Printing, Loading, Measuring, and Verifying a Color Chart

To print, load, measure, or verify an color chart (*.it8 file), to go Devices > Print Mode Manager and select from the following:

Note: When working with color charts, always use Fixed Sheet media, otherwise the spectrophotometer may not be able to read the chart due to sizing issues.

To print a chart

Note: Substrate quality affects ink density; always use a good quality substrate to ensure measured values are as accurate as possible.

  1. On the Edit Print Mode Output Profile page, click Print chart.
    The queue is populated with the chart on several pages showing the newly created print mode.
  2. Move the dialog to the side and select each job and click Print Job.

To load a chart

  1. On the Edit Print Mode Output Profile page, click Load chart.
    The Open dialog appears.
  2. Select an *.it8 file.
    The pages of the chart are populated in the preview on the right.
  3. Use the tabs to view the pages.

To measure a chart

Note: When measuring a chart, verify that the first color patch scanned is always cyan. This ensures the chart is aligned.

Tip: The screen has warning messages.

  1. Ensure your spectrophotometer is on and configured and the chart is printed.
    Note: When printing and cutting the chart for measuring, ensure there is enough area to properly secure it to the spectrophotometer. Each spectrophotometer is different and may require slight process changes.
  2. Place the first page you want to measure on the platen of the spectrophotometer.
    Note: Ensure the arm has just enough travel room above the media.
  3. In the Measuring section, select the pages you want to measure.
  4. On the Edit Print Mode Output Profile page, click Start.
  5. Follow the instructions in the Chart Measurement section of the dialog.
    This process takes several minutes. The pages populate as the measuring completes.
  6. Repeat for each page.
  7. [Optional] Select Use ICC charts for black t-shirts if you are using a black t-shirt.
  8. [Optional] Select Use Patch Mode if regular scanning is not successful and some patches are consistently missed (due to substrate or print quality).
    This process takes several minutes. Patches are scanned individually.
    Note: Not available with I1iSis.
  9. [Optional] Select Ignore Cyan Reference Patch Test if an error continuously occurs over a cyan patch, as the values may have printed inconsistently. This setting is to bypass the initial scan errors.

Verifying charts

Everyone verifies color their own way. You need to print a test page, found under Devices > Print Test Page. It is best to verify color under natural light as fluorescent light can cause greyscale to appear with a cyan or magenta tint. Also, we recommend always using the same test page, so you become familiar with it and know what to expect for that printer and substrate. It is also recommended to print on various printers and with various substrate to get a good expectation for final output.

  • The Profile Test Chart is an sRGB image; greyscale is processed using the ICC profile.
  • The Profile Test Chart Extended has RGB greyscale and a greyscale bitmap, which may print K, depending on the Apply ICC to greyscale check box.

Note: Check the following on the test print:

  • Greyscale: Greyscale must look grey. The test print must have a greyscale gradient and other greyscale areas, such as image or background.
  • Secondary colors: (RGB + Y) The colors must look accurate. The test print should have pure spots of these colors as well as images that use a lot of range of these colors.