One of the main tasks of a RIP Software is to ensure accurate color output. This is achieved by adjusting the colors in an image file during the rastering process to appear exactly as you expect. This is necessary because no two printer/ink/media combinations will handle the same color recipe the same way. The final printed result will be different depending on how absorbent the material is, how dominant individual color tones are, and how much ink a printer applies per pass. To correct this, the RIP has to know precisely how the printer itself behaves and how it handles the color recipes it is given, so it can then tweak the color recipes to counteract the quirks of the printer/ink/material.

In Ergosoft RIPs, this output calibration is done in three steps:

First, the Density linearization determines how much ink for each color the printer applies and how much of it the material can handle. It is not concerned with the balance between the colors; instead, it examines every color to ensure a linear density progression and that the ink doesn’t bleed or soak through the material. For the Density Linearization, a chart is printed that contains patches of increasing density for each color. This chart is then measured using a spectrophotometer and saved in the Print Environment as the density file.

Second, the Total Ink Limit determines the maximum ink application for mixed colors. We determined how much ink the material can take in the first step. For the Total Ink Limit, we will determine how much and how many different colors we can print on top of each other before the ink starts bleeding out. This is done by printing the Total Ink Limit chart and visually checking at which point the inks bleed out, then setting an appropriate limit.

And finally, the Color Profile examines how different color mixtures look printed out and how they must be adjusted to achieve specific looks and colors. To do this, a chart with color patches of mixed colors is printed and then measured using a spectrophotometer. Ergosoft's color profiler, ColorGPS, also features customization and tweaking options that let you customize the output differently, such as increased saturation. The resulting ICC profile is then saved in the Print Environment.

All calibration steps are saved to the Print Environment and embedded there. They work in combination with each other to achieve the most accurate, intense colors for your printer, inks, and materials. Since the calibration is highly dependent on printer, ink, and material, switching out even one of these three factors can significantly impact the printout. Therefore, we recommend creating a dedicated calibration for each printer/ink/material combination to ensure the best possible results.