Custom ICC Profiles
VistaLogics supports its ink and paper with ICC profiles for your workflow. With quality inks, an ICC Profile can achieve 3000 distinct colors as specified by the PANTONE Process Guide (ISO 2846-1.)
The International Color Consortium was formed in 1993 by eight industry vendors. They created a universal color management system. ICC profiles define the relationship between the colors encoded in the digital image and a standard color space defined by ICC and based on a measurement system defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). The ICC profile can be thought of as a matrix or multidimensional spreadsheet that specifies the relationship between the color parameters found in a digital image and the color values recognized by the software that drives the output device. An ICC profile is created using a colorimeter or a photospectrometer and special profiling software. The RIP software that drives the digital printer uses the profile to determine how to mix the inks so that the colors come out as expected. A profile will assure that the colors in printed images are correct. When profiling fabric, special attention must be taken to assure that the colorimeter or spectrometer reading are corrected for the fabric texture and reflectance. Under standard conditions, a profile can be created in an hour or less. Generally, profiles can be used indefinitely as long as the variables such as ink, paper, printer, substrate and transfer press temperature remain constant. A profile will work within a range of humidity conditions, but if there are large changes in humidity, such as from very damp to very dry, it may need to be updated. A profile can be used to reproduce colors as defined by the Pantone Process Palette. Inks with wider color ranges (gamuts) such as the Vibra inks will expand the printed color range so that truer blues, reds, greens and oranges can be achieved. Spot color can be created and imbedded in the printer environment of the RIP so specific colors can be matched when required. The amount of ink that is used is controlled both by the profile and the RIP software. Correct colors are achieved by laying down just the right amount of each color so that saturation and density are consistent. Any amount of ink used over what is really needed is wasted ink and putting down too much ink can result in colors that are off. A good profile will also employ black ink along with cyan, yellow and magenta to produce vibrant blacks and grays with a minimum of ink. So profiling with the proper density levels and moderating the amount of ink used will reduce cost while improving colors. |  |
