Alwan CMYK Optimizer v.3.8

Transcription

1 Alwan CMYK Optimizer v.3.8 Manual 28 janvier 2010

2 Contents Introduction 4 Addressed Problems 4 Printability issues 4 Practical issues 5 Benefits 5 CMYK Optimizer Editions 6 CMYK Optimizer Interface 7 Input File Properties 9 Define Policy 9 Use Embedded Profile(s) 9 Use Embedded Rendering Intent(s) 9 Default source profiles 10 Dot Gain display 10 PDF/X Output Intent 10 RGB/Lab Separation 11 Customized Special Color Transformation 11 Customized Spot Color Transformation 13 Transparencies 14 Supported Input Files Format 16 Output File Properties 16 Output CMYK Profile 16 Profile Embedding 17 Output Profile Information 18 Output File Format 18 File Naming 19 CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 2

3 Compression 20 Printer / Press Calibration Optimization Settings 24 Separation tab 24 DTAC (Dynamic TAC correction) tab 28 Purity tab 30 Vector/LW tab 34 Rendering tab 36 Action tab 38 Advanced 41 Ink Consumption Statistics* 41 AlwanColorHub Preferences : Job Report 45 AlwanColorHub Preferences : Advanced 46 PDF/X compliancy 48 Enfocus Certified PDF tags 48 Automatic PDF marking and recognition 48 About IDEAlink and presssign curves 49 Generating Curves in IDEAlink 49 Generating Curves in presssign 50 CMYK Optimizer Editions 54 CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 3

4 1. Introduction Alwan CMYK Optimizer is the first preflight, standardization and optimization software for CMYK separations and data. CMYK Optimizer is a plug-in of a Framework named AlwanColorHub framework. It helps pre-media and prepress companies produce printable files, and allows printers to control and improve the printability of the files they receive by optimizing their separation for the destination process/press/paper. The files made compliant using CMYK Optimizer generate reproducible proofs as well as plates and cylinders with improved printability on the press Addressed Problems Printability issues In everyday jobs, the printer has to deal with situations where the client files do not print well enough or fast enough on press. This causes delays on press to achieve the right rendering (which is not always possible) and generates considerable losses in machine time and waste (and client dissatisfaction). This is due to: - Mismatch between incoming files color separation profile and printing press profile - The ink values (Total Area Coverage TAC) contained in the files not being appropriate for the destination press and paper which in turn causes ink set-off and dirt CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 4

5 - Mismatch between incoming files black generation and printer desired or optimal black generation (GCR/UCR...) - Mismatch between incoming files separation dot gain and printing substrate actual dot gain Practical issues Implementing ICC color management remains tedious in multi-press and multi-process environments. An individual ICC profile for each press and paper is technically right but practically not feasible nor necessary to achieve very good and consistent results on the press: - A printer does not always know long in advance which press a job will be printed on. Therefore in thesecases it is not possible to use the actual press profile for CMYK separation during DTP production - Paper can be chosen or changed at the last minute depending on price, availability etc. Dot gain can vary dramatically between papers, even of the same category 1.2. Benefits - Output files made compliant to the printing process/press/paper requirements - Improved printability and shorter make ready time - Improved color rendering and quality - Better match with color managed proofs - Solves all set-off and dirt problems caused by high ink weights - Easier and more stable printing - Up to 30% ink savings with Alwan Ink Saving technology - Uses Alwan LinkProfiler technology to build high quality ICC Device Link Profiles. Alwan DeviceLink Profiles are among the best ICC DeviceLink Profiles available today and are used in demanding production environments to produce ICC based prints for multi-million circulation products and titles. As CMYK Optimizer technology relies on the use of ICC profiles tables, be careful not to use inaccurate profiles. For more information about ICC Profiles quality assessment, you can download Alwan ColorPursuit documentation from our web site If you want more information about ICC DeviceLinkProfiles, please download Alwan LinkProfiler documentation from our web site CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 5

6 1.3. CMYK Optimizer Editions Since version 3.1, CMYK Optimizer has become available in 4 Editions: Photo, PrePress, Press, ECO and Platinum Editions. These Editions have increasing capabilities and are adapted to different needs of the graphic industry. Depending on the edition you have bought, your dongle will activate the corresponding options of CMYK Optimizer. Detailed information about each edition options can be found in part III. of this manual. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 6

7 2. CMYK Optimizer Interface CMYK Optimizer is a plug-in of AlwanColorHub Framework. You can refer to AlwanColorHub s documentation to discover all AlwanColorHub s possibilities, such as the Settings Manager that enables you to save and share all following settings. Detailed information about CMYK Optimizer Reports is available in part III. To open Alwan CMYK Optimizer Interface window: Launch AlwanColorHub, Open Queue Manager Select a CMYK Optimizer Queue and Clic on the Task... button. The following window appears: CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 7

8 Great care should be taken in setting options and parameters. For more information about ICC architecture and transformations please refer to Alwan ColorPursuit documentation from our web site CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 8

9 2.1. Input File Properties Input File Properties is the upper part of the above window. It allows you to define how input data will be considered for the queue Define Policy The Define Policy button is useful for choosing whether to use or discard Profiles and Rendering Intents that are embedded in input files : You can have different policies for RGB and CMYK Embedded Profiles and Rendering Intents, by ticking the relevant button on or off Use Embedded Profile(s) You can choose whether to use or discard profiles that are embedded in input files by ticking the button on or off. In the latter case, selected Default Profiles are used for conversions. Adobe Photoshop Separation Tables are also supported when embedded in images. You can also choose to Use Embedded Rendering Intents Use Embedded Rendering Intent(s) In case of a PDF file processing, you can choose whether to use or discard embedded Rendering Intents. In the latter case, selected Default Rendering Intents will be used. See RGB/Lab Separation... button and Rendering Tab for further details on selecting Rendering Intents. Please note that BPC can be used simultaneously with the Use Embedded Rendering Intents option if you activate it from the RGB/Lab Separation... button. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 9

