DI Pro Plus very "flat" images. Any ideas?

Discussion in 'DI Presses' started by Graham, Oct 9, 2012.

  1. Graham

    Graham New Member

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    Location:
    Peterborough UK
    Hi guys

    Newbee here, i have a DI Pro plus press which i've been using for about 2 years now but we've always had this underlying problem of the printed sheet looking really dull and flat, colours look muted, boring... We create our artwork using indesign and send to the RIP as Press Ready PDF's, colour setting is U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2. I wonder if this is where we are going wrong? I did read somewhere that the RIP has to be calibrated? NOt sure if this was done when the press was installed.

    Any of you guys have any ideas on how i can get my print to look even a little more "punchier". Look forward to your help. Thank you.
     
  2. mightyandy

    mightyandy Senior Member

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    When we first got a QMDI we noticed the colours we could produce were awful.

    We were using Ink produced by Toyo called Aqualess Eco. We switched to a different Ink brand called classic colours.(http://www.classiccolours.org.uk/) and instantly noticed an enormous improvement but things still were not right.

    After getting our RIP calibrated with the correct colour curves we now produce work which is extremely vibrant, crisp and the colours are very true to original artwork.

    We are extremely happy with the results we are now achieving with our QMDI.
     
  3. Graham

    Graham New Member

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    Hi Andy

    Thank you for that, we'll have a look at those inks, do you happen to know anyone in the UK who we can get in to calibrate our RIP? I've done a quick search on the internet but no luck really. Thanks again
     
  4. mightyandy

    mightyandy Senior Member

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    A forum user called "mrheidelberg" might be able to point you in the right direction.

    Hope this helps
     
  5. Paul Cavanaugh

    Paul Cavanaugh Senior Member

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    In most instances the QMDI prints flat when the RIP is not properly calibrated to the inks. You have to find out the dot gain of the inks and build that into your calibration curves.

    I have never done the process myself although I have watched it being done by our prepress personnel many times. There is a calibration file that must be imaged and the dot gain is then measured from it. In the RIP there is a place to enter these readings from 0% to 100%.

    Once this is done I think you will find your colors will be more vibrant.
     
  6. Bill Borcicky

    Bill Borcicky Senior Member

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    what is the color sequence which you are laying down the colors in? black cyan magenta and yellow? I had tried to lay colors down as cmyk which works well for a single color press, but on 4 -color presses it doesn't work.
     
  7. Marc Bremer

    Marc Bremer Senior Member

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    What kind off RIP you are using. Do you embed color profiles whitin the PDF's. US webcoated is wrong as your press is a sheetfed one. As Paul noticed you have to calibrate your output on the press by printing a calibration target and compensate errors in the RIP. The calibration target needs to be printed with standerized densities for as well coated and uncoated papers before you do any measurement.
     
  8. Meny

    Meny Senior Member

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    well one thing is for sure

    Your QM DI is not close to a web press by any way
    First look for a sheetfed output curve , and try it on press.
    I think you will get a good result.
    As for inks , Toyo inks are known to be good inks , so i fail to belive it has to do with the inks.
    But any ink from a major maker should be safe & good.

    start from A , then go up to b....first set up a proper sheetfed curve , then if needed , alter it to suit what you like on paper

    Good luck
     

  9. mrheidelberg

    mrheidelberg Senior Member

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    Hi Graham,

    Can you set up your private message on your account please .

    Regards
     
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