www.xerox.com/iccprofiles.com
7
ICC Profiles & Settings
Although certain generic settings can enable good colour reproduction, the correct printer firmware and software
settings should be used. Overall ink limit, individual ink restrictions and linearisation should be adjusted and set
specifically per printer, ink, RIP software and media used. Limiting and calibrating the amount of ink used
optimises both image quality and drying time, and consequently accelerates the production process. A
specifically created ICC profile should also be used whenever possible to optimise image quality and production
of colour. A selection of settings and profiles is available from
www.xerox.com/iccprofiles or via your usual
Xerox supplies sales contact.
Image Quality
The following tips may help you to understand the image quality you should expect from using Xerox media in
your printer, as well as offering hints for ensuring output quality meets application needs:
• LOAD the media properly. It may help to run thicker media in the rear roll position.
• EXPECTATIONS: Image quality varies from one media to another. Each media is designed for a set of
application needs. Selecting the right media ensures that image quality expectations are met.
• ENVIRONMENT: Viewing distance and display environment must be considered when determining if
output quality is acceptable, e.g. viewing distance of 5m may allow a degree of image imperfection.
• CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES: More than one media type may suit any given application. Ease-of-use,
image quality, and display site all have a bearing on selection. Experiment with alternatives.
• PRINTER SPEED Due to specific media characteristics, different print modes or printing speeds are
used. For projects requiring duplicate images in significant quantities, run test images in various modes
to determine the most appropriate speed for your application needs. X2 is designed to provide sellable
output at high speed.
• PANTONE® COLOURS Colour reproduction is a function of the RIP or software connected to the
printer. Xerox provides profiles and settings specific to media, RIP, ink and printer. These profiles are
balanced to perform in a wide range of colour applications. Most RIPs also allow the user to update,
adjust or create colour profiles to meet specific colour requirements. Profiles can be downloaded from
www.xerox.com/iccprofiles for Xerox X2 and both Onyx and Caldera software.
• COCKLE Exceeding the media ink limits can cause cockle. This is undesirable not only in the finished
print but also because it may result in head strikes. A head strike occurs when the print head rubs a
raised point on the media surface. All Xerox inkjet media is tested to ensure that recommended settings
and profiles will not risk a problem with head strike and will have acceptable finished quality when dried.
• BANDING A certain level of banding may be visible in inkjet print output. This is inherent to inkjet
printing technology. Some possible actions to address banding (not to be confused with gradient
segmentation):
a) Increase Passes - Banding becomes obscured as the number of passes is increased.
b) Set Printing Direction - Unidirectional printing generally gives less banding than bidirectional.
c) Adjust Carriage Speed – Some printers give the operator the ability to slow the carriage speed.
d) Convert Black - Convert single colour black areas to 4 colours (CMYK) in the application software.
e) Rotate - Try rotating the image to reduce the appearance of banding.
• GHOSTING is when the appearance of one image offsets onto subsequent images when printing large
blocks of negative text (blank text inside a colour). This is a feature of oil inkjet systems, not a failure of
any one individual item, i.e. ink or media. The reason for this phenomenon is a difference in the amount
of oil in two areas of the same density. Although the inks are instantly dry to the touch, it takes some
time for the oil in the inks to completely disperse and stabilise in the media coating. If left exposed to
the air this effect will disappear over time. Several workarounds are possible, depending on the
workflow and application. Please see the suggestions listed in the Application Ideas & Procedures section
for Paper Applications in this guide to determine which method suits you.