10 Default source profiles Source profiles generally correspond to the images assumed or known working space. You can select a Default RGB Profile for RGB files and a Default CMYK Profile for CMYK images or PDFs. Note that the Input source CMYK Profile and Output destination CMYK profiles are used for the DeviceLinkProfile building. The Input RGB Profile and color separation. the Output CMYK Profile will be used for RGB to CMYK CMYK Optimizer supports embedded ICC Profiles as well as Adobe Photoshop Separation Tables as input Profiles. See part III for PDF X specific cases Dot Gain display Calculation of MYK channels dot gain at 50% area is done using ISO WD proposed formulae. Calculation of Cyan dot gain at 50% is based on a revisited formulae from paper ISO/TC 130/SC WG 3N 615 of PDF/X Output Intent The PDF/X Output Intent... button is useful to replace an identified Output Intent that you consider irrelevant. This button is displayed with a green color when active. If you choose to use embedded profile option and if you put the above example, CMYK Optimizer will use any PDF Output Intents as input profiles except if the Output Intent is GWG Generic CMYK. In this case, the Output Intent is replaced by an ISO Coated v2 profile which will be used as Input Profile. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 10

11 You can set the Filter to : Contains (entered filter is part of the Output Intent) Starts with (entered filter matches the beginning of the Output Intent) Whole Words (entered filter matches exactly the Output Intent) Ends with (entered filter matches the end of the Output Intent) RGB/Lab Separation If you wish to use an alternative Output CMYK profile for RGB and CIE Lab data, and choose the rendering intent of the conversion, click the RGB/Lab Separation... button: The button enables you to choose the default Output CMYK profile and the Rendering Intent for RGB/Lab to CMYK Separation. This button is displayed with a green color when the Default Output CMYK Profile is not the same as the selected Output CMYK Profile of the main window. Perceptual RI choice is recommended if your output CMYK Profile gamut is much smaller than your input gamut, If your output CMYK Profile gamut is close or a a slightly bit smaller than the source gamut, Relative Colorimetric with BPC can yield very good results. Please note that BPC is also active if you choose the use embedded RI and embedded profiles. This is very interesting because PDF RI does not allow BPC. If you check this BPC option and choose use embedded RI, you can then honor PDF/X-3 RI with BPC Customized Special Color Transformation This button enables you to define custom color conversions, it is displayed with a green color when active. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 11

12 This option applies only to vectors elements (bitmaps and shadings are excluded). + and - buttons add or remove a new entry in the list. The displayed list can be edited, saved or loaded using Edit... Load... and Save... buttons. The original value is replaced by a new value. To add a new entry, clic on + button, then double-clic on the new line or clic on Edit... button to edit the Special Color Transformation: Original values color spaces may be Gray (0-100), RGB (0-255), CMYK (0-100) or registration marks All (0-100) New value color spaces may be Gray (0-100) or CMYK (0-100) If you choose Becomes Output Value, the original value is replaced by the new value which is the final value that you will find in the optimized PDF. If you choose Becomes Input Value, the original value is replaced by the new value, then this new value will be color managed like any other input value (through CMYKCMYK conversion for instance). CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 12

13 In the above example, a solid 100% vector made of registration marks All will be transformed into C83 M79 Y73 K95 color. This color will then be color-managed like any other input CMYK values. Note that you can put a Tolerance for Original Values. It is also possible to choose Equal Components option for RGB and CMYK original values. In this case, the original R=G=B or C=M=Y=K value is replaced by Black only value. This option is very convenient to optimize office PDFs for print, or for some digital presses, to mention 2 examples Customized Spot Color Transformation Spot Colors... button enables you to define a custom Spot conversion. You can edit your own spot color conversion or import text files generated by X-Rite Perfect Palette or GMB/X-Rite ColorPicker applications. + and - buttons add or remove entries in the list. The displayed list supports multiple selection, and you can activate or deactivate each definition by choosing Activate or Deactivate buttons. This list can be edited, imported, saved or loaded thanks to Edit... Import... Load... and Save... buttons. Note that these conversions definitions have priority over Purity Tab Convert Spot Colors to CMYK option.( Convert Spot Colors to CMYK conversions from Purity Tab are based on alternate space definition from the PDF) CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 13

14 If you choose Becomes Output Value, the original value is replaced by the new value which is the final value that you will find in the optimized PDF. If you choose Becomes Input Value, it converts the spot color before any color transform, then Optimizer will process the resulting value like any other input value. (for instance Spot-CMYK then CMYK-CMYK) You can import CGATS file format text files, X-Rite Perfect Palette or GMB/X-Rite ColorPicker exported text files. If a spot color has 2 definitions in the imported text file, you will have to choose between the Lab or CMYK definition for instance: Here is an example of a text file structure that you can import into the Spot Colors list : SAMPLE_NAME CMYK_C CMYK_M CMYK_Y CMYK_K LAB_L LAB_A LAB_B PANTONE_100_C PANTONE_101_C Transparencies Transparencies... button enables you to choose if a PDF having transparency should be processed or not, and wether it should be outputted in JobSuccess or JobError folder. Note that this option has priority over Rendering - PDF Page Rasterization Triggers Transparencies options. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 14

15 By clicing on Transparencies... button, following window will be displayed : Above settings are the Default and recommended options, meaning that a PDF having transparencies will be optimized and outputed in the jobsuccess folder. By choosing above settings a PDF having transparencies will not be optimized and will be outputed in the joberror folder. By choosing above settings a PDF having transparencies will not be optimized and will be outputed in the jobsuccess folder. Notes : You can see detected transparencies logged into text reports ( Page 1/1 contains transparencies ). This interface replaces options named JobTask_transparenciesProcessed and JobTask_transparenciesInError which were available in ACH preference file (com.alwancolor.alwancolorhub.plist) before ACH 3.8 CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 15

