GENERAL:

This document details the calibration process for the color imagePRESS Series.
DETAILS:
All end users want optimal copy / print quality when using their color imagePRESS Series machine. In order to
achieve optimal quality, there are steps that every end user should follow on a regular basis.
These steps include:
Engine Refresh
Shading Correction
Auto Adjust Gradation
Fiery calibration
If these steps are not followed, print quality and consistency cannot be guaranteed. It is up to the end user to
execute these steps whenever they deem print / copy quality has degraded. Performing these steps either daily or
prior to a large print / copy job is advisable. It is strongly suggested that at the end of every service call, the
technician also executes these steps to ensure customer satisfaction.
BEST PRACTICES:
Confirm the latest release of firmware is loaded on the imagePRESS device.
If a print server is in use, calibrate the engine first and then the server second.
Paper with at least 98 Brightness is recommended when calibrating engines and Fiery controllers.
If you are having any obvious copy quality issues such as dark lines, void lines, streaks, spots, etc. you must
have these resolved prior to performing the calibration steps in this document otherwise a poor calibration will
be the result.
PROCEDURE:
Optimal image quality may be achieved provided the following steps are followed. The order of steps should
be:
1. Engine Refresh
2. Shading Correction
3. Auto Adjust Gradation
4. Fiery Calibration
If these steps are not followed in the correct order, copy / print quality may be compromised. Ensure that your
customer follows the correct order of steps listed above.

Step 1 Engine Refresh

The Purpose of the engine refresh is to remove any temporary defects or faults that were a result of paper dust,
debris, oxidation and just simple wear and tear

1. Walk up to the
imagePRESS
control panel.

2. Press the
Additional
Functions Key

3. Press the
Adjustment/
Cleaning Button
4. Scroll down
three pages and
press the Wire
Cleaning button.
The two top causes
of Wire
contamination are
oxidation from the
constant On/Off of
the charge wire and
paper dust.
If you use a paper

that gives off a fair

amount of dust you
may want to
perform this more
frequently.
5. Press the Start
button and wait
until the process
completes.
This may take
several minutes.

6. Next begin the

Roller Cleaning,
by pressing the
button.
The Rollers will
degrade overtime
and often a cleaning
can neutralize
defects before
replacement is
required.

7. Press the Start

button and wait
several minutes
for completion.

Congratulations,
you are done with
the Engine Refresh
Portion of
imagePRESS Color
Management!

Step 2 - Shading Correction with a Print Server (Fiery) using a Spectrophotometer.

Shading Correction can be executed in one of three ways:
Densitometer Correction
Visual Correction
Print Server Correction
The best results are achieved using the Print Server and a Spectrophotometer to complete this Shading
Correction step and is therefore the only method discussed here.

The purpose of Shading Correction is to ensure consistency through the machines imaging system.

In order to stabilize the engine before performing Shading Correction, please print or copy fifty (50)
color duplexed sheets with images of medium or heavy density.

Note: The steps below are shown using a spectrophotometer and Command Workstation 5.3.

1. Plug in the Spectrophotometer to be

used for the calibration on the
computer running CWS. If
required, follow the prompts to
allow the driver for the
Spectrophotometer to be installed.
2. Launch CWS v5.3.x on a PC or
MAC computer and log into the
print server and click the Calibrate
button above the Printing queue.
3.

Click the Calibrate button above

the Printing queue.

4. Click the Shading Correction Tab

in the Calibrator window

5. then select the type of

Spectrophotometer to be used under
1. Select Measurement Method.
Automated spectrophotometers are
not supported here.

6. Follow the steps detailed under 2.

Generate Measurement Page to get
a shading calibration sheet. Note:
These steps are performed at the
copier.

7. Press the Additional Functions

button.

8. Press the Adjustment/Cleaning

button.

9. Scroll down two pages and press

the Shading Correction button.

10. Select Print Server correction for

best results. The print server uses a
spectrophotometer which is more
accurate than both a densitometer
and the human eye. The human eye
has a particularly difficult time in
the yellow band.

11. Press Print to produce the sample

for measurement.

12. Once the sheet is printed, click the

Measure button in 3. Get
Measurements.

13. A screen will appear that instructs

you to put the Spectrophotometer in
the calibration cradle. It is very
important that you verify that the
spectrophotometer is resting
completely in its cradle. If it is
lifted or unseated all subsequent
measurements may be incorrect.
After doing so, click OK.

14. The calibration scanning dialog will

appear and walk you through
scanning each color strip that was
printed out in step b. above. Scan
each strip as instructed.

15. Whether using the Calibration Tray

in the case of the
Spectrophotometer or using the
Spectrophotometer alone, make
sure not to lift the
Spectrophotometer while scanning
in the strips. Also make sure to put
sheets of paper beneath your test
strip paper or use a smooth solid
white base such as the calibration
tray or an i1iO base. Make sure the
Spectrophotometer is on a smooth
flat surface while scanning and will
not lift or snag on any debris or
ledges.

