Muddy Color on Xerox 242 & 550

[ScottL]

I am having issues with plugged images and just a just generally muddy appearance in the highly saturated ares of photos. The process grays are neutral and all BUT everything looks way too dark in the dark areas. The light areas look good and the tech says the machine is "perfect". We calibrate daily and are in a very controlled environment. We use the bustled Fiery's.

Any ideas?

[edocpublish.com]

Have you tried to change the profile in the Fiery (Assuming you are using Fiery RIP).

The Profile will make a difference and the Selection of Composite black replacement may cause this problem too.

Select the correct GSM value for the Paper and the type of paper (Coated/uncoated)

When you calibrate make sure you use the same paper for calibration as the paper you are printing on and place 3 white sheets of paper under the calibration printout during calibration. If you have a colored desk "One Eye" device may pickup the background of your desk.

Good Luck.

Nidal Kerdiya
eDoc Publish Inc.

[bluesndues]

(Previously Posted...)

Okay...I've had this problem before too.

Try this:

Photoshop: (I'm using 64 bit, but it doesn't matter, works in 32 as well)
Edit/Color Settings
Change the "Working Space" CMYK value to "CUSTOM"
Once the dialog opens, change it as follows:
Ink Colors: SWOP (Coated/Uncoated) - depends on use
Dot Gain: STANDARD
Select: GCR
Black Generation: Medium
Black Ink Limit: 100
Total Ink Limit: 280
UCA Amount: 0

Select OK
Once at the Main Color Settings Menu select MORE OPTIONS.
In Conversion Options:
Select the ADOBE ACE engine
Select RELATIVE COLORMETRIC
Make sure all three of the check boxes are selected: Black Point Compensation, Dither, and Scene Referred Profiles.

Select OK

Use...

Open a photo...any will work...even CMYK.
In order to "apply" this new setting to your photo's YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE IMAGE MODE (Image/Mode). The best option is to select LAB first, then CMYK. Do this EVEN IF THE IMAGE IS ALREADY CMYK.

Once you have it in the CMYK spectrum, save it as a Version of the original.
Put them side by side and see the difference.

If you still have an issue, you can lower the Ink Limit to 250 (See above) in your new setting.

This should fix it for you.

Copiers, just like presses, have ink-limits. For most copiers this limit is 250 for accurate reproduction - and photo's is where we see the largest saturation values.

Best of luck to you!