16 Supported Input Files Format CMYK Optimizer supports the following input files format: - Windows BMP Photoshop EPS Compuserve GIF JPEG TIFF * TIFF LZW * TIFF-IT ** EPS generic PDF Restrictions: * : Some TIFF images clipping paths may not be supported. This is particularly true for proprietary technology such as Photoshop clipping paths. However, alpha channels are supported. ** : only CT files are processed (ct suffix), the other files (lw and fp suffixes) are moved to the output folder without any change Output File Properties Output CMYK Profile Here you can select the Output CMYK Profile for the queue. This ICC profile generally corresponds to your destination processes generic or custom profile. See part III. for PDF X specific cases. All input colors are color managed for the chosen output CMYK, except for gray objects which remain gray after optimization. Gray objects are managed as black only elements. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 16

17 Profile Embedding You can choose between following options : Do not Embed Profile: No profile is embedded in the optimized file. Embed ICC Profile as is: Selected Output CMYK Profile is saved with the optimized files (or output intent in case of PDF files). Embed ICC Profile as v2: Selected Output CMYK Profile is converted into an icc v2 profile and saved with the optimized files (or output intent in case of PDF files). This can be useful if your workflow does not support icc v4 profiles. Embed ICC Profile as v2 with Reversed DGC curves: Selected Output CMYK Profile is converted into an icc v2 profile with reversed DGC curves coming from Printer /Press Calibration... option, and saved with the optimized files (or output intent in case of PDF files). In this case, reversed DGC curves are saved in the Device to PCS tables of Output Intent profile. This option allows you to recover, for proofing purposes, the original values even though these values have been changed due to Printer / Press Calibration option. Note that to achieve a good color accuracy with your proofer, the proofing system should honor embedded profiles. Note also that Color Management of your RIP should be disabled. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 17

18 Output Profile Information Information about Dot Gain and color Separation is extracted from the selected Output CMYK Profile and is displayed as shown: Separation - Rendering Relative Colorimetric: indicates the output table which will be used to calculate the ICC DeviceLink Profile. This table corresponds to that of the chosen rendering intent (see Rendering tab). - K Max 94 % indicates the maximum amount of Black obtained in the Output Profile separation. - TAC 329 % Total Area Coverage indicates the maximum amount of CMYK overprint obtained in the Output profile separation. - K start at 11 % Used for GCR calculations. Indicates where black generation starts in relation to cyan channel. The value calculated from the output table here is 8%. This means that black will appear where the CMY values are approximately 8% or more. This value can be modified when GCR or Maximum Black are selected in Separation tab. Dot Gain display Calculation of MYK channels Dot Gain at 50% area is done using ISO WD proposed formulae. Calculation of Cyan dot gain at 50% is based on a revisited formulae from paper ISO/ TC 130/SC WG 3N 615 of Output File Format Output File Format allows you to choose the file format of your Optimized files: CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 18

19 The tab below describes how CMYK Optimizer saves your optimized images depending on your Output File Format settings: Notes: - Mismatches between Input formats and Output File Format settings are highlighted in orange, because of some logical restrictions regarding mono / multi pages format or vector / raster definitions. - PDF is the file format that is mostly used and preferred for ACH. If same as input file format is chosen and if original file is a PDF, the optimized PDF will conserve its integrity: in this case, only color objects are substituted inside the original PDF. - If same as input file format is chosen and if original file is an eps, the original eps is first converted into PDF by Quartz and then processed by AlwanColortHub and then resaved into eps format by Quartz File Naming It is possible to have a comprehensive file naming management. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 19

20 The following window will be displayed if you clic on the FIle Namig... button: You can Keep Original File Name Unchanged or choose to add a prefix and / or a suffix to Original File Name. The bottom part Existing File Name enables you to choose whether or not you want to overwrite or not existing files having the same name in the output folder. With Add a Number after new File Name (_01.ext) option, an incremental suffix will be added to your optimized file name. For instance, MyJob.pdf will become MyJob_01.pdf in the Output Folder. If you place MyJob.pdf into the same hotfolder a second time, it will be processed and saved as MyJob_02.pdf under the Output Folder Compression Compression can be applied on output files. This applies to PDF, EPS Generic and JPEG output file formats. The compression algorithm used is JPEG_DCT and is applied on bitmaps inside PDF and EPS files, or on JPEG image files. Click on the Compression... button to display its interface window. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 20

21 The top half of the window concerns PDF and EPS Generic output file formats. A drop down menu allows three options on handling compression within a file: - Compress None: no DCT compression is applied. However, a Zip (non destructive) compression is applied - Compress if required: compression is applied only to images that were compressed inside the original PDF or EPS file - Compress always: all images are compressed regardless of whether they arrived with compression or not. Under each slider, you can see the labels low / med / high / max These presets are almost equivalent to Adobe Photoshop JPEG compression presets. The compression slider under JPEG Image Files allows you to set compression on Jpeg images only. It is recommended that a value higher than 6.0 be applied to avoid severe quality loss Printer / Press Calibration... Printer / Press Calibration... option allows you to apply sophisticated curve corrections to your files. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 21

