This video shows how to define the folder structure for the automated processing.
Hotfolder
In this step, you define the input and output folders. From the two Hotfolder Location lists, select Default. (If the lists are empty, you will first need to configure the Hotfolder Locations in the Hotfolder Service Configurator (see "Define the hotfolder location").
The default settings for the input and output folder.
The Output folder will be created as a subfolder of your main hotfolder. You can see the computer host and folder location in the Hotfolder Service Configurator. If you kept the default settings, it will be C:\Hotfolders\ on the local machine. So the complete folder path will be C:\Hotfolders\ISO Coated - My Digital Press - CMYKOGV\Output in this tutorial.
During the profiling process, all test charts that you need to print on your press will be sent to the output folder. Please make sure that this folder is used as an input folder for your DFE. Of course, you can also manually copy the files from this folder to your DFE.
When working with PDF files that contain overprinting or transparent objects, it's important to use flattening to achieve accurate color results. To enable flattening for your hotfolder, check the box under PDF Flattening > Use Flattening for PDF Processing.
Once flattening is enabled, the project's Input Color Space will be used as target color space for the normalization. This means that CMYK objects will not be normalized, while RGB objects will be normalized to the project's CMYK color space. The Raster/Vector Balance will be automatically set to 90% to reduce processing times (see "Flattening Settings").
The marked checkbox enables flattening for a hotfolder.
Ink Configuration
In this step, you will define the current ink configuration of your press. CMYK is always used. If you have a "SmartProfiler Multicolor" license, you can add up to three further inks. You can select from typically used inks such as Blue, Green, Orange, Red, and Violet. In this tutorial, we are using Orange, Green, and Violet. Another typical example would be Red, Green, Blue. You can select any other combination matching your ink configuration, for example, Orange, Green, Blue.
Finished ink configuration. The settings are locked. If you need to change them, you can click the Edit button.
What if the inks have a different name in the DFE?
For each ink, you can enter the name used by the DFE into the Alias box. Make sure the names are exact matches. The application will use the ink names as color channel names in the output PDF and in the profiles and resources. If you leave the box empty, the Ink name will be used directly, for example, "Orange".
Find the ink limit
If you don't know the ink limit for sure, you will need to print a test chart to determine it. A visual check of the printed test chart allows confirming or modifying the calculated total ink limit (TAC). If you see any effects of too much ink such as bleeding or gloss banding on the test chart, reduce the ink limit.
Click the Print button. GMG SmartProfiler will create a test chart PDF and send it to the output folder. Print the PDF on your digital press. (If the test chart does not show up in the output folder, check that the GMG ColorServer Service Monitor is running (see "Check the System").)
Evaluating the total ink limit. The image shows a part of the test chart. The number on top of a column shows the total area coverage (TAC) of the column.
Examine the patches on the printed test chart. Enter the highest value not showing overinking effects into the TAC box to keep the printer color space as large as possible.
You can scale the TAC test chart for printing in your DFE to increase the patch size for visual evaluation.
When you click the Save button, GMG SmartProfiler will create a test chart PDF to characterize the printer color space of your digital press in the next step.
Color Management
In this step, the most important choice you will need to make is the Input Color Space. This is the reference color space for your print jobs. If a job was already printed on a different machine, for example, on an offset press, or if there is a reference hardcopy proof, the print standard that was used with this offset press or that was simulated in the proof will now be the reference for your digital press. A GMG OpenColor project will need to be present for the described reference space in order to use it as the Input Color Space for your GMG SmartProfiler process. The input documents should be in this color space and have a matching output intent. RGB objects are directly converted to the printer color space, without normalization. You can choose from a couple of preinstalled input color spaces, for example, ISO Coated v2 (39L) - PANTONE® Solid Coated V4. All color spaces listed here are stored as projects in the GMG OpenColor database. In this tutorial, ISO Coated v2 (39L) is the input color space (see "Offset Print Sample")..
Select the Separation Preset that fits the purpose of your printing process best.
For standard print production on a toner based device, select Production. No Black uses only CMY and might save toner on a toner based device with a click-based license.
For inkjet systems, you can choose one of the Ink Saving presets to reduce the ink usage and save costs. All relevant parameters such as GCR level and Black Start are then automatically adjusted accordingly. If you prefer a user-defined setting instead, you can readjust the relevant sliders manually.
All other settings are advanced settings and you don't need to worry about them right now. You can come back to them later if you have any problems with the print results.
What if I cannot find the right input color space on the list?
If you cannot find the right color space or if you are using a custom standard, you will need to create a characterization and a corresponding input project in GMG OpenColor first.
The input project needs to define CMYK and all spot colors you might encounter in the input documents. GMG OpenColor will calculate Separation Rules, which are basically a lookup table of input colors (spot colors) from the document and define how the input colors should be separated into the output inks of the digital press. These Separation Rules will be sent to GMG ColorServer and be stored as a spot color library under Resources > Spot Colors. GMG ColorServer uses it when processing jobs from the hotfolder that will be created by GMG SmartProfiler.
Please refer to the GMG OpenColor Online Help for more information: https://gmgcolor.com/support/help/opencolor/
Finalize & Publish
All the information required for profiling your press is now complete. If you are using GMG ColorServer 5.6 or higher, GMG SmartProfiler will apply dynamic profiling (1) by default, which offers many advantages compared to the older static profiling (see "Dynamic conversions").
This image shows the Finalize & Publish step in GMG SmartProfiler.
Once you click on Calculate & Publish (2), GMG SmartProfiler will send all information to GMG OpenColor, which will then calculate the required profiles and return them to GMG ColorServer. GMG SmartProfiler will also create a hotfolder to store these profiles. This fully automated process usually takes several minutes, during which the client will be locked.
After the process is complete, GMG SmartProfiler will display a list of all created resources, which will be named according to the GMG SmartProfiler document.
Once the process is complete, all created resources will be displayed under Finalize & Publish.
Please follow the links for detailed information about the different resources and their use:
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