0Harlequin RIP. The GenLin utility program. Technical Note Hqn026 June 2001

Transcription

1 0Harlequin RIP The GenLin utility program Technical Note Hqn026 June 2001

2 The GenLin utility provides an easy way to use automatic and semi-automatic densitometers with Harlequin RIP version 4.1 or later. 1 Overview The current version supports a limited number of densitometers and measurement methods and operates with a single installation of the RIP. Harlequin expects to increase the number of options and to ease any restrictions in future releases of GenLin. Currently, GenLin supports the following models of densitometer: X-Rite DTP X-Rite 938 X-Rite 938 and stage 2 Availability and Requirements GenLin is available for: Windows NT on Intell, Alpha and PowerPC based processors Windows 95 Power Macintosh Any computer capable of running the RIP for these platforms should be able to run GenLin, and GenLin currently requires the RIP to be installed on the same computer. The only additional requirement is an interface port with which GenLin communicates with the densitometer. For the currently supported densitometers this must be a serial port (RS232) on Windows platforms; the Macintosh version uses the modem or printer port. 3 Installation The Macintosh version of GenLin should be installed in the same folder as the RIP itself. 1 Commercial in Confidence Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001

3 4 Starting and using GenLin The PC version may be installed anywhere, as long as the SW directory may be accessed whilst it is running. For simplicity we would recommend that it is installed in the same directory as the RIP executable unless you have a good reason to do otherwise (e.g. you wish to install GenLin on a different machine). You must also make a physical connection with which GenLin can communicate with the densitometer. The connection details depend on the type of computer you are using. The simplest method of testing the connection is to run the GenLin program, then use the Config and Read Target options. 4 Starting and using GenLin First check that the densitometer is connected. When you start GenLin, you must select the kind of target and densitometer. Display the File menu and choose Config. RIP Folder: The Windows version of GenLin allows you to select the SW directory that you want GenLin to interact with. If you ve installed GenLin in the same directory as the RIP the default setting will correctly point at the SW sub directory. Instrument: Choose an entry that matches the type of densitometer you intend to use Port: Choose the port to which you have made a physical connection. Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001 Commercial in Confidence 2

4 5 Measuring data Display the File menu and choose Read Target. You will be asked to select a target number. The target you will be measuring has a reference number printed on it. Select the correct number in the list. GenLin displays prompts on the display panel of the densitometer during the measurement. The display panel allows only short prompts: see the following explanation. The procedure is different with manual and semi-automatic densitometers. On a densitometer that moves the target mechanically, place the target in the correct position to read values from the patches for the specified color. Where there is a position guide on the densitometer, GenLin displays the position setting for each color. A typical display on the DTP densitometer is: READ 1-color - MON DEN AT 14> other The first line of this display shows that there should be a one color monochrome target. (For multicolor targets, the first line shows how many colors are to be read and which is next to be read.) The second line shows that the next action is to set the guide at position 14 and read density. To re-measure a target, it is simplest to re-measure the whole target by using File>Read Target again. On a manual densitometer, measure each patch as it is prompted for on the screen. You can scroll up and down the list of values, using the up and down buttons to see or re-measure the values. To re-measure a particular patch, use the buttons to display the label of the patch or patches you wish to measure again. Do this before measuring all patches or GenLin will read the data from the densitometer before you have a chance to take corrected readings. Warning: Only a value shown with a leading asterisk (*) is the actual value of the patch whose name appears on the display. When you are measuring in the sequence suggested by GenLin, you see a patch name which you are about to measure and a value that is the one you have just measured for the previous patch. 3 Commercial in Confidence Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001

5 6 Use in the Harlequin RIP A typical display for the 938 densitometer is: Move to: 0.00 < > v0.17 The first line of this display is a request to measure the patch labeled The < and > characters on second line shows that the nearby buttons have a scrolling action among the values: these buttons only become active once you have measured a patch. The last entry on the second line shows the measurement reading: you can use the third button to show the corresponding C, M, Y, and V values if you wish. When you have finished measuring all channels, GenLin saves the data automatically. You can measure the target again, in which case you will lose the earlier set of data or display the File menu and choose Exit. Aborting the measurement You can abort a measurement at any time by displaying the File menu and choosing Abort Target. If there is only a problem with a few patch values you can re-measure those patches later. Saving data GenLin saves data at the end of a successful measurement in a file named CALDATA/IMPORT in the SW folder of the associated installation of the RIP. 6 Use in the Harlequin RIP Once you have measured the data, start the RIP then select or create an appropriate calibration set in the Calibration Manager dialog box. Click the Edit button with an existing calibration set selected or click the New button to display the Edit Calibration dialog box. Click the Import button to read the measurements from the file created by GenLin. If the new data is significantly different from the default or, you will see the calibration curve change as the RIP uses the new data. Warning: When using the RIP version 4.1 revision 1 you must make sure that the selection for Measurements as is Status-T. If you use the wrong setting for Measurements as the imported calibration curve will be wrong. Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001 Commercial in Confidence 4

6 7 What files does GenLin need? The GenLin application should normally be placed in the same directory as the Harlequin RIP application itself. It requires one or more drivers in order for it to communicate with one or more model of densitometer, and it will create a preferences file when it is first run in a sub-directory named GenLin which will be in the same directory as the application. Windows (all flavors) The drivers should be installed in a sub directory named GenLin. They will have a.dll extension, e.g. XR938.DLL for the XWrite 938 densitometer. Power Macintosh The drivers should be installed in a sub folder named GenLin 1. The drivers will be named glex<densitometer>.ppc where <densitometer> is an abbreviation for the densitometer model name, e.g. glex938.ppc would be a driver for the XWrite 938 densitometer. 8 Interactions with the SW directory GenLin needs to both read and write information from the SW directory of the RIP with which it is to be used. When you print a calibration target with that RIP a directory named CALDATA will be created inside the SW directory. That directory will contain sub directories called TRGETMAP and TRGETPND and a file called TRGETINF. These directories and the files within them should not be edited or changed in any way. When you use GenLin and save a data set it will be saved as CALDATA/IMPORT. That file will be read when you click on Import in the Calibration Edit dialog inside the RIP. 1. If necessary they may be installed in the same directory as the application, or in the Extensions folder in the active System Folder 5 Commercial in Confidence Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001

