This video shows how to ensure consistency between prints despite all the variable factors
in the hardware (i.e. print head unit, print head life, printer unit, etc.)
for a given substrate profile.
This video contains two different sections.
The first one explains how to get the best color consistency in a single printer over time.
The second one explains how to get the best possible color match between different printers.
The purpose of color calibration is to produce consistent colors with the specific printhead, inks,
and substrate that you are using, and in your particular environmental conditions.
After color calibration, you can expect to get very similar prints
from your printer on different occasions.
When a job is sent to the printer from the software RIP,
it goes through the standard color pipe line before being printed.
The printed plot may be different depending on the status of the printheads, inks, and substrate.
The printheads, inks, or substrate drifts can be compensated at the color calibration and
linearization pipe line step by recalculating the color table to match a color reference.
That's why, after running the color calibration process on your printer,
you can expect to get very similar prints on different occasions.
The color calibration process does not work with the generic presets because they
must be kept as a template to clone in the future without any embedded color reference.
If you want to use the settings of a generic profile you must create a copy
and apply the color calibration process to the copy.
HP recommends using always the best possible substrate preset for each substrate.
Anyway, if you use the same preset for different physical substrates,
always the same physical substrate to run the color calibration because
the white of the substrate is part of the color reference.
The color calibration is valid for all the print modes of the calibrated substrate preset.
Each substrate preset must be calibrated independently.
The fact that one substrate preset is color calibrated doesn't imply
that the rest of substrate presets are also calibrated.
For the purpose of this demonstration, the generic
Self Adhesive Vinyl preset is cloned and named as MY SAV.
Just after cloning or installing a substrate preset on the printer,
the status of the color calibration for this substrate preset will be Recommended or Obsolete.
After cloning or installing a substrate preset,
and before starting to use it, always run the color calibration.
Select the icon, then Image quality maintenance, Color calibration and finally Calibrate.
Confirm that the color calibration status is OK before starting to use the new substrate preset.
Now, the calibration table has been recalculated to match the color reference of the substrate preset,
taking into account the status of the printheads in the unit.
In future, you will get the same colors, when using this
substrate preset, just by running the color calibration.
HP recommends running color calibration
when the color calibration status is not OK.
This happens, for example, when one or more printheads have been changed.
Or, when the color is not the expected one and you want to return to the color reference.
This section explains the process to follow in order to have a
good color consistency between different printers.
The described process will not work with Latex 315 or Latex 335 printers.
It only works with Latex 365 printers.
Follow the next steps if you want to reproduce the
same color in printer B as in printer A for a given substrate.
For this demonstration, we will continue using MY SAV substrate preset.
Choose printer A to be the reference printer, and use it to perform
color calibration on the substrate preset you want to use.
The calibration table has been recalculated to compensate
the status of the printheads installed in printer A.
From Printer A Embedded Web Server, export the calibrated substrate preset.
The Printer A color reference and conversion table will be included
in the generated PrinterA_MY SAV.oms package.
From Printer B's Embedded Web Server, import the PrinterA_MY SAV.oms substrate preset into Printer B.
Color-calibrate the preset in printer B.
The conversion table will be recalculated to match the Printer A color reference,
taking into account the status of the printheads installed in printer B.
Colors printed with printer A and printer B, on the substrate, should now be very similar.
If, after some months, the color difference between the printers is not acceptable,
run color calibration on both printers to return to the original Printer A color reference.
You can find additional helpful videos at www.hp.com/SupportVideos
and on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/HPSupportAdvanced.