Technical Support - Color Calibration FAQs

Important Information: Vivid Image no longer offers free color calibrations.

Q. How do I make color adjustments on my printer controller?

A. Go to the Color tab on your VI75/VI100/VI225 front panel, and select the color chain for your ink and media type. Note: ONLY the color chains for your selected printer will be listed. If you want to edit the color chains, Vivid Image suggests only editing the saturation and contrast curves. Refer to your users manual for further instructions.

Q. How do I make color targets with my printer controller?

A. Please follow these instructions. If you have any questions, please call Customer Support at (760) 438-0335 ext. 204.

Load the media using gloves. Do not handle the media with bare hands as fingerprints will alter the calibration. If you think there are fingerprints on the media, then roll it out about 18 inches and cut it off. Before you generate the new color targets please make sure your print jets are all firing:

Prime the printer.
Calibrate the printer.
Prime the printer again.
Send the calibrate and prime strips along with your targets.

Please:

Let each color target you generate dry overnight.
Identify each media with the brand name and the ink that you used, write this outside of the border that is around each target.
Please do not cut the targets.
Inspect each of your targets, making sure there are no scratches, finger prints, blotches, etc.
Place a protective non-scratch sheet of paper between each target.

Send your color targets to:

Vivid Image Technology

2726 Loker Avenue West

Carlsbad, CA 92010

June 27, 2005: Please note our new zip code, 92010.

Q. How do I scan a color target?

A. Make sure your scanner is clean, and mount the target. Make sure your scanner is set up in a standard, repeatable manner when you scan in the target.

If your scanner is CMYK only, save the file as a CMYK TIFF. If your scanner application allows for both RGB and CMYK scanning we recommend using RGB. However, if the scanner's RGB mode simply converts CMYK to RGB, it would be better to work from the scanner's orginial CMYK.

Scan in the AGFA target, save as a tiff, open the tiff file under Image size in PhotoShop¬ and make sure the width is 1000 to 1100 wide in pixels.

Do not compress the tiff file, ColorBlind does not support compression.

Save this on a ZIP, CD, Jazz, or Syquest 44, 88, 135, 200. This will be sent back to you with your custom color chains.

Note: Please do not crop the AGFA target and make sure the reference number can be seen.