First steps: Control of a standardized Mediawedge

Let's start by checking a range of controls used in the field of Graphic Arts. We will then learn how to control Test Patterns of 1OOO patches and RGB ranges.

Introduction

The control of your proofs, with Coraye Print Control, ensures that your prints will meet the certification criteria which are based on ISO 12647-7 (ISO standard for the production of proofs). The certificate obtained will provide confirmation of this quality for you and your customers.

In this tutorial, we will learn how to measure a Fogra Mediawedge v3.0 range and how to edit a measurement report to check a proof against the Fogra 39 standard. To carry out checks against other standards or other types of ranges, we will use exactly the same method.

Import a Print Control File (.pctrl)

The "Print Control" file contains all the information concerning the control range and the data associated with it.

In the chapter "Create a reference for the Print Control module" you will learn how to create your own .pctrl files

The first step is to import the .pctrl files produced during the tutorial "Create a proof proof"

We will therefore start by importing that of the Fogra 39 Mediawedge v3.0 measurable with the XRite I1 Pro2 spectrophotometer. From Coraye, File / Open file then select the .pctrl file to import.

Start measurement

To start the measurement, select the "Start control" command by right-clicking on the .pctrl file located in the left column.

The target associated with the Print Control file appears

Printing the control bar

If the range you want to check is not already printed, you have the option of saving it in Tiff or Pdf format in order to print it in your proof system.

When you are ready to measure the printed range, click on the "Start reading" button. Then select the measurement mode according to the reference standard and the possibilities of your measuring instrument. In our example, we will select the M0 mode corresponding to the Fogra 39 standard. Click on "I'm Ready" to start the measurement

Before starting the measurement, it is necessary to calibrate the spectrophotometer.

Position the spectrophotometer on its reference ceramic before clicking on the "Start Calibration" button

Start measuring the color bar

Position the spectrophotometer on its ruler so as to measure the lines one by one, starting and ending with the blank on the right and left of the range.

The line to be measured is indicated by the blue arrows on the left and right on the screen. By hovering over the patches already measured, the info on the Delta E, H and Ch as well as the CMYK values appear (For the RGB ranges, you will see the RGB values appear).

Concerning the patches not yet measured, only the CMYK (or RGB) values will appear on hovering over the patch.

Icons at the bottom of the measurement window

Resetting the measurement

Sound on or off during measurement

Note that the power of the beep depends on the sound setting of your computer.

Line read mode (default)

In this mode you can change the line using the "Next line" or "Previous line" buttons. The "Up" and "Down" keys and clicking to the left of the letter associated with the line also allows you to change the line.

CAUTION: If you click in a patch, the software will go into patch reading mode and request a calibration.

Patch-by-patch playback mode

By clicking on the icon, "Patches reading mode" the software switches to patch-by-patch measurement mode and requests a calibration. This mode is useful if you cannot measure a line. You can enter and exit this mode at any time during the range measurement procedure.

"Patches reading mode" requires fitting the spectrophotometer with its measuring accessory used to measure the samples.

In this mode you can change the box using the "Next patch" buttons to go to the right or "Previous patch" to go back to the left. The "Right" and "Left" keys also allow you to move through the target.

PLEASE NOTE: Clicking to the left of the letter associated with the line leaves "Patches reading mode" and returns you to "Line Mode" and requires a new calibration of the spectrophotometer.

In this mode you can move up or down using the buttons "Next line" to go down, or "Previous line" to go up. The "Up" and "Down" keys also allow you to move through the target.

By clicking on a box with the mouse, you can directly access the selected patch.

When the target reading is finished, click on "Reading done" to switch to the reading report.

Reading report

The measurement report is made up of two parts:

The upper part displays the short report

The lower part displays the long report

Display of results according to prescribed values defined by ISO 12647-7 standards

Whether for UGRA, Fogra or IDEAlliance, the tolerances associated with the different standards are automatically updated via our database.

It is also possible to customize the report by adding controls. Just click on the "+ Add a block" button to access the available controls.

All unused controls are available to customize the Print Control. Just click on the blocks to add them to the list.

To edit or delete a block, click on the three small dots located at the top right of the block.

If you modify a standard tolerance set, "-Edited" is added automatically after the tolerance name.

When you edit a tolerance, a window appears to modify the value of the original tolerance.

By clicking on one of the blocks, the colors associated with the tolerance calculation are highlighted in blue in the long report.

Label and long report printing

Two types of report are available in pdf format:

Label format, ready to print on a Dymo 400 or 450 printer

Type labels: Name Badge Labels LW, 54 mm x 101 mm SKU:S0722430

The Complete Report, in A4 format, containing the short report and the long report. This report in pdf format can contain several pages, depending on the number of patches measured. It is advisable to print it on a color laser printer.

Successive measurements

To start successive measurements, right click on the "Print Control" file then select "Start control"

The second measurement will be added to the history of the "Print Control" file Information to quantify the difference with the previous measurement will be added in each of the blocks.

The history of reports can be viewed by clicking on the blue icon. It is possible to transform the measured values into a color table by clicking on the purple icon.

3D display of the measures in the Mediawedge range

The color table generated in the previous step can be displayed in the Gamut Viewer to view 3D measurement differences or compare the measurements with the reference profile for example.

Save measurements

Saving the "Print Control" file is done simply by right-clicking on the file, then selecting the "Export" function.

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