brings

together various document processing tools in a common user interface.

Profile Import

The DeviceLink Profiles are conveniently stored in the relevant profile folder

of Prinect Printready System. A special import is not required.

Parameterization

The Color Management Settings are made under “Administration > Templates

> Prepare > Color Conversion”. They correspond to those of the Prinect Color

Editor.

After opening the menu, DeviceLink Profiles may be selected for CMYK

Images and CMYK Graphics under “Device Dependent Color”. In the example

below a process conversion from a print on coated paper is parameterized to

a print on uncoated paper. The rendering intent and shadow compensation

(BPC) are not relevant and are ignored.

Parameterization of templates in PrinectPrintready System


DeviceLink Profiles for the other device-dependent colors may also be

specified. This may be necessary where there are no PDF/X documents being

processed (PDF/X documents must not contain any device-dependent RGB

elements) or if Multi Image and Multi Graphic elements are present.

DeviceLink Profiles from RGB to CMYK and from MultiColor to CMYK can be

calculated using PrintOpen in the manner described above.

Gray Images and Gray Graphics must be treated as CMYK elements. The

“Preserve Black” function is not relevant here.

Parameterization of the Color Conversion –Device Dependent Color


A press profile must be specified under “Output”. This press profile must

be embedded in the document after conversion. The PDF/X Output Intent

must not be used for the conversion.

It may also be necessary to select the option “Ignore Embedded CMYK

Profiles”, so that special objects with embedded profiles can also be trans-

formed.

Application

Using the above-mentioned settings makes it easy to convert a PDF or PDF/X

document into a color-mapped PDF or PDF/X document. This document can

then be output on a proofer or a platesetter.

A PDF document can also contain device independent color data (Lab, RGB).

This data is transformed into the target color space directly with the output

profile.

Parameterization of the output

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide Prinect MetaDimension and DeviceLink Profiles24

Prinect MetaDimension and DeviceLink Profiles

Prinect MetaDimension is able to process print jobs in PostScript format or in

Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Print output into a file, on a printing plate or to a

proofer can be configured via “Output Plans”.

Profile Import

It is not possible to import DeviceLink Profiles in Prinect MetaDimension.

If you wish to use these profiles, they must be copied directly into the profile

folder of the Prinect MetaDimen-sion system. After a restart of the user inter-

face, the DeviceLink Profiles appear in the CMYK profile list and may be

selected from there.

Parameterization

To activate the Color Management Function, the option “Color Management”

must be activated by clicking the checkbox. If Color Management has been

selected, all Color Management functions are available for all jobs processed

using this output plan.

After opening the menu, DeviceLink Profiles may be selected for CMYK

Images and CMYK Graphics under “Device Dependent Color”. In the example

below a process conversion from a print on coated paper is parameterized to

a print on uncoated paper. The rendering intent and shadow compensation

(BPC) are not relevant and are ignored.

List of available Output Plan Templates

Prinect MetaDimension and DeviceLink Profiles Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 25

Parameterization of Color Management

A press profile may be specified in the “Output” section. The PDF/X Output

Intent must not be used for the conversion.

Application

In Prinect MetaDimension, process conversions and process calibrations can

be carried out directly when imaging the plate or before proofing (also to save

on ink).

Summary

Heidelberg products enable DeviceLink Profiles to be generated and used in

the area of prepress. Process conversions and process calibrations can be

carried out easily. Even processes for ink saving and limiting the total area

coverage are possible.

As there is such a large number of applications, the profiles must be cal-

culated individually. Standard profiles are of no use here. It is also necessary

to set workflows individually, in order to avoid quality issues. It is worth

carrying out a trial which can be done using proofing systems.

Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide Appendix: Glossary26

Characterization

Colorimetric description of a (printing) process.

Characterization data

Specification of a clear relationship between digital tone values and measured

color values in the print (process color values CMYK / color values CIEXYZ or

CIELAB). Characterization data is used in workflows based on color manage-

ment to describe different input and output processes. It represents the start-

ing point for calculating device profiles or printing process profiles and may

also be used for process monitoring.

Characterization data record (table)

Data format for transferring characterization data. The international standard

ISO 12642 defines the digital tone values to be used as well as measuring

conditions and the file format for printing processes.

ICC International Color Consortium

The ICC is a consortium of manufacturers and users from the graphic arts

industry. The aim of the ICC is to develop solutions for the transfer of color

data in heterogeneous and diversified open color systems.

ICC Profiles

ICC Profiles or Device Profiles are standardized files that describe the color

characteristics of devices, images and graphics using colorimetric standards.

ICC Profiles provide color management systems with the information needed

to transform color data between the widest variety of color spaces.

Color Management Module (CMM)

A color management module is a type of software based on mathematical

methods for converting color image data from an initial color space into a

second color space using one or several ICC profiles. To do this, several ICC

profiles are usually linked together to form one profile before the color

conversion takes place. This saves time and increases the accuracy of the

transformation. A color management module may be a part of an operating

system or application program. This means that all essential applications in

the area of color management have their own color management module at

their disposal. In Microsoft Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP operating systems

as well as in Apple Macintosh operating systems these modules can be found

under the terms ICM – Integrated Color Management (Windows) or Color-

Sync (Apple).

Total area coverage, tone value sum

Sum of tone values on all color separations within a narrowly defined range.

Maximum tone value sums depend on the printing process and the printing

material in question. They must not be exceeded. The maximum tone value

sum is normally reached at the darkest point on the gray axis. Units: %

Appendix: Glossary

Appendix: Glossary Prinect Color Solutions – User Guide 27

Rendering Intents

Rendering Intents are definitions to describe the intended rendering of images

and graphics on an output device or output process. Rendering intent is close-

ly associated with gamut mapping.

Absolute Colorimetric

The rendering intent “Absolute Colorimetric” is used for the exact and meas-

urable rendering of color values. “Absolute Colorimetric” finds application in

the simulation (proof) of an output process on a different output device or

when outputting defined color values in the print.

Relative Colorimetric

The rendering intent “Relative Colorimetric” is used for the exact rendering

of color values relative to the media. “Relative Colorimetric” finds application

in the partial simulation of an output process on another output device rela-

tive to the white of the medium.

Perceptual

The rendering intent “Perceptual” is used for the harmonious rendering of

color values in the print, taking into account the different gamuts of original

and print. The main application of “Perceptual” is in the color separation of

images.

Saturation

The rendering intent “Saturation” is used for rendering color values of the

original with emphasis on saturation in the print, allowing for the preserva-

tion of the saturation of the color values in the original. The main application

of “Saturation” is in the color separation of graphics and charts (business

graphics).

GCR Gray Component Replacement

Process for replacing chromatic color components producing a gray effect

with black.

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

Publishing InformationPrinted in: 01/06Photographs: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGFonts: HeidelbergGothicMlAuthor: Dr. Guenter BestmannPrinted in Germany

Trademarks Heidelberg, the Heidelberg logotype, and Linotype-Hell are registered trademarks of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Subject to technical modifications and other changes.

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