System Requirements.
Minimum
Intel I Mac 2ghz
40 GB free disk space
1gb Ram
Recommended quad core Mac Pro
100gb free disk space
4gb ram
Installation.
Double click the installer and you will be guided through the installation process.
During the installation process you have the option to install standard ICC Profiles for Epson printers and the Colorport application from X-Rite. This application is used for calibrating AbsoluteProof using a spectrophotometer.
Absolute Proof, the Epson profiles and calibration files are installed into the AbsoluteProof folder within the applications folder.
The Colorport application is installed into an X_Rite folder within the Applications folder.
The Epson profiles are installed with necessary support files. Each profile has a Linearization file to be imported into AbsoluteProof and used in conjunction with the ICC profile. A Match file is also included with each profile for re-calibrating the printer in case of a drift or if the printer varies from the factory default color reproduction.
If you are running a donlged version of AbsoluteProof.
First plug in the enclosed Dongle to a USB port on your Mac, if the dongle has been activated, features purchased will become available. If the dongle has not been activated fill in the registration form in the application folder and send to your distributor or email to support @absolute-proof.com
We will then send you a code to activate the dongle and sign you up for support and updates as they come available.
Alternativly, sign up on our website to download our latest online version of AbsoluteProof. All feautes are enabled for the trial version. If you are running a dongled version, and we have not contacted you yet, you can talk to us about getting a special deal for returning the dongle.
This video shows how you can install Absolute Proof 'out of the box' using the files included within the application installer:
Main running window.
The first window you will see in the application is the main running window.
When printers have been set up they will display in this window allowing easy monitoring of what is being processed.
The window on the left displays the printers that have been set up and indicates if they are active or paused. A paused printer will show up in a reddish color while an active printer will show up with a greenish color.
Control clicking on the printers will navigate to the watched folder where the setup has been configured to monitor for files to be processed.
Queued Jobs
Window displays jobs, which are either being processed or waiting to be processed
Selecting an individual printer will display the jobs that are waiting to be processed or are being processed. Selecting no printer will display all jobs that are waiting to be processed.
Jobs can be re-prioritized, cancelled and deleted, cancelled and then retried, put on hold, deleted or paused by control clicking on them.
To enable these selections hold down the control button while clicking on the job.
If a job errors out because of a missing color or any other reason a user can make corrections such as adding a new color to the special color library and then retry the job.
Completed Jobs.
Here the user can view the jobs that have been processed in the past and reprint or delete the jobs. Selecting a printer will display only the jobs that belong to that printer.
Jobs are deleted after a month or when only 10 Gigabytes of free space are available on the hard drive, whichever comes first.
Processing Log
Gives an overview of the progress that is being made. It contains information, which can be used to troubleshoot errors.
The Overview window
Displays in detail all setting, which are used for the setup selected. If the setup is not valid because of an error no information will display in this window.
The contents of this window can be copied and pasted for troubleshooting purposes.
Color Library
The color library stores the Pantone library and any custom spot color.
AbsoluteProof will automatically recognize all standard Pantone colors if the colors are named to the Pantone standard
The Pantone colors are named as follows.
PANTONE is a requirement but can be replaced with PMS, 3-4 digit number is a requirement, C, M and U is a requirement
C= Coated
M= Matt Coated
U=Uncoated
PANTONE XXX C-M-U
Valid Names example
Pantone ReflexBlue C
PMS Reflex Blue M
Pantone 161 C
PMS 161 M
Sample of color names that will not be recognized
Pantone red
Pantone 21 C
PMS Blue72
Colors that are not recognized will have to be entered into the Special color library.
If AbsoluteProof detects a file that does not have a color specification it will error the job and ask for a color specification.
For example a job that contains a color named blue072
2130570_JobEPhh_blue072.tif
2130570_JobEPhh_black.tif
2130570_JobEPhh_yellow.tif
2130570_JobEPhh_cyan.tif
2130570_JobEPhh_magenta.tif
The user would delete the Job name and the extension from the file name 2130570_JobEPhh_blue072.tif
Leaving only the color name blue072 and enter the LAB values of Pantone Blue072
We recommend to use LAB colors for spot color definitions as the LAB colorspace is much larger than the CMYK one.
