How to Check Out-of-Gamut Colors with the Gamut Warning in Ergosoft RIP

Applies to: Ergosoft RIP 16.2.2.7684 and later (color levels as of 17.8.2.0650) · JobComposer · all printer drivers

Use this when:

Printed colors look weaker or different than the design, and you want to know if the printer can reproduce them
You want to check a design before you print color tests
Color adjustments in Tune or Job Gradation Curves show little effect in the print

Question

How do I see which colors of an image are outside the printable color range (gamut) of the active Print Environment?

Steps

Show the Gamut Warning

Select the image in the job.
Go to Image Properties & Actions > Tune / Color Management (Pixel) / Replace Colors / Pure Colors.
Enable Gamut Warning.
Select Thematic Map.

Result: The preview pane in the lower right corner shows the out-of-gamut areas in color.

Read the Thematic Map

The colors show the expected color difference (dE) between the design color and the printed color - default settings:

Color	Expected difference	Meaning
Green	0–3 dE	In gamut, safe for printing
Yellow	3–5 dE	Likely out of gamut, small visible difference possible
Orange	5–7.5 dE	Out of gamut, visible difference expected
Red	7.5–15 dE	Far out of gamut, large difference expected
Purple	more than 15 dE	Extremely out of gamut

Note: You can change the colors and dE ranges of the warning levels in Tools > Application Defaults > User Preferences > Color.

Decide the Next Step

Green areas: The printer can reproduce these colors. Adjustments with Tune have a direct effect.
Yellow to purple areas: The printer cannot fully reproduce these colors with the current ink and media. Adjustments change these colors only within the limits of the printer gamut.

Tip: Check the Gamut Warning before you print color tests. This shows early which colors can match and which cannot.

FAQ

Can I still improve a color that is marked yellow or orange?
Often yes. Hue and contrast adjustments can still improve the visual result. Perceived contrast is not directly related to saturation or gamut limits.

What is the difference between the monochrome and the thematic Gamut Warning?
The monochrome warning marks all out-of-gamut areas with one color (bright red by default since 17.8.2.0650). The thematic map shows how far out of gamut each area is.

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References

Changelog #5239 – Ergosoft RIP 16.2.2.7684: The Gamut Warning preview can be shown as a thematic map with four dE ranges in green, yellow, orange and red.
Changelog #15264 – Ergosoft RIP 17.5.2.0098: The ColorPicker shows a gamut warning icon if the selected color is outside the printable gamut of the active Print Environment.
Changelog #7246 – Ergosoft RIP 17.8.2.0650: The thematic Gamut Warning has an additional purple level (more than 15 dE); green marks areas between 0 and 3 dE, which are safe for printing. The monochrome warning uses bright red by default.

Gamut Warning: Check Out-of-Gamut Colors in Ergosoft RIP