22 The interface allows you to enter and display input and output values by means of a graph and a Look-up table (LUT). This is very useful for adjusting Dot Gain and for matching ISO standard or G7 specification. These corrections are applied after all color management conversions. If you want to apply only curve corrections and deactivate color-management, you can choose Printer Calibration (Curve Correction Only) in the Actioon Tab. This could be useful for Press Characterization issue. A curve is made of a customizable number of points/entries. Each point corresponds to a LUT entry point. You can create new entries thanks to the LUT Entries menu. You can edit the different curves within the displayed graph or through the input / output LUT entries values. You can use the Printer / Press Calibration option in 3 different ways: 1- Define your own curve corrections You can define your custom curves directly in the interface. 2- Import correction curves generated by IDEALink Curve (G7/NPDC approach) You can launch IDEALink Curve application from Launch Tool pop up menu. See Chapter III. for further details on how to export IDEALink curves for CMYK Optimizer You can import generated curves corrections by choosing the Import... button 3- Import correction curves generated by Bodoni presssign (ISO 12647/Dot Gain approach) You can launch Bodoni presssign application from Tool pop up menu. See III for further details on how to export presssign curves for CMYK Optimizer You can import generated curves corrections by choosing the Import... button Load... This button enables you to load a saved correction file Save... This button enables you to save current curve corrections. Saved files can then be loaded into Printer / Press Calibration using Load... button CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 22

23 Reset This button enables you to reset the current changes. Lock Curves Check this option if you want to prevent any change Smooth Edited Curve This button allows you to smooth the displayed correction curve. You can see smoothing effect on displayed curves and displayed values. Note that you can press this button many times if you need a smoother curve. Curve Interpolation The selected option determines which algorithm is used to interpolate the values between the different points/entries. You can choose between - Polynomial 5 - Cubic Spline - Linear Default Option is Cubic Spline which is Alwan s preferred algorithm. Printer / Press Calibration applies to gray objects the same way it does to black. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 23

24 2.3. Optimization Settings Separation tab The Separation tab allows you to take full control on the output CMYK files black generation. Some options can be active or grayed depending on CMYK Optimizer edition you are using (see part III. for further details). Original Output Profile PCSToDevice tables are ignored for all separation options except for Use Output Profile Separation option. New tables are calculated in accordance with the chosen Black Generation settings detailed in the following pages. Use Output Profile Separation Use Output Profile Separation allows you to use you chosen Output Profile PCS to Device table for the DVL profile building. This option is useful if you want to benefit from your Output device profile gamut mapping, or if you would like to achieve the same colorimetric results as when using ICC device profiles based color transformations with color management or image editing software. Preserve Original Separations This option allows you to preserve the original separations of the input file. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 24

25 With the same ICC profile selected as Input and Output CMYK Profile for the queue, input files plates integrity is preserved. Only dark areas exceeding the chosen maximum TAC are recalculated by the software to meet the maximum target TAC. You can choose to use the K Dot Gain Compensation. If K Dot Gain Compensation is unchecked, output CMY values will be calculated keeping original K values, so that original black generation is preserved. If K Dot Gain Compensation is checked, output Black channel will be Dot Gain managed using Input/Output Profiles black dot gain difference. CMY values are calculated depending on those new K Values. General purpose GCR Output CMYK values are calculated with a General purpose GCR rule. This choice corresponds to a Heavy GCR (1.7) with a Kstart at 10% and a Kmax at 98% (Kmax was 90% in previous versions) CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 25

26 TAC default value is that of the original Output Profile. You can leave it or modify it. GCR (CMYK Optimizer Press and ECO Editions only) This option allows you to take full control of your output Black Generation. GCR stands for Gray Component Replacement i.e. Black replacing CMY grays in the separation. All Black Generation parameters can be set. - GCR popup menu allows you to choose the strength of Black replacement. The range of selection is very wide, from No Black (CMY only) to Maximum Black replacement (practically all equal amounts of CMY are replaced by equivalent black). CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 26

27 - K Max indicates the maximum desired amount of Black obtained in the Output separation. - TAC Total Area Coverage indicates the maximum amount of CMYK overprint obtained in the Output separation. - K start at indicates where black generation starts. This means that black will appear when CMY values are 10% or more. Dynamic Maximum Black (CMYK Optimizer ECO Edition only) This option allows you to use the maximum amount of Black ink possible on the printing press without visible compromise on print quality, especially shadows and three quarter tones details. - K Max indicates the maximum desired amount of Black obtained in the Output separation. For significant ink savings, set a high value (90%-100%). - TAC which means Total Area Coverage indicates the maximum amount of CMYK overprint obtained in the Output separation. - K start at indicates where black generation starts. This means that black will appear when CMY values are 10% or more. - Ink Savings option allows you to use the maximum amount of Black ink for your press without loss of details in shadows and three quarter tones - MIN setting is approximately equivalent to Maximum GCR (see next paragraph). - MAX setting allows you to typically save between 10% and 30% more ink in comparison to conventional GCR. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 27

28 DTAC (Dynamic TAC correction) tab CMYK Optimizer analyses and preflights PDF and EPS document files on a page basis. Dynamic TAC Correction adds a powerful feature to TAC correction by introducing a new and innovative way of automatically calculating and correcting output files TAC. DTAC allows you to calculate and correct your file TAC in a dynamic way which takes into account the surface of high TAC areas. DTAC takes into account the possible risks on printability caused by large black areas and can set your files output TAC to values that are lower and more convenient for your press than the designated nominal TAC while maintaining image contrast. You can choose between 2 methods to calculate risky high TAC areas or elements: Surface / Pixel based - Basic or Thickness / Radial Filter - Advanced With the Surface / Pixel based method, high TAC value surfaces are computed through a pixel analysis approach. Different high TAC surfaces are thus cumulated. With the Thickness / Radial Filter method, Optimizer preflight is based on elements thickness analysis. A big advantage of this option is that non-adjacent high TAC values regions are not cumulated. When Optimizer preflights a page with Thickness / Radial Filter method, the shape and thickness of elements are assessed regardless of their surface. For instance, with Optimizer set to Tolerate excess TAC up to 2 cm (in Radial method): - a square of 3 cm x 3cm will be detected as problematic, - but a rectangle of 1 cm x 9 cm will be preflighted OK CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 28