LAB Spot color entry.
CMYK Spot color entry
Alternatively the color can be entered before the job is processed.
The user would select the appropriate library and type in 072 for example, then select the Pantone Blue 072 C color and click on Edit and remove the Pantone from the name or enter blue072 in the name field.
A Pantone color that has been edited automatically overrides the built in Pantone color. A Pantone color can be reset to default settings by deleting the entry from the user color library.
This video shows how to create a settings backup, a color library backup, and how to restore from backup.
This video shows how you can Edit the Pantone Colors within the Absolute Proof engine:
This video shows how to make spot color edits within the Absolute Proof engine:
Remote Proofing
Printing to a remote location is easy with AbsoluteProof once configured. Whether you have a client that would like proofs instantly at his remot location, or if you have an office at a remote location. As the files are transfered over the internet, you can proof to any place in the world that has an internet connection.
It is realistic that you can process an 8up seperated halftone file + a spot color, at location-A and have it printing at location-B within 10 minutes. The job is processed locally, then automatically compressed and sent to a drop folder on an iDisk or a FTP server, as soon as the file has transferred to that location, the job is printed with AbsoluteProof at the remote location, without processing. Because AbsoluteProof needs to be at both locations for this feature, normal subscription fees apply at every location. Free remote setup and training as required. See the training video to learn how it works.
This video demonstrates how to setup remote proofing with compression.
TCP configuration / The PrinterSetup Utility.
Click on the Printer Setup Utility icon
Enter the printer’s IP address, you can give the printer a descriptive name, for example AP_Epson7800 (this name will become selectable within AbsoluteProof once complete.
In the bottom field "Print Using" Select other and navigate to the AbsoluteProof folder within the application folder you will find a folder there named AbsoluteProof PPD's, select the AbsoluteProof LPR PPD.
Finally, click on the add button.
Now the IP printer is available for selecting in AbsoluteProof as a CUPS printer. Demonstration of this is in the "Installation Video" at the top of the Menu.
EpsonNet MacAssist for OS X
If you do not know the IP address of your Epson printer / printers, you can use the EpsonNet MacAssist for OS X to find it. It is available on our iDisk. Epson printers on the network will show up when you open this application, the only case they will not show up is if the network cable is not connected, or the first three (192.168.1.) numbers are different from your computer's IP address, in which case you will need to change the IP address on the Computer, or the Epson, depending on your needs. You can use EpsonNet MacAssist to change the IP Address of the printers connected.
Connecting printer via USB.
Connect the USB cable and power cable to the compuer. Go to System Prefferences and click "Printer & Fax"
Click on the + to add printer.
Then click the Default box and then select the printer. Select print using "AbsoluteProof LPR PRinter.ppd" which is located in the Applications - Absolute Proof - Absolute Proof PPD's folder
Please Note: If the printer does not show, Install the printer driver from the device manufacturer.
Then click on the add button.
Now the USB printer is set up, it is available for selecting in AbsoluteProof as a CUPS printer.
Output Type
Four different options can be selected under output type.
Postscript - To print to Postscript devices.
PDF - To deliver color matched PDF files for remote proofing
TIFF - To deliver files for soft proofing or convert files between colorspaces.
Printer - To print to an Epson, Roland, HewlettPackard or a Canon printer.
File Processing Options
1. Resampling. Default is recommended; Nearest Neighbor is fastest and gives sharpest results, Bicubic is slowest but gives smoothest results.
2. Select the ‘Single File’ option, only if it is required to print every single file in just the black color alone. This is for checking single files as used to be carried out in the old analog ’checking films’ workflow. Note that this feature only works in a separated workflow.
3. Negative is for working with Negative one-bit files.
4. Mirror. Select mirror only when processing mirrored files in a ROOM workflow.
5. Halftone. Select halftone only when processing separated halftone files.
To deliver optimum halftone reproduction, AbsoluteProof offers 5 levels of halftone smoothing. We recommend that you start by setting halftone smoothing to Smoother output a proof and then adjust your setting along sharper –smoother scale until the halftone dot reproduction is optimized to your taste.
