
Process control Job setup (MeasureColor 15.3 and later)
MeasureColor workflows are typically based on jobs and measurements, no matter which module you use. A MeasureColor ProcessControl job holds all specific job parameters like the color references (solid inks, dot gain, overprint, balance, etc.), measurement conditions, tolerance/scoring conditions, color bar definitions, etc.
Because it would be very time-consuming to set up all these parameters separately for each job, the job setup procedure makes use of ‘presets’ to help you create jobs with ease. You can create and edit presets to tailor the job setup exactly to your situation.
MeasureColor’s new ‘User profile’ feature lets you specify the job setup workflow per user group. Depending on the typical use case Job setup level is selected in your user profile. Each setup level has a different workflow with different functionalities. This new workflow is implemented in the ProcessControl module first and will be extended to other modules in future releases.
Simple, Standard, Advanced
This table shows you the differences between the Job setup levels:
Simple | Standard | Advanced | |
---|---|---|---|
Job number, name, description | X | X | X |
Select preset | X | X | X |
Add or change inks | X | X | |
Change Color bar and Color mapping | X | X | |
Change Printing condition | X | ||
Change Tolerance Set | X | ||
Change Measurement condition | X | ||
Show workflow example | Simple Job Setup | Standard Job Setup | Advanced Job Setup |
Adding customers and custom metadata fields





About presets
A preset works as a template for the job you are creating. A preset can hold parameters for a typical job like the Printing condition, Tolerance set, inks (reference colors), run sequence, color bar, and color mapping. Creating proper presets for standard measurement situations helps simplify job setup procedures in production.
Preset creation
- Start by creating a new Job. After entering the job details in the first screen and pressing [Next] you’ll enter the Job preset screen.
- Press [Add] to create a new preset.
- This will bring you to the normal Job setup screen. Create the job as any other regular job.
- After finishing setting up the Job you will be asked to save your Preset. Type an easy-to-remember name and select the machine for which this preset should be available or make a shared preset by ticking the ‘Is shared?’ box.
- Type a description of your preset or at least click in the Description box once to make the [Next] button active.
- After clicking next you will be prompted with your normal Job setup screen, your new preset will be available in the Job presets list and be selected.
- Finish your job as any other regular job.
Note: As you arrive in the job setup after creating the preset some screens will be shown again. This is the normal intended behavior as it enables you to check all your settings immediately after creating the preset.
Note: In case a density or a tolerance is set in the preset that is different from the settings in the Color book, the preset’s values will override the original Color book settings during Job setup.
About Colors & inks
The Colors & ink view (3) lets you select your ink reference colors AND determine the run sequence on press. The advanced workflow allows you to alter the printing condition which determines which color books are shown in the ink selection view (3). To change an ink, click on the dotted icons on the right of each ink. This will open the ink selection view (3a).
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Check/change inks and run sequence (Standard & Advanced workflow) | Select ink(Standard & Advanced workflow) |
Adding multiple inks at once, using the AddInk button
From versions 17.1 and later you can select multiple inks from one dialog. It is possible to add all inks from a Color book, or if you wish, add selected inks.
If you want to add all inks from a Color book, which is handy when adding Process Colors:
- Select the Color book on the left
- Click the “All” button to add the full Color book to the job
- All inks are added to the job
If you want to add a selection of inks from a Color book:
- Select the Color book on the left
- Select the inks you need. Start with one ink. Now you can select additional inks by pressing CTRL + mouse click or add a range of inks by pressing SHIFT + mouse click
- Click the arrow button to add the selected colors to the job
- The selected inks are added to the job
Color bar and color mapping
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The Color bar & mapping view allows you to select a color bar to measure and, if needed, change the way how the inks are mapped to each position in the color bar (color mapping). The preview of the color bar in this screen should mimic the color bar in print. If you need to change the position of the inks in the color bar, drag-and-drop (or use the arrow keys on the right) the square elements above the color bar preview section. This will update the preview immediately.
Print Quality Information (MeasureColor 21.1 or later)
When your user is set up to use the Print Quality Information (PQI) during job setup the following dialog will appear:
Please select the correct brand first to retrieve the settings from the MeasureColor server.
Note: When your job is created using an MCX preset some fields might be fixed/locked.
First measurement
When you’re done with the job setup, it is time to measure the color bar. Calibrate your device and if needed check its options. Then measure the color bar. Before you press ‘Finish’, check if the color bar you measured is ok by comparing the measurement with the color bar preview (upper row). If something seems incorrect (different color bar or its color mapping), press the ‘Previous’ button and correct the settings. When the measurement looks OK (the lower measurement line resembles the upper preview line), click ‘Finish’ to save the job and measurement to the database and review the results on the screen.
Remote Printing location selection (versions 16.2.76 and later)
In situations where remote printing locations are available in the database, an additional pull-down appears in the Job setup screen. This pull-down enables you to prepare Jobs for a remote printing location by selecting one from the list.
After selecting the remote Printing location only machines that are linked to that printing location are available in the Machine selection pull-down. In the last stage of making the Job remember to change the [Next] button to [Finish] to bypass the first measurement screen.
Automatic Chromatrack best match densities (versions 18.1 and later)
From version 18.1 and later MeasureColor you can select whether or not you want MeasureColor to adopt the aim densities of the job to the best match density as found by our ChromaTrack algorithm.
After a single measurement, a dialog will show the advised density values for your best delta-E match.
By clicking [→] (Save) MeasureColor will replace the density values. Every time MeasureColor discovers a drift from best match Delta-E this dialog will help you to correct it immediately.
Automatic re-export prompt (versions 19.1 and later)
When auto-export is enabled from the wrench tool, each time the Automatic Chromatrack changes the target densities the user will be asked to re-export the measurement. If you are using a closed-loop system it is advised to re-export, as the original export does not yet contain the new density targets.