You must have a media model that is configured for white ink with the Quality-Layered print mode selected before you can successfully generate white ink output from ProductionHouse. This section will explain how to create a new media model with all of the necessary configurations. You can also edit an existing media model to change some of the settings and then save it with a new name.
NOTE
ONYX ProductionHouse uses the term "media" to refer to what is called a "media model" in this manual.
The creation of media models and profiling is a complex procedure that is only partly explained here. If you are not comfortable with the procedure, you can use the pre-defined media models posted on the DGS web site in the Customer Support area at https://dgs.oce.com. These media models provide a good start point for the white ink workflow. However, we recommend that you create your own new ones to ensure optimal success with your particular white ink workflow.
If you want to skip the media creation process, you can go directly to the "How to Print with White Ink" section for instructions on how to use the media models supplied on the web site. However, you will be limited by the particular white ink workflow and the media that those models support. Also, unless you simply want to use a white flood fill, you will need images that are prepared with white spot data (see the nearlier section, How to Prepare Images for White Ink).
NOTE
Most of the media settings can be overridden in Preflight or RIP-Queue, if desired.
The media you create for white ink use is actually a description of how you will use that media in the white ink workflow. It includes a white spot color channel and a description of the layers in the image and the order those layers will print. The media you create is actually part of a media model (sometimes referred to as a profile) that contains other specific information such as ink restrictions, linearization, ink limits and ICC profiles. This section will look briefly at how to create and use a media model, but the main focus is on how to create the media. The media is essential to white ink workflow, and the rest of the media model creation simply ensures optimal image quality.
NOTE
The term "media" can be confusing as it really has two meanings in the context of your Onyx workflow. In general use it refers to a physical material that you can print on. ProductionHouse uses the term media to refer to the definition of how a particular material is used and included within a media model that you define and then use when you open a print job.
Before you create a new media you must set up your printer to enable white ink configurations in Onyx Media Manager.
In the RIP-Queue, highlight your printer and click > Media Manager.
Click > Configure Devices > Configure Printer Capabilities and enable the white ink configurations (CMYKW) from the ink configuration menu.
Configure PrinterYour printer is now enabled with an ink configuration that supports white ink. You only have to set this up one time unless you add a new printer to ProductionHouse.
NOTE
The next section will show you how to create a media model that is configured for white ink printing.
Return to the Media Manager Home page.
At this point, the media you have created can be used in Preflight to view and Rip files for white ink output. You will be able to see where Spot white has been used in prepared files and work with Preflight's Spot Layer Tool. However, media at this stage is without those components of a media model that determine the optimal ink usage, such as ink restrictions and linearizations. Not utilizing these components will result in inaccurate color output and without an ICC profile your usable file color space is limited to CMYK. As well, not restricting your ink levels correctly may result in an increase in ink droplet misting issues.
NOTE
Media Group is a convenient way to organize media with similar characteristics together. Provide a name that will remind you of those common elements. Media Groups contain various Media Models. You could create a group that contained media models with different setting for the same physical material. Or you can group together various media models that have something in common, for example the media models provided on the Customer support web page belong to the group "WhiteInkUsageMedias".
Set Quality Ink ConfigurationNOTE
In order to make use of the multi-layered print mode, the Quality-Layered Mode must be used. It is also possible to generate white flood data with limited functionality in one layer using the Production, Quality and Fine-Art CMYKW modes. The CMYKW print mode should not be used with files containing both white and CMYK data in a single layer print mode, as the results will be of poor image quality.
Insert Spot1NOTE
If you change the name of your Spot color to anything other than Spot 1, the data file you prepare for this media must also make use of the exact same spot color name. Also, this name must be set up in Color Management/Edit Profiles/Spot Channel Replacement. Do not use the name “White” as that name will prompt ProductionHouse to treat it in a particular manner not desired for the white ink workflow.
The preview color chosen here will be used as an indication of Spot color layer usage in the Preflight preview. We suggest that you select a color that is easily recognized as non-image data, such as a fluorescent or pastel color. Also, if you use the same color for all your media configurations it will provide quicker identification of the spot data in Preflight.
Spot Preview ColorNOTE
The printer only has one available white ink spot channel, so do not insert a second spot or the Rip will treat files using this configuration as separations.
NOTE
Most of the steps for creating a media with a white spot are similar to the regular workflow. Please do not attempt these steps unless you have experience creating media profiles. The profiling steps and color theory are not explained in detail and are not covered in this document.