6. Select Get Color from Filename only in case of a problem with recognizing colors in separated workflow.
Selecting this option allows overriding of the internal color specification within tiff files by means of renaming the files.
7. Scale, either select Reduce to fit or 100%
8. Rotation, allows rotation of files for more economy of paper usage.
9 Delay between files, default 30 seconds, this is only necessary in a separated workflow and can be fine-tuned based on how fast files are delivered to be processed.
Printer settings.
Here you select settings depending on which printer, resolution, paper, and ink you choose to use.
Other options are
Print calibration after image - prints a calibration bar after each proof so a verification of color consistency can take place.
Print calibration bar after image, colorbars are commonly used for color verification, when active, it prints a colorbar after each image. User can create a custom colorbar image which may include a disclaimer, corporate logo, signoff form etc. with or instead of the colorbar.
Print Job Details, prints a status line with the following information:
-Printing Setup used
-Date and time of proofing
-Printed by (user)
-Name of job printed
-Proofing system designation (name of software, name of proof-printer)
-Substrate material types (proof-paper)
-Colorants/inks
-Color management profile[s] and Linearization used.
Cut Paper, Cuts the paper after each job.
Center on page, Roll and Sheet, Ideal for printing backed up proofs and working with a Sheet size.
Calibration bar examples
Extended Settings
These options depend on the printer selected.
Bidirectional versus Unidirectional printing.
Drying time
Page Spacing
Installed inks
Paper Tray
Overprinting
Roll/Sheet
Color Matching
Selecting colormatching OFF is only needed when building a new profile for the system.
Under all other circumstances the colormatching should be set to ON.
Printer Profile Selection. (Destination Profiles)
Selection of Printer profile depends on the Printer and the ink set available.
The following Profiles can be selected as output profiles.
CMYK with a 4-color linearization
RGB without linearization, only for Tiff, Postscript and PDF files.
CMYKOG with a 6-color linearization
Color Matching profiles. (Source Profiles)
AbsoluteProof allows the use of the following profile types as a source profile.
RGB
CMYK
CMYKOG Hexachrome - Extraxhrome both as 6 color and Hex profiles. (Control Click on the profile to change format)
N-Color from 3 color up to 8 color ICC profiles.
Only 2 profiles can be selected at the same time one RGB and any other supported profile at the same time.
N-Color profiles contain information about the colors that are to be processed.
Processing files with an N-Color profile will only allow exactly correctly named files to be processed.
The colornames of the files need to match the colors specified in the Pmtr tag within the ICC profile.
If a user tries to process incorrect files an error will show up. Double clicking on the profile and inspecting or even editing the Pmtr tag will define how the files need to be named to process correctly.
As will a package such as Profile-Maker show the names of the colors.
Rendering Options
There is a choice of four rendering options in the drop-down menu; the brief descriptions given here are only a rough outline of the attributes of each rendering intent.
Relative Color (Recommended for Proofing)
Relative Color is the default ICC standard. In Relative Color rendering, the colors reproduced are referenced to the color of the target sheet. This option leads to a rendering style in which the output image may be lighter or darker overall than the target image, but should produce a pleasing result. No attempt to simulate the paper color on blank areas of the target image is made. This is normally the rendering intent chosen when making a proof.
Absolute Color
Colors are referenced to a ‘perfectly reflecting diffuser’. The choice of Absolute Color leads to a close match over most of the tonal range of a proofed sheet compared to an analogue proof or printing press. However, the whiteness of the paper of, for instance, the analogue proof is simulated on the proofed sheet from the printer. In other words, a background of dots, close in color to the target sheet, are typically printed as a background on the proofer paper. This intent may give the closest replication of the target colors.
Perceptual Color
Perceptual Color is a rendering intent that specifies the full gamut of the image, which is then compressed or expanded to fill the gamut of the device. In this case, grey balance is preserved but color accuracy might not be preserved. This mode is typically not the intent of choice for demanding proofing applications, but in certain cases may produce more pleasing visual results, so this is included to give you the option of using it if you wish.
Saturation
Saturation works using the profile as a basis, then saturates the image to fill the gamut of the printer.
