Xerox 700 colorcal calibration problem

[JasonSacks]

Has any one else had an issue with calibration on a Xerox 700 with the colorcal method? I find the default config is great, but when I config with color cal on the integrated fiery it produced inaccurate and faded color. When I reset it to default it is fine. The curves on the colorcal calibration are not smooth lines, very jagged, eratic.

Anyone else seen this? Do others usually use Densometers?

[X33]

I've seen the same, I rather have the factory defaults than calibrate the unit with the color cal strip.

most of the times, the factory defaults are more than enough.

if you have very specific calibration needs, you should get a densitomer/spectrophotometer

[JasonSacks]

Are you saying when the calibration starts to wander just reset to the default?

[X33]

if you have them already in Factory Defaults, there's no need to reset them again; doing it won't do anything because the calibration table will be the same.

[JasonSacks]

Every xerox I have ever had goes out of calibration over time. So the best way to get this in sync would be to get a photospectrometer?

[lfelton]

From past experience, we got much more accurate results from a Xerox 250 when using a spectrophotometer to calibrate. We bought an automated strip reader (which is fairly expensive), but if the bustled RIP supports an Eye One, they're cheaper and work really well (we have those as well on other machines). BTW, EFI call an Eye One an "ES-1000". They're the same machine, but if your bustled RIP only says ES-1000, then I'd check to make sure they are compatible before buying a "standard" Eye One.

Having said all that, your machine sounds broken to me. I've always found that the "off the glass" calibration on Xerox machines (DC-12, 250) helps a lot - a spectro just works better.

You