Compare dye sub papers for ink handling, drying, transfer, & runnability.
Make recommendations about paper to paper compatibility.
Perform Raw Paper Test
Print a high, uncalibrated ink load on all test papers.
Compare paper cockling
Compare dry times
Profile and Compare
Following the calibration and profiling process outlined below compare the prints made from the various dye sub papers
About Our Profiling Process
Define Conditions
Same fabric
Same resolution
Same wave form
Same press temperature
Target GRACoL 2013 CRPC6
Why GRACoL 2013?
GRACoL is widely used as a commercial print target
GRACoL 2013 accounts for Optical Brightening Agents (OBA's)
Test for Ink Limiting
Preset ink limits to 50% per channel
Print three linearization strips
Press one each at 35s, 40s & 45s
Examine each strip to determine ideal ink limits (see below for how to do this).
The Ink Limit Process for K Channel
Examine each of the three linearization strips for best K value
A Spectrophotometer set to M1 is required
Best K value is defined as finding where "no repeating patches" occur.
Note the ink% and L* of that patch.
Compare the L* value of across all three strips.
Choose the strip with the L* value closest to L* 16 (the GRACoL 2013 black point)......it is unlikely you will get L* 16 on a fabric, just get as close as possible with no repeating patches..
This strip becomes your linearization target.
Be sure to note that press time and use that press time going forward for that paper.
Use that target to determine best C,M,Y values for channel limit.
Proceed to the profile generation step.
Print test strip and validate the profile calibration.
The Ink Limit Process for C,M,Y Channels
Use that "ideal" test strip to determine best C,M,Y channel limits.
Like the K channel, we want no repeating patches.
Like the K channel, we want to target the GRACoL 2013 L* value