Black As Black
This feature enables solid black objects, especially text, to print solid black on the proofing device. The result is enhanced density & definition of black text on inkjet printers. Other Colors are removed from solid blacks and black ink is only used for reproduction of Black areas such as text. Use this option only if Text does not reproduce sharp enough on the proof.
Linearization
Importing a linearization and using a canned profile.
AbsoluteProof ships with standard profiles for the Epson line of printers. Each profile has a matching linearization to be imported into the linearization field. Click on the Import button and navigate to the AbsoluteProof folder within the application folder. Open up the Epson Profiles folder and select the Media and printer you are working with navigate to the text file that ends with an x.txt and import the file.
Text files, named like that can be imported and selection of a Printer profile (destination profile) and linearization file needs to match to get the colormatch required.
Calibration.
Access to initial linearization and calibration is through the linearization field by clicking on the "New - Recalibrate" button.
Fist start by giving the new calibration a name, ideally something descriptive so other users can identify the calibration and are able to match it with the profile built.
This video shows how to build a linearization using the Absolute Proof Calibrator engine (CMYK):
This video shows how to build a linearization using the Absolute Proof Calibrator engine (HEX):
Setup
Select desired densities or set standards. We provide support for the Gracol, Swop and Fogra standards. User can also set his own custom settings by selecting the Manual option. Normally we recommend using the Gracol setting for commercial proofing. For Packaging users it is beneficial to increase the densities to achieve wider gamut for matching more saturated Pantone colors.
After selecting the desired densities, select a tool for collecting the measurements. The options here are Colorport (which ships with AbsoluteProof and is installed into X-Rite folder within the applications folder) or MeasureTool, which is a part of the ProfileMaker package. Both tools are available as a free download from X-Rite / GretagMacbeth www.X-rite.com
After selecting the desired tool select the spectrophotometer, which is to be used for the calibration.
Print Ink Level Target.
Hit the "Print Target" button to print out a target to determine and reduce inks, if excess amount of ink is laid down. If no dripping or drying problems are visible on the print leave the inks at 100% otherwise reduce the number till all patches are dry on the target.
Print Linearization target.
This will be a target specific to your selection of device and measuring software in earlier steps.
Measure the printed target using the tool of your choice.
Measuring using Measure Tool: Use Spectral readings, reference files within the AbsoluteProof folder, Linearization folder, MeasureTool.
Measuring using Colorport: Export readings as CGATS, 400-700nm, 1-100, reference files within the AbsoluteProof folder, Linearization folder, Colorport
Save the readings and import into AP by clicking the "Import and suggest new" button. Results will be displayed and difference from desired values calculated. Ink amount will be reduced according to the readings. Reprint the target, measure and import till the difference from target and measured values is less than 3% Individual Densities have been set.
Then click the > button
Here click the Print target button, as before, read the target and import the readings. At first all the numbers will show up in Red color, progressively as you print and import the readings the numbers will turn black. When over 90% of the numbers have turned black hit the > button Linearization has been achieved.
Total ink settings.
Print the total ink target by clicking the print target button. Key in the number of a dry patch on the target and hit the reprint target button. Repeat this step till the 100% patch on the target is dry.
Evaluate is optional and prints out an image that allows you to visually examine the linearity of the device and the gray balanace of the ink selection
Summary
Gives a summary of the process. Clicking the "Create Match File" button generates a Match file which can be used for the purpose of updating the calibration at a later stage in case of a drift of the printer, replaced printer-heads or to calibrate another printer to identical color reproduction.
When the process is finished the new Linearization is in place and can be exported for archival purposes or to use on another system
This video shows you how to use Match File to match a previous calibration: Link
Training Video Links:
iChat Screen Sharing: Link
Using Presets: Link
N-Color SoftProofing: Link
SoftProofing / ScreenProofing: Link
Pool Printer: Link
Remote Proofing: Link
Halftone: Link
Dotgain Edits: Link
Restore from Backup Link
Postscript and PDF Link
Match file Link
Using Canned Profile Link
Spot Color Edits Link
AP Calibrator CMYK Link
AP Calibrator Hex Link
Pantone Edit Libraries Link
Installation Link
Halftone Link