29 regardless of surfaces that are both equal to 9 cm2 Please note that Nominal TAC designates the TAC value that you typed in the Separation tab interface. Note also that Processing a file using Surface / Pixel based method is quicker than processing a file using Thickness / Radial Filter method. Filter Image Noise up to This setting is available only for the Surface / Pixel based method. Thickness / Radial Filter method does not offer this option as it recognizes and offsets image noise automatically by means of an advanced algorithm. Filter Image Noise up to is the maximum percentage of high TAC pixels that CMYK Optimizer can offset during TAC analysis. Default value is 0.2%. Tolerate excess TAC up to Depending on the chosen DTAC method, this value is a surface or a thickness. Any entered area (Default 4 cm2) will be tolerated during file analysis preflight. This threshold is used during Preflight analysis (In Check Only (Preflight) or Check and Optimize mode) to determine if the file needs a TAC reduction. For instance, if Optimizer finds an area which is less than the designated 4 cm2 area carrying excessive TAC, the file will be considered as compliant. This threshold is also used to determine which TAC value will be applied during the optimization (in Check and Optimize, and in Optimize Always mode). If the file TAC is below the Tolerate excess TAC threshold, and if the optimization is needed (Optimize Always mode for instance), the optimization will be achieved by keeping the file original filtered TAC value, instead of the chosen Nominal TAC. This is to keep the maximum dynamic / contrast of the original file. If needed, this can be deactivated by setting this value to 0. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 29

30 Keep Nominal TAC up to This parameter is used in case of Optimization (Check and Optimize or Optimize Always modes), it determines the final TAC of the file, that is to say the output TAC of the DVL Profile used during optimization. Keep Nominal TAC up to value corresponds to the area (or thickness) beyond which Dynamic Output TAC will be active. Non-compliant files having an excess TAC area (or thickness) inferior to this threshold will be normalized to the chosen Nominal TAC. Non-compliant files having an excess TAC area superior to this threshold will be normalized to a lower TAC value. This value is determined by the choice of DTAC Force. DTAC force The DTAC force correction factor decreases output TAC for pages having dark/black areas above the Keep Nominal TAC up to threshold. Nil/Min/Medium/Max setting mean that Output TAC can be 0/5/10/15% respectively lower than the chosen Nominal TAC. The window settings above mean that if a file has a high TAC area of more than 25 cm2, output TAC will be decreased to 266% instead of Nominal TAC. This parameter is active for Check and Optimize and Optimize Always. Note: decimal separator and area unit (cm <- inch) are adapted to country (System Preferences - International- Formats). Quit ACH, change System Preferences unit and relaunch ACH Purity tab This tab lets you set constraints in the output separation in order to preserve the integrity of some of the input files values characteristics. Note that it is also possible to preserve certain values thanks to the Special Colors... button. This will allow you to avoid printability issues and problems on the press. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 30

31 C-M-Y or K primaries ink purity: All input C, M, Y or K only colors of any value will remain pure C, M, Y or K on the output. Only dot gain compensation will be applied. For example a 50% Cyan on the input may become 54% Cyan only on the output. The output color remained pure Cyan, but its value was adjusted to take into account the (lower) dot gain of the output press. CM-MY-YC secondaries purity: All input CM-MY-YC only colors of any value will remain pure CM-MY-YC on the output. Only dot gain compensation will be applied. For example a C50-M50 (Cyan 50% and Magenta 50%) Blue Color may become C54-M56 on the output. The output color remained pure CM, but CM values have been adjusted to take into account the (lower) dot gain of the output press. CK-MK-YK secondary colors ink purity All input CK-MK-YK only colors of any value will remain pure CK-MK-YK on the output. Only dot gain compensation will be applied. For example a C40-K90 (Cyan 40% and Black 90%) Blue Color may become C35-K86 on the output. The output color remained pure CK, but CK values has been adjusted to take into account the (higher) dot gain of the output press. CMK-MYK-CYK achromatics: Tints that are composed of 3 primary inks including Black will remain as such. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 31

32 Only dot gain compensation and black generation will be applied. For example a C20-M20-K20 (Cyan 20% Magenta 20% and Black 20%) may become C18M22-K23 on the output. 100% solid primaries: Input solids primaries remain unchanged in the output separation. For instance (C0 M100 Y0 K0) stays at (C0 M100 Y0 K0) and (C0 M0 Y0 K100) stays at (C0 M0 Y0 K100). 200% solid secondaries: Input solid secondaries (without black) remain unchanged in the output separation. For instance (C100 M100 Y0 K0) stays at (C100 M100 Y0 K0). 200% CK-MK-YK: Input colors made of K100 and C100 or M100 or Y100 remain unchanged in the output separation. For instance (C100 M0 Y0 K100) stays at (C100 M0 Y0 K100). 400% CMYK: Input files colors made of (C=M=Y=K=100%) remain unchanged in the output file. This option does not affect registration marks made of the All special spot color. By clicking on Advanced... button you can access following advanced options : CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 32

33 CMY colors under 100% Black: This option handles images having black text defined within the bitmap (for instance a text made of pixels C20 M5 Y10 K100) CMY input values will be color managed and adjusted in the output separation keeping Black to 100%. This option is useful for international titles where CMY channels are the same for all editions with only Black text changing (having text included in the bitmaps). This option has been revisited in CMYK Optimizer 3.8 to ensure a better color transformation accuracy and a better printability of optimized images Please note that Black 100% vector text always stay Black 100% regardless of this option. Preserve Overprints Sensitive (force preserve original separation) When CMY purity and overprint are detected, Preserve Original Separation option is forced. This is to avoid situations where artifacts due to Black generation modification in overprinted regions may appear. The consequence of this specific processing is that no ink savings will be achieved for the corresponding PDF page. When such PDF is processed with this detection active, you will find following warning message in the PDF and text reports: PDF page contains overprints sensitive that forces the Preserve Original Separation Such reports will have a Red finder label and a special _POS suffix (for instance FHMP8_2056.pdf_reportOPT_POS.pdf ) Note that Overprints Sensitive Rasterization option (available in Rendering tab - PDF Page Rasterization Triggers option - Overprints Sensitive) if checked, has the priority over Preserve Overprints Sensitive option, and allows the application of the chosen GCR level. Note also that before CMYK Optimizer 3.8, this Preserve Overprints Sensitive option was a global setting available in AlwanColorHub Preference file (com.alwancolor.alwancolorhub.plist) using JobTask_CMYPurityManagement option Convert Spot Colors to CMYK: Spot colors are converted into their corresponding CMYK Values. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 33

