C7500GE

This month, Epson launched the new C7500 GE (Graphics Edition) which combines the C7500G printer and the Wasatch SoftRIP Raster Image Control (RIP) software.  The C7500GE is targeted for both end users and professional printers who need more precise color/image control of their print output.

As background, a raster image processor (RIP) is a component used in a printing system which produces a raster image also known as a bitmap. Such a bitmap is used by a later stage of the printing system to produce the printed output. 

With the new SoftRIP Label Edition, Wasatch says "you get:

• Total color control/matching
• Extended color gamut
• Smooth color and shade management
• Flexible image manipulation and placement
• Continuous media support
• Full bleed printing
• Easy to use interface

You can learn more about the new Wasatch RIP at https://www.wasatch.com/labels.html".

Or you can review my earlier posts on the new C7500GE and the RIP:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2016/07/continuous-rip-coming-this-fall.html

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2016/09/label-expo-2016.html

To learn more about the RIP, I started printing for a customer who was concerned about color matching.  Printing directly from a PDF did not produce the red and brown colors expected.

First with PMS 187 on gloss paper.  It wasn’t exactly the correct shade of red.

 

ColorTone Matching PMS 187

PMS 187 has a RGB value of 166, 25, 46.

Next I had to match a label with PMS color 463 which has a RGB value of 116,79, 40.

ColorTone Matching PMS 463

Although close, both colors were not exactly a match; you could see the difference.  To find a closer match, I used the Color Tone Matching assistant to provide color swatches of related colors to show a closer match was possible. Again PMS 187:

C7500G ColorTone Matching Assistant

And PMS 463:

C7500G ColorTone Matching Assistant

Based on the results from printing directly from a PDF, I decided to use the Wasatch SoftRIP to see if a closer color match was possible.  Before starting to use the SoftRIP, I recommend watching this starter video for printing die-cut labels:

http://www.wasatch.com/labelvideo02.html

And watching this video for printing continuous labels requiring post-printing finishing:

http://www.wasatch.com/labelvideo01.html

To start using the RIP, first I had to download the latest image configurations.  Wasatch provides these files which profile a variety of available label media.  By profiling the label media, better color matching is possible. 

https://www.wasatch.com/ic/index.html

After downloading the image configuration, I set up my printer. First I set up the printer by selecting the gear icon on top:

SoftRIP Printer Settings

You’ll need to confirm the correct image configuration, paper width margins and insure your printer is selected.  Then on the labels tab, I selected printer properties and edited the printer properties to match your situation; especially die cut label-gap setting and size.

SoftRIP Printer Properties

Once the printer and an image configuration was selected, I opened an eps file in SoftRIP:

SoftRIP Size Tab

At this point, I had to rotate the image 90 degrees to fit on the label; and I decided to crop the picture.  To crop, I selected a box around the image (by holding down the left mouse button as I created a box), and right click on the image to select “Zoom into Crop Box”.

After cropping, I selected the number of copies I wanted (Rows) and selected center both width and height.  I wanted the image on the center of this label as I really did not have the correct size in the printer.

SoftRIP Number of Rows

 Once I had the page set, I added the color included in the original eps file.  To add a special color, I selected “Color” on the main menu, then selected “Add Named Colors”.  The Pantone 187C was added.

SoftRIP Special Colors

Now I was ready to print. I first printed with one gloss image configuration; and then a different gloss image configuration. The difference in the two print outputs was dramatic.

SoftRIP Image Configuration Color Differences

The bottom was identical to the output from printing from the PDF; and the top was a very close match to the original target color.  Based on this simple test, label media and image configuration make a big difference in color output.

To help find the correct color match, you can also select Color Neighborhood from the color menu.  This opens up a dialog box to select the target color:

SoftRIP Color Neighborhood

Once the correct RGB color is entered, another dialog box appears to select the Delta E of the colors. Delta E is a metric for understanding how the human eye perceives color difference. The term delta comes from mathematics, meaning change in a variable or function. The suffix E references the German word Empfindung, which broadly means sensation. Generally, a Delta E of 2 is believed to be the minimum a human can perceive.

SoftRIP Delta E

After selecting OK, you save the color neighbor as a PostScript file. Then open the file up in SoftRIP.  As the page size is 10.5 x 10.5, it is recommended to crop a section of the color neighborhood and print to get the related colors.

SoftRIP Color Neighborhood

Color Neighborhood should help you identify a more appropriate match when the original is slightly incorrect.

After my initial work, I found the SoftRIP potentially a great tool for certain customers.  According to Ryan Lee, Sales at Wasatch, “Softrip Label Edition should fit end users, printers and label converters who need to print customized, color precise labels.  Combined with the C7500G, these customers have a reliable label printing option.  Other available color label printers may be fast, but not as easy to use or durable as the C7500.  The C7500GE is a great label printing solution.”

The C7500GE costs $9,450 and comes not only with the Wasatch SoftRIP, but also 1 year of on-site service on the printer; a value of $1,029.  The SoftRIP comes with 6 months of support from registration and covers software updates and remote tech support access. 

For professional printers and converters, I see the C7500GE solution as a breakthrough; enabling these companies to offer digital label printing at a fraction of the investment of other options.  For end users, now you can get more precise color matching on-demand.

If you need to have accurate colortone matching, contact us to discuss how the C7500GE fits into your operation.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

Purchase the C7500GE here:  https://colorlabelsolutions.com/product/c7500ge-graphics-editon-inkjet-color-label-printer/