Calibrate a media family

The goal of the media family calibration is to achieve consistent color quality over time for media of the same media family.

Calibrate a media family in the following situations:

After the installation of the print system, for the default coated and uncoated media families.
When a new media family is created.
When your service organization replaces system parts.
When you want to keep the print quality high for frequently used media families.

A curve icon indicates that a media family is not calibrated. This icon appears when a new media family was created without calibration or when the timer for media family calibration expires.

You are advised to use the inline spectrophotometer for a faster calibration. The print quality is at least as high as with the i1 spectrophotometer. You can use the inline spectrophotometer for the following media, for all other media you must use the i1 spectrophotometer:

Media sizes: A3 / 11" x 17", SRA3 / 12"x 18", 330 mm x 483 mm / 13" x 19"
Media weights for media type uncoated: 64 - 300 g/m² / 17 lb bond - 110 lb cover
Media weights for media type coated: 70 - 300 g/m² / 19 lb bond - 110 lb cover

Media family calibration options

Tools

i1 spectrophotometer.

Before you begin

For more information about:

Calibration, see Learn about calibration.
Media family configuration, see Configure the media families.
Tolerance levels, see View tolerance levels for color evaluations.
Metrics, see Color validation metrics.

Procedure

Calibrate the printer. (Calibrate the printer)
IMPORTANT
You must always perform a printer calibration before you continue with this procedure.
Connect the i1 spectrophotometer to the USB port of the control panel, if required.
Touch [System] → [Color adjustment] → [Calibrate media family] .
Select the media family to calibrate.
Select the media for calibration, if required.
The system displays the default selected media for calibration.
Load the calibration media.
Indicate if you want to use the inline spectrophotometer or i1 spectrophotometer.
Touch [OK].
Follow the instructions on the control panel.

Results

After media family calibration, the feedback window shows the results of the performed procedure.

Feedback window of media family calibration procedure

When you see two green checkmark icons, touch [OK] to save the new calibration curves.

When you see a red cross icon, use the table below to evaluate the result. Then, click [OK] to save the new calibration curves or [Cancel] to discard the results.

Feedback screen	Remarks
	Description The CMYK lines in the graph show how many percent the color differs compared to the previous media family calibration. The [Highest difference] and [Average difference] values of the [Comparison with previous calibration] information are indicators for the frequency of the media family calibration. NOTE For the first media family calibration there are no reference values and thus no feedback information.
Evaluation When the [Highest difference] value color is less than about 2 for each color, you can calibrate less often without noticeable loss of color quality. When the [Highest difference] value is between about 2 and about 4 for each color, you are advised to continue calibrating with the current calibration frequency. When the [Highest difference] value is greater than about 4 for one or more colors, you are advised to calibrate more often to achieve a more stable color stability.
	Description The ΔE values of the [Paper white and primary colors differences] information are indicators for the difference between the reference values and measured values. The [Reference Lab values] are taken during the first media family calibration.
Evaluation When each ΔE value is less than the tolerance level, the color quality is fine. When a ΔE value is greater than the tolerance level, first check that the medium used is the same as the medium used in the first media family calibration. Then, if required, check the printer condition.
	Description The ΔE values of the [Measurement accuracy] information are indicators for the accuracy by which the patches are printed and measured. The control panel displays a heatmap whose patch locations correspond with the printed chart.
Evaluation When the average ΔE value is less than the [Value where heatmap turns green] value the patches on the control panel turn green and the color quality is fine. When the average ΔE value is between the [Value where heatmap turns green] value and the [Value where heatmap turns red] value, the patches on the control panel turn orange-like and the color quality can still be fine. However, you might want to try the options in the list below. When the average ΔE value is greater than the [Value where heatmap turns red] value the patches on the control panel turn red. You are advised to try one or more options in the list below.
	Options to improve color quality Check the patch on the printed chart On the control panel, use the > and < symbols to scroll through the calibration charts. Use the zoom symbol to zoom in or out. Then, touch the red patch to find the row and column number to check the corresponding patch on the printed chart to solve the problem. Then, calibrate the media family again. Calibrate the media family again Something may have gone wrong during the use of the i1 spectrophotometer. Calibrate the printer See Calibrate the printer.

Feedback screen

Remarks

Description

The CMYK lines in the graph show how many percent the color differs compared to the previous media family calibration.

The [Highest difference] and [Average difference] values of the [Comparison with previous calibration] information are indicators for the frequency of the media family calibration.

NOTE

For the first media family calibration there are no reference values and thus no feedback information.

Evaluation

When the [Highest difference] value color is less than about 2 for each color, you can calibrate less often without noticeable loss of color quality.
When the [Highest difference] value is between about 2 and about 4 for each color, you are advised to continue calibrating with the current calibration frequency.
When the [Highest difference] value is greater than about 4 for one or more colors, you are advised to calibrate more often to achieve a more stable color stability.

Description

The ΔE values of the [Paper white and primary colors differences] information are indicators for the difference between the reference values and measured values.

The [Reference Lab values] are taken during the first media family calibration.

Evaluation

When each ΔE value is less than the tolerance level, the color quality is fine.
When a ΔE value is greater than the tolerance level, first check that the medium used is the same as the medium used in the first media family calibration. Then, if required, check the printer condition.

Description

The ΔE values of the [Measurement accuracy] information are indicators for the accuracy by which the patches are printed and measured.

The control panel displays a heatmap whose patch locations correspond with the printed chart.

Evaluation

When the average ΔE value is less than the [Value where heatmap turns green] value the patches on the control panel turn green and the color quality is fine.
When the average ΔE value is between the [Value where heatmap turns green] value and the [Value where heatmap turns red] value, the patches on the control panel turn orange-like and the color quality can still be fine. However, you might want to try the options in the list below.
When the average ΔE value is greater than the [Value where heatmap turns red] value the patches on the control panel turn red. You are advised to try one or more options in the list below.

Options to improve color quality

Check the patch on the printed chart

On the control panel, use the > and < symbols to scroll through the calibration charts. Use the zoom symbol to zoom in or out.

Then, touch the red patch to find the row and column number to check the corresponding patch on the printed chart to solve the problem. Then, calibrate the media family again.
Calibrate the media family again

Something may have gone wrong during the use of the i1 spectrophotometer.
Calibrate the printer

See Calibrate the printer.

Advanced search

Calibrate a media family

Tools

Before you begin

Procedure

Results