SGIA Journal September/October 2013 - (Page 23)

feature Reducing Inkjet Ink Usage The first and probably the most important step in trying to minimize ink usage in digital printing is to make sure you have a good media configuration for each print environment. The idea of trying to save ink in digital printing is not new. Have you ever walked into your computer area at home and noticed your child printing full-color pages one after another? I’m sure it sent you into a state of panic, right? Then they turn around in their chair and say, “Pick up some ink on your way home tonight. The printer is getting low.” Take that scenario to wide-format digital printing. Printers more than 100 times bigger than the desktop printer, printing roll after roll and sheet after sheet. The good news is that digital printer technology and color management has improved greatly in the past 10 years. With these improvements, overall ink usage has been reduced. This does not mean, however, that there couldn’t be more ink savings. In my travels as a consultant, I often find that people associate better color with the idea of using more ink. In other words, run the printer “wide-open” with no ink restrictions. In most situations, running a digital printer wide-open will not achieve the most accurate, repeatable color. Largeformat digital printers must “target” some type of characterization data set, or ICC (e.g., a facility printing to multiple print platforms, screen print, offset and digital, target SWOP or GRACoL and their color target or intent). The goal for this type of printing environment would be that all printers deliver an acceptable color match between all print platforms, such as screen printing, offset, digital and proofing. A print facility that exclusively prints digital may opt to use RGB as their color working space. Why not, right? A digital print facility is not required to match a CMYK workflow, so the mindset would be to use the biggest “target” color space for the color target/intent and then apply the color transformation to CMYK at the RIP. I wanted to outline this “flow” because I feel it’s important to understand that saving ink in a digital print environment can be accomplished in many ways. This article will focus on three possible areas to help save ink in a digital print environment: 1. Digital Print Media Configuration 2. Black Start — ICC Profile Creation 3. GCR — ICC Profile Creation a good media configuration for each print environment. Each print media accepts ink differently. This means that without a good media configuration, chances are you will not be printing accurate color and may be using too much ink. The process of completing a media configuration is really pretty simple and straightforward. The media configuration process is basically the same, regardless of RIP platform. It’s important to point out that paper, printer and print resolution will all make a difference in the overall color output the printer can deliver. Depending on the RIP platform, the process of creating a media configuration will either be “Wizard” (automation)-based or manual. Even without a “Wizard,” if you understand what is going on under the “hood,” the process is still pretty straightforward. The first step required to complete a media configuration is to set the individual ink channel limits. Probably the most misunderstood part of a media configuration is individual ink channel Digital Print Media Configuration limits. You first must The first and probably the most important ensure that you are step in trying to minimize ink usage in printing completely digital printing is to make sure you have “raw” data (i.e., no Tony Quinn, Print and Workflow Consultant, Nazdar Consulting Services Visit SGIA at SGIA.org SGIA Journal ■ September/October 2013 | 23 http://www.SGIA.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SGIA Journal September/October 2013

How to Sell in a Tough Economy
How One Fine-Art Photographer Created a Four-Story-Tall Print
December 1, 2013 Training Deadline Approaches
Affordable Care Act — What is New and What is Happening
Reducing Inkjet Ink Usage
Want Your Graphics to Look Great and Last? Start with Surface Preparation and Cleaning
2013 Market Trends & Product Specialties Report
Digital Ceramic Printing Continues to Cast a New Business Model for Output Providers
How to Hire and Retain a Sales Champion
Going Grand: Does It Make Sense for Your Business?
Flames Made Easy with Knifeless Tape
The Edge is Near: Innovations in Fabric Finishing
SGIA Expo Sponsors Lead the Industry Charge to Orlando
The Innovation of an Art Form: A History of Screen Printing
In Many Specialty Graphics Shops, Old and New Technologies Sit Side by Side
SGIA Helps Making Shipping Easier with YRC
New Products
Specialty Imaging Shines at the 2013 SGIA Expo

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