34 Spot colors CMYK definition is specified in the PDF and adapted to the output color space requirements. A warning message Converting Spot Color into CMYK may affect overprint is displayed when turning on this option. Note that more sophisticated Spot Color conversions can be defined thanks to Spot Colors... button Vector/LW tab The Vector/LW tab is active for EPS and PDF files. It allows you to choose one of the 3 following processing policy for Vectors and Linework elements: Color Manage like bitmaps: With Color Manage like bitmaps option, vectors are managed like bitmaps. In this case, Source Values Preservation options set in Purity Tab are also effective for vectors. Dot Gain management: Dot Gain Management option enables you to manage Vectors and Linework elements with Dot Gain corrections. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 34

35 By clicking on the VDGM... (Vector Dot Gain Management) button you can choose between Automatic (profile based) or Manual (custom) dot gain correction. These corrections are effective for each C / M / Y and K channel. In this case, Printer / Press Calibration button is not effective for vectors. Keep unchanged You can also choose not to manage Vectors/LW elements by clicking the Keep Unchanged Button. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 35

36 Rendering tab CMYK DVLP Rendering Intent This popup menu allows you to choose the ICC Device Profiles Rendering Intent tables that will be used to build DeviceLink Profiles. You can choose one of the four ICC intents, Perceptual, Relative Colorimetric, Absolute Colorimetric and Saturation. Black Point Compensation: This option will compensate for the differences in dynamic range between Input and Output device gamuts. Blacks and three quarter tones will not be clipped or lost if the Destination gamut is smaller than the Source Gamut. Blacks and three quarter tones will not lose their visual deepness and contrast if the Destination gamut is larger than the Source Gamut. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 36

37 Relative Colorimetric Rendering Intent with Black Point Compensation is probably the most widely used option for Press to Press Match. Maximum DVL Grid Resolution: Allows you to choose CMYK Optimizer DeviceLinkProfiles maximum size. The higher the grid resolution, the larger the DVL profile, the longer DVL Profile calculation time will be. Default value is 11. Available grid resolution ranges from 11 to 21 grid points DVL Profiles. Force: If Force option is unchecked, CMYK Optimizer DeviceLinkProfiles resolution is limited to the chosen Maximum DVL Grid Resolution provided it is lower or equal to the source profile grid resolution. This means that DVLP resolution cannot exceed the source profile grid points number. If Force option is checked, CMYK Optimizer DVL profiles grid points will be forced to the chosen Maximum DVL Grid Resolution number. PDF Page Rasterization Triggers These options allow you to choose which elements will trigger PDF Page Flattening and Rasterization and which resolution will be applied in this case. PDF Page Rasterization Triggers: This part allows you to choose which kind of elements will trigger a PDF page Flattening and Rasterization. All Transparencies: if you check this option, any detected transparency will trigger Flattening and Rasterization of the corresponding page. In case of multipage PDF, only pages that contain transparencies will be flattened and rasterized. Complex Transparencies: if you check this option only complex transparencies (i.e. non-normal blending mode) that may be misinterpreted on the RIP will be flattened and rasterized If "All Transparencies" option is checked "Complex Transparencies" will be grayed out and ticked automatically. Sensitive Overprints: if you check this option, only pages containing complex tints and overprints that may be misinterpreted on the RIP will be flattened and rasterized Resolution: this option allows you to choose the Rasterization resolution. Unit is dot per inch (dpi). CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 37

38 Action tab This Tab allows you to choose the action made by CMYK Optimizer Check Only (Preflight): CMYK Optimizer only checks whether files are compliant to your defined Task settings or not. No other action on the file is made. Parameters checked during Check Only (Preflight) are: - TAC value resulting from DTAC analysis (Noise filter + Tolerate Excess TAC value) - K max (if Separation tab is set to GCR or Maximum Black) - Existence of any color space different from CMYK or Gray color spaces - Existence of an embedded profile different from the Output CMYK Profile if Use Embedded Profile(s) option is checked - Existence of transparencies if PDF Page Rasterization Triggers- Transparencies option is checked in Rendering tab - Existence of Overprints Sensitive elements if PDF Page Rasterization Triggers- Overprints Sensitive option is checked in Rendering tab Note that if 400% registration marks preservation option is activated (in Purity Tab), elements made of 400% will not be taken into account during the Preflight. Resulting analysis is described in the Log window. Check and Optimize: CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 38

39 CMYK Optimizer checks and optimizes non-compliant files. The compliancy is based on same parameters as in Check Only (Preflight) mode. If you are proccessing PDFs with Check and Optimize, it is recommended to choose Preserve Original Separation (to keep the same separation on optimized pages and on pages that do not need optimization). Optimize Always: All hot folder files are systematically optimized. This option is useful in case you want to change all images color or separation characteristics regardless of their TAC and K compliancy. Ink Consumption Statistics: Ink Consumption Statistics option enables you to view your individual files calculated ink consumption as well as any increase or decrease in this consumption due to your optimization settings. See Part III for further details. Image Enhancement... Image Enhancement... function allows you to apply Unsharp Mask to your image files or to bitmaps included in your PDFs. New functionalities may be added in future releases of the software. Unsharp Mask is used to improve apparent sharpness of an image. This filter is based on unsharp algorithms that lead to an improved contrast. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 39