16. View the Shading Correction

Graph. If the graph has large
spikes in it reprint and rescan the
test chart. If the large spikes
remain call your Service technician.
If the graph looks even or slightly
elevated to one side then click
apply to allow the machine to
correct itself

17. Walk back to the Engine and select

Store and Finish, this will apply the
corrections the Print Server made to
the Engine.

Congratulations
you have completed the Shading
Correction portion of imagePRESS
Color Management!

Step 3 - Auto Adjust Gradation

The color imagePRESS series is equipped with advanced sensors that register the density of patches on Paper as
it passes through the machine. This process of detect and correct on actual paper is one of the many features
that makes the imagePRESS series one of the more stable color production printers in the industry. Much like
the roller and wire refresh the lasers need to be recalibrated as well. The Auto Adjust Gradation Function will
adjust laser strength to maintain consistent densities across all colors and screening patterns.
For this adjustment only use 11x17 or A3 smooth uncoated paper with a minimum brightness of 98. The engine
will intelligently translate the results of the adjustment across all other paper types.
Full Adjust vs. Quick Adjust:
Full Adjust will Print out 5 sheets of paper. These sheets will show the machine its uncalibrated D-Max and
gradation steps on paper. It will also build an environmental table that reflects the effects of humidity,
temperature, wear on drum bias and laser power. After this the machine lays down patches on its Image
Transfer Belt (ITB) and uses its new environmental table to give greater accuracy to the correction table
generated by the results of the ITB patch readings.
Quick Adjust lays down and measures patches on the IBT (the last step of the Full Adjust). Both density and
gradation checks are done across three screen patterns. A correction table is created based on the measurements
read. This process occurs every 400 images automatically or if the fixing temperature is less than 100 degrees
Celsius.

1. After exiting the Shading

Correction screen press the
Auto Gradation Adjustment
button.

2. Select Full Adjust.

3. Select the tray that contains

your predefined media

4. Press the Start Button, this

may take several minutes to
complete. When done
discard the sheets that have
emerged from the printer.

Congratulations you have

completed the Auto Adjust
Gradation portion of imagePRESS
Color Management.

Step 4: Calibrating the Fiery imagePRESS Contoller

Note: Automated x-rite i1iO tables are not currently supported for Fiery calibration, the
spectrophotometer will need to be dismounted and plugged directly into the calibrating computer.

1. Plug in the spectrophotometer

into the computer that has
Command Workstation
installed and that you will be
using to perform the
calibration.
2. Launch CWS and log into the
Fiery to be calibrated
3. Click the Calibrate button in
the Job Center of Command
Workstation to launch the
calibrator.

4. Under 1.Select Measurement

Method, choose the correct
model of spectrophotometer
to be used.
5. Set the Media Setting to
Default. For this Media set
use Hammermill 28lb. If
Hammermill is not one of
your stocked papers use a 98+
Brightness uncoated smooth
sheet.

6. Click the Print button under

3.Generate Measurement Page
to print out the measurement
page for the calibration.

7. In the Print Options dialogue

box select the type of chart
you plan to use. Randomized
Patches will help compensate
for physical defects and wear
and tear on the engine.
Selecting more patches will
also ensure the machine will
receive more accurate data. If
you have 11x17 or A3 media
and thus can do 34 patches
instead of 21 it is
recommended. Select the tray
your media is in, if the
incorrect media is drawn
machine performance and
consistency could be greatly
diminished. Print more than
one sheet and review them for
defects. Select the most
consistent sheet and discard
the rest.
8. Click the Measure button
under 4.Get Measurements
and on the Measurement
Options dialog, specify the
type of calibration page and
paper size to be used. This
should match the options
chosen in step 7 in this
sequence.
9. Click the Measure button
and follow the Information
dialog as it instructs to put the
spectrophotometer in the
calibration cradle, make sure
the device is fully settled in
the cradle then click OK.
10. Follow the instructions on the
dialog to scan each color strip.
If an error appears, either slow
down or speed up the
scanning and be sure to keep
the Spectrophotometer flat.
Please pay special attention to
the pressing and release of the
button on the
spectrophotometer after each

strip.
11. After successfully scanning
the strips, a dialog appears
notifying that measurement
was successful. Click OK,
12. Under 6. View Measurements
select from the drop down
menu, Measurements vs.
Target. Click View.

13. Verify that your Measured

curves roughly match the
Target curves. If your D-Max
values are more than .15
below the Target values you
may have a service issue. If
your D-Max values are at or
higher than the target values
press Done and return to the
previous menu. If your DMax values are significantly
higher such as these in the
example you may have used
the incorrect paper. Although
these numbers appear good
using the correct stock is
important as these values are
used in advanced equations
for other thick or coated
stocks and incorrect data may
lead to poor print results and
consistency.
14. next click the Apply button.
If this step is missed the
calibration will not be
applied!

Congratulations you have

completed the Auto Adjust
Gradation portion of imagePRESS
Color Management.