ICC Profiles

CBD Startup has approached the market with a new concept on an old idea. They don’t just want you to sell their products; rather they want you to create your own business & brand. Success stems from the passion you put behind your company. With cutting edge design, product templates, fulfillment and distribution, and sales, CBD Startup offers all you need to be successful.

CBD Startup purchased a C6500A from us during the White Label Expo in Las Vegas NV.   After getting started print, Colin Sevier, IT Manager and Jack-Of-All-Trades, decided that the colors were “truly amazing” on the gloss poly; just a few points away from a great color match and not worth the time to fix.  However, the color on the matte poly, especially the blacks, should be different.  According to Colin, “the blacks were more charcoal.  We wanted to see a more vivid black and colors in general.”

As Colin came from a background in printing, he has the knowhow and tools to improve the colors with the C6500A. His primary tool to create an ICC Profile and improve the colors is the Datacolor StudioKit.  

An ICC profile is a set of data that characterizes a color input or output device, or a color space, according to standards promulgated by the International Color Consortium (ICC). Learn more here.

Colin says, “With the Datacolor Studio Kit, I printed out a color map using the C6500A and the matte poly labels.  I made sure the printout was without any extra color, but with the Quality setting. 

Datacolor Map

Every setting would need a different color map and ICC profile.  On the color map, I scanned/measured the colors which inputted this information into the software.  Once all the colors were scanned, the software creates the profile.”

After getting the profile from Colin, I attempted to replicate the results.  First, I learned where to upload the profile to the computer.  All ICC color profiles go to this directory in Windows:  C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color

Second, I had to set the driver settings to use the correct ICC profile. Normally, I would use this Quality setting for a matte poly.  Notice the “Vivid Color” selection.

C6500 Synthetic Quality Setting

To use the ICC profile, I selected the ICM color correction mode.   The Epson Engineering Manual says, ICM (Image Color Management) is a Windows color control function to match apparent color between different devices such as a monitor and a printer. Apparent color on the monitor and on the printout is matched based on ICC profiles. An ICC profile is a file that describes characteristics of the device such as a monitor and a printer according to ICC (International Color Consortium) standards.”

 

C6500 ICM Settings

Be sure to select “Show All Profiles” to see the correct selection.  And then select the ICC profile desired, such as the CW-6500Au MattePoly Quality Settings, that Colin created.

After these setting changes, I printed out a basic black/green artwork to see the color difference: and you can see a difference:

With/Without ICC Matte Poly Profile

The blacks are blacker and the greens seem more natural on the matte poly than using the standard Vivid Color profile.

Colin says, “Once I uploaded the ICC profile into the C6500, the colors were much better, even dead on.  The blacks were blacker and the colors were more vivid.  What’s great with the ICC profile is now the print output matches our calibrated monitors.  What we see, is what we get!”  During our conversation, I learned that Colin calibrates the monitors and televisions using the same Datacolor Studio Kit.

Creating ICC Color Profiles is another way to improve the performance of the C6500.  And for me, I can say it is a pleasure to learn about label printing from a smart customer like CBD Startup and printing professionals such as Colin.  It’s a real pleasure to work with these types of companies and people.

If you want to improve the performance of your color label printers, contact us.  We’d love to earn your business; and your support.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com 

Antimicrobial Screen Protectors

Do you use touchscreen computers in your operations?  If so, you should consider the newest addition to our product line, General Data's Antimicrobial Screen Protectors.

Seal Shield Screen Protectors

These medical grade, antimicrobial, screen protectors work with any flat screen monitor or handheld device.  The screen protectors provide comparable antimicrobial results to hospital disinfectants and bleach solutions.  In addition, this patented product increases the strength of the screen itself protecting it from dings and scratches. 

General Data got into selling the Screen Protectors by working with our partner Seal Shield.  Founded in 2006, Seal Shield is a world leader in infection control technology. They offer a full range of technologies and patent-pending products that mitigate the risk of cross contamination in healthcare settings, communal environments, and in your home.

Seal Shield developed the technology for the healthcare markets; and General Data coats the screen protectors for them; a 6.0 mil clear thermoplastic polyurethane topcoated with specially formulated antimicrobial additive with a permanent acrylic adhesive and 90# release liner.  I’ve written about the General Data Coatings team prior.

Seal Shield Screen Protector

This product contains an antimicrobial, fungistatic agent which protects the product and keeps it cleaner, greener and fresher by inhibiting the growth of  microbial bacteria, mold, mildew and fungi on the product’s surface.

The Seal Shield Screen Protectors meet the JIS Z2801 standard which tests the ability of plastics, metals, ceramics and other antimicrobial surfaces to inhibit the growth of microorganisms or kill them.  Learn more here.

To order the screen protection, send us the width, height and corner radius of the device(s) you want to protect.

According to Aaron Heller, General Data Sales, “the Screen Protectors will fit any organization that uses touchscreen monitors and other devices who want to protect their employees and customers from viruses such as Covid-19.”  Retailers with kiosks and manufactures with computer monitors on the production line are perfect examples of where to use the Shield Shield Screen Protectors.

Seal Shield Keyboards

In addition to the Screen Protectors, Seal Shield offers dishwasher safe keyboards and mice.  Contact us to discuss the type of keyboards and mice you may require.

Seal Shield Mouse

If your organization uses touch screens or keyboards and want to protect your employees and customers, contact us to discuss how the technology from Seal Shield will improve your organization's safety.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com 

Raster vs Vector

We receive low quality or bad artwork every week to print samples from prospects.  The expression “Garbage In, Garbage Out” rings true when it comes to label printing.

I’ve written about the issue of bad artwork before; especially around font print quality.

Recently, I received an excellent document from Afinia that lays out the differences between Vector and Raster graphics; and when to use each type in the creation of artwork.  Get it here:

Tony Molina, our Graphic Artist, gave me a simple definition of the two types of graphics:  “Raster are pixels and Vectors are lines.”  Wikipedia says Vector Graphics are defined by 2D points: 

Raster Graphics are defined by a rectangle grid of pixels: 

When asked why did Afinia decide to create this collateral piece, Mike Atkins, National Sales Manager for Afinia Label said, “The issue of art quality comes up all the time.  And we get asked about artwork creation; this piece gives ideas on how to create better label artwork.  Our goal is to show how Afinia printers produce high print quality; and it starts with good artwork.”

Raster Vs Vector Graphics

Continuing, Mike says, “Vector graphics are great for logos, text and curves.    They create smoother graphics and are scalable.  Raster images are pictures and are not scalable without looking pixelated.”

During our discussion, I realized that I wanted to be like Mike, when he said “I hate JPEG files”.  I agree with him that you can’t print JPEG files easily.  Mike says, “PDF files are just easier to print.  Anyone can open up in Adobe Reader if you don’t have to merge variable data.  If I receive a PROOF file with other stuff on it, I can open up in Illustrator and get rid of the die cut lines, etc. easily.”

In many or most files, you’ll use both types of graphics. 

Raster AND Vector Graphics

“In the above image, the background is a photo (pixel based) and the logo in the foreground is a vector-based design”, says Mike.  Continuing, “the combination is very common”.

“I create original artwork such as logos in Illustrator and adjust photos in Photoshop.  In Photoshop, I use a minimum of 300 DPI to make sure photos print OK. Then, I bring the two type of graphics together in InDesign or Quark before creating the final artwork as a PDF” says Tony.

Typical Label Artwork Setup

Artwork creation makes a big difference in the print quality of the printers we sell.  Remember the expression: “you can’t make a silk purse out of pig’s ear.”

  

Contact us if we can support your artwork creation or your label printing.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com