40 Unsharp Mask is applied after all color conversions, thus on CMYK or gray data, using Apple Core Image technology. Unsharp Mask is effective only in case of Optimization (Optimize Always or Check and Optimize with optimization needed or Printer Calibration (Curve Correction Only)). Amount This is a percentage that corresponds to the amount of added contrast. Set Amount to 0% to deactivate Unsharp Mask. Radius USM radius unit is not a pixel (like in Adobe Photoshop ) but printer point, also called DTP point. A radius of 1 point corresponds to 1 pixel for an image at 72 dpi A radius of 1 point corresponds to 2 pixels for an image at 144 dpi Image resolution is thus taken into account during Unsharp Mask Radius Value controls how wide the edge rims become. The higher the radius the more noticeable the sharpening effect will be. A small radius enhances small-scale details. Preview By activating the Preview option, you can see the effect of chosen Amount and Radius settings. II.4 Bottom part of CMYK Optimizer settings window Update ICC Profiles List Update ICC Profiles List button allows you to update the list of ICC profiles available in CMYK Optimizer Profiles local menus if you modify the content of your ColorSync Profiles folder after application startup. When you finish setting your queue properties, validate by clicking on the Apply or OK button. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 40

41 3. Advanced 3.1. Ink Consumption Statistics* * available only with CMYK Optimizer ECO versions. Ink Consumption Statistics option enables you to view your individual file, calculated ink consumption as well as any increase or decrease in this consumption due to your optimization settings. These calculations require that original as well as optimized files be analyzed accordingly which will take CPU time. Files will stay longer in Job Manager even if optimized files are transferred to the output folder before the end of the ink consumption analysis. Ink Consumption Statistics are compiled daily and saved into the Application support folder. For instance, the statistics of 25 September 2006 will be saved in an xml file at path: /Users/$USER/Library/Application Support/ALWAN_ColorHub/Statistics/ 2006_09_25.plist To activate Ink Consumption Statistics check the option in CMYK Optimizer Action tab. Statistics Manager Ink Consumption Statistics will be available in the Statistics Manager window. To display the Statistics Manager window choose Managers-Statistics Manager from AlwanColorHub menu bar: CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 41

42 The following window will be displayed: Today By clicking this button, Ink Consumption Statistics of the current day are displayed. Load Statistics... Click this button to display statistics of a chosen day. Delete Job(s) Statistics... This button enables you to delete selected jobs in the list. Multiple selection is possible. Save Reports... This button enables you to sum up statistics for a chosen period: A tabulated text report will be created. You can open it in a any text or spreadsheet application. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 42

43 Statistics Manager window displays the following information: Doc Name: File name CMYorig(%): Sum of Cyan + Magenta + Yellow plates ink coverage in % of total (original file) Korig(%): Black plate ink coverage in % of total (original file) CMYopt(%): Sum of Cyan + Magenta + Yellow plates ink coverage in % of total (optimized file) Kopt(%): Black plate ink coverage in % of total (optimized file) CMY(%): CMYorig(%) - CMYopt(%) K(%): Korig(%) - Kopt(%) Pages(nbr): Number of pages of corresponding document file TotArea(dm2): Total printed surface for the document = Pages(nbr) x Width x Height PrintRun(nbr): Number of printed copies. Default print run figure can be edited for each document by double clicking on the displayed number. CMYorig(gr): C + M + Y Ink Consumption estimated weight (in gr/kg/tons) = CMYorig(%) x TotArea(m2) x process and paper estimated Ink demand (gr/m2). Ink demand figure can be customized in AlwanColorHub Preferences Korig(gr): K Ink Consumption estimated weight (in gr/kg/tons) = Korig(%) x TotArea(m2) x process and paper estimated Ink demand (gr/m2). Ink demand figure can be customized in AlwanColorHub Preferences CMY(gr): CMYorig(gr) - CMYopt(gr) K(gr): Korig(gr) - Kopt(gr) CMY( /$/ ): CMY(kg) x CMY inks cost ( /$/ per kg) Ink cost/kg figure can be customized in AlwanColorHub Preferences K( /$/ ) K(kg) x Black ink cost ( /$/ per kg) Ink cost figure can be customized in AlwanColorHub Preferences Savings( /$/ ) CMY( /$/ ) + K( /$/ ) Total Ink Savings Sum of all individual document files ink savings Gain... % of initial cost Relative Gain between original ink cost and optimized ink cost: Gain = (Savings( /$/ ) / Original Cost( /$/ )) * 100 where Original Cost( / $/ ) =CMYorig(Kg) *CMY Inks Costper Kg + Korig(Kg) * KInkCostper Kg CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 43

44 AlwanColorHub Preferences: Statistics Tab To customize ink consomption calculation parameters, select AlwanColorHub - Preferences... menu to access to the following window : Ink Demand (av) gr/m2: Average weight of nominal ink density printed on 1 m2 of paper (before drying). This figure is process and paper dependent. Its value can fluctuate from 2-3 gr/m2 for an offset process to 7-8 gr/m2 for a gravure or flexo process. Ink Cost (per Kg) ( /$/ ): Ink cost per kg. Enter actual figure if available. If not, default figure is 4 /$/ per kg for Black and 5.5 /$/ per kg for C M Y. Default Print Run: This is the default number you will find under the PrintRun column in the Ink Consumption window. Automatic Reporting You can choose to generate Statistics Reports automatically. The chosen period(s) may be Daily Weekly Monthly Quarterly Yearly. The Reports may be XML or Tab Delimited Text File formats. You can customize the Reports Folder thanks to the Choose... button. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 44