7 9 Troubleshooting Because the interaction is two-way you can only use GenLin to read from targets printed from the associated RIP. Windows versions of GenLin may be configured to access the SW directory on any machine which they can mount over the network, but Power Macintosh versions may only be used with a single RIP and must be installed on the same machine as the RIP itself. If you have multiple RIPs it is not possible to use a single Power Macintosh copy of GenLin on one machine to process targets printed on all of them you will have to install GenLin on all of the machines. If you only have one meter you will have to move it from machine to machine to process targets for the different RIPs. The fixed file-name for the saved file means that you have to process each target and then import it into the RIP in turn. 9 Troubleshooting There are several types of possible problems: Failure to communicate with the densitometer One symptom of a communications error is that GenLin displays an alert box saying that it has failed to load the driver for a named densitometer. This may be because of a mismatch between settings and actual densitometer, a break in cabling, or a failure in software between the computer and the densitometer. Check the connections and settings in the Config dialog box. If these appear to be correct, try switching off or disconnecting the densitometer for 30 seconds and then reconnecting it. Failure to read the correct data from the target A problem in this area is most likely to be a mismatch between the Target file selected in GenLin and the type of target you are physically measuring. First make sure that the number you select in the target list after clicking on Read Target matches the reference number printed on the target itself. Otherwise, look for the possibility that you have read the wrong patches on a manual densitometer or for a badly formed target or misalignment in a mechanicallyfed densitometer. Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001 Commercial in Confidence 6

8 Failure to transfer correct data to the Harlequin RIP On Windows platforms make sure that the GenLin RIP Folder setting is correctly defined to point at the right SW directory. If that is correct then these problems are most likely to be caused by the CALDATA directory structure being confused. Delete the CALDATA directory and all its contents and print the target out again. Note: After deleting the CALDATA directory you cannot use GenLin to read targets created before you deleted the directory you must re-print the targets. The reference number printed on the target does not appear in the list when you click on Read Target This could be because the target was printed on a different RIP On Windows make sure that the RIP folder setting is pointing at the SW directory of the RIP used to print the target. If that s not possible (or on Power Macintosh) use a copy of GenLin which can with the RIP used to print the target. It could also be because the CALDATA directory was deleted between printing the file and trying to read it with GenLin re-print the target and read from the new print. Change history v Document created. v Updated cover page and copyright page. Removed references to ScriptWorks and replaced with Harlequin RIP. No other changes made to text. 7 Commercial in Confidence Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001

9 9 Troubleshooting Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001 Commercial in Confidence 8

10 Copyright Global Graphics Software Limited. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Global Graphics Software Limited. The information in this publication is provided for information only and is subject to change without notice. Global Graphics Software Limited and its affiliates assume no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage that may arise from the use of any information in this publication. The software described in this book is furnished under license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of that license. ScriptWorks is a registered trademark and Harlequin, the Global Graphics Software logo, EasyTrap, FireWorks, FlatOut, Harlequin Color Management System, HCMS, Harlequin RIP, Harlequin Color Production Solutions, HCPS, Harlequin Color Proofing, HCP, Harlequin Full Color System, HFCS, Harlequin ICC Profile Processor, HIPP, Harlequin Standard Color System, HSCS, Harlequin Chain Screening, HCS, Harlequin Dispersed Screening, HDS, Harlequin Micro Screening, HMS, Harlequin Precision Screening, HPS, Harlequin Screening Library, HSL, Harpoon, RipFlow, ScriptWorks MicroRIP, ScriptProof, ProofReady, SetGold, Scalable Open Architecture RIP, SOAR, TrapMaster, TrapWorks, PDF Creator and RIPFlow are all trademarks of Global Graphics Software Limited. Portions licensed under U.S. Patents: Nos. 4,500,919, 4,941,038 and 5,212,546. EasyTrap is licensed under one or more of the following U.S. Patents: Nos. 5,113,249, 5,323,248, 5,420,702, 5,481,379. Adobe, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Type Manager, Acrobat, Display PostScript, Adobe Illustrator, PostScript, Distiller and PostScript 3 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Global Graphics Software Limited is a licensee of Pantone, Inc. PANTONE Colors generated by ScriptWorks are four-color process simulations and may not match PANTONE-identified solid color standards. Consult current PANTONE Color Publications for accurate color. PANTONE, Hexachrome, and PANTONE CALIBRATED are trademarks of Pantone, Inc. Pantone, Inc., Other brand or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. US Government Use The ScriptWorks software is a computer software program developed at private expense and is subject to the following Restricted Rights Legend: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the United States Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in (i) FAR Alt III or (ii) FAR , as applicable. Use by agencies of the Department of Defense (DOD) is subject to Global Graphics Software s customary commercial license as contained in the accompanying license agreement, in accordance with DFAR (a). For purposes of the FAR, the Software shall be deemed to be `unpublished and licensed with disclosure prohibitions, rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States. Global Graphics Software Incorporated, 95 Sawyer Road, Waltham, Massachusetts Commercial in Confidence Technical Note Hqn026: v1.1 June 2001