SGIA Journal September/October 2013 - (Page 23)
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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
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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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