45 3.2. AlwanColorHub Preferences : Job Report You can fine tune Report creation through AlwanColorHub - Preferences... menu: Format You can choose if you want a PDF report, a Text report or both reports in the Report folders. You can also choose the type of Text Reports you want: Basic / Advanced / Expert. Depending on your choice, text reports will display more detailed information about the image currently processed: Ink consumption/color, Black level, TAC, Histogram analysis for DTAC correction etc... Reports Labels You can color-select which kind of report you would like to see in the Report Folder. Reports Color have the following meaning: Please note that File Reading Error could mean: file is corrupted, unreadable, encrypted or contains an excessive bitmap size. Tip: If you want to sort the logs depending on their color, within the finder menu select View as List then select View/Show View Options and check Show Columns - Label. You will then be able to sort the reports by clicking on the Label Column in the finder. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 45

46 Copy all text reports into: You can also activate a Global Report with this option. If there are multiple hotfolder queues configured, this allows all text logs to be aimed at one place. This is useful for administration purposes AlwanColorHub Preferences : Advanced If you select AlwanColorHub - Preferences... menu, you will find advanced settings used within CMYK Optimizer Task in the Advanced tab, in particular at the bottom of the window : Overprint / Knock out when ICCBased vector color This option enables you to choose how CMYK Optimizer will handle ICCBased vector colors having an active overprint. If this option is checked, such colors will knock out other elements. If this option is unchecked, such colors will overprint other elements. For instance, a C0 M0 Y0 K100 ICCBased vector color will be optimized - into C0 M0 Y0 K100 DeviceCMYK if the option is unchecked - into C0.2 M0.2 Y0.2 K100 DeviceCMYK if the option is checked. 0.2% values being added on 0% channels in order to keep the knocking out feature CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 46

47 Color Calculation Method The Edit... button allows you to set some of the parameters influencing the error calculation method used in the profile building process. Default values must not be modified unless you know exactly what you are doing. Please contact Alwan Color Expertise or your assigned Application Specialist if you wish to make changes. Maximum Target Error: Defines the target E for the DeviceLinkProfile building calculation. Lower E requires more iteration and makes Profile Building longer but at the same time it will increase the quality of color matching. Default value is 0.5. E CIELAB or E 94 formula You can choose between these 2 formulae. Default formula is E 94. Out of Gamut Colors Mapping: Input Profile may contain colors that are out of the gamut of the Output profile. In this case at profile building stage, a choice can be made whether to favor colorimetry or color perception in the mapping operations. Minimum E will ensure that measured colors on the output will be as close as possible to corresponding input colors. Maximum Details (default setting) will ensure that image details on the output will match as closely as possible to those on input. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 47

48 3.4. PDF/X compliancy PDF/X-1a:2001 and PDF/X3:2002 are supported. CMYK Optimizer is compliant with the following internationaly recognized test suites: - ECI Altona Visual and Technical, - GWG Kensington Suite Output CMYK Profile is always embbeded as the Output Intent for PDF/X files regardless of the Embed Output Profile box setting. When PDF/X Output Intent profile is not embbeded in the PDF/X, the profile is searched in $USER/Library/ColorSync/Profiles and /Library/ColorSync/Profiles folders with an internal name equal to the original Output Intent reference. Please copy all the profiles used as standard profiles by the industry (ECI, GRACOL, custom profiles etc...) in your Profiles folder for an automatic recognition by the software. If an Output Intent refers to a Profile not contained in your Profiles folders, the software log will inform you about this. In this case, the Queue Default Input CMYK Profile is used instead. For PDF/X-3, individual embedded profiles and rendering intents can be used Enfocus Certified PDF tags JobTask_enfocusCertification option in preference file can be set to : 0: Optimized PDF keeps its Enfocus Certification tags (default setting) 1: CMYK Optimizer puts any Enfocus Certified PDF in JobError folder and does not optimize it 2: CMYK Optimizer deletes Enfocus Certified PDF tags after Optimization : useful for some Adobe Acrobat and Enfocus Pitstop versions that show an inconsistent behavior when reading an optimized Certified PDF. This can be done by typing the following command in a terminal window: defaults write /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.alwancolor.AlwanColorHub JobTask_enfocusCertification -int Automatic PDF marking and recognition Automatic PDF marking allows you to mark each PDF you process using CMYK Optimizer. Automatic marked PDF recognition allows you to recognize optimized PDFs in order to prevent a second undesirable optimization from occurring. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 48

49 To activate PDF marking and/or recognition, you can enter the following commands in a terminal window: defaults write /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.alwancolor.AlwanColorHub JobTask_markPDFFile -bool YES All your optimized PDFs will be marked regardless of their corresponding optimization settings (default software value is NO) defaults write /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.alwancolor.AlwanColorHub JobTask_treatMarkedPDF -bool NO All previously optimized PDFs will not be re-optimized by CMYK Optimizer regardless of your software settings (default software value is YES) 3.7. About IDEAlink and presssign curves Generating Curves in IDEAlink (IDEAlink tested version is 1.1 b5) After having measured your P2P target, and after having chosen your options (see IDEAlink manual for more details), you just need to clic on the Export... button as shown below: You will save a text file, that you will then import into AlwanColorHub. CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 49

50 Here is an exemple of the content: File created by IDEALink Curve BEGIN_DATA_FORMAT SampleID SampleName CMYK_C CMYK_M CMYK_Y CMYK_K END_DATA_FORMAT NUMBER_OF_SETS 13 BEGIN_DATA A A A A A A A A A A A A A END_DATA Generating Curves in presssign (presssign tested version is 1.2.1) After having measured your presssign Chart, clic on View/Save Reports button as shown below : CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 50

51 Select the Tab Delimited Text File format and All Tint Data then clic on the Export button : CMYK Optimizer V3.8 - Alwan Color Expertise - 28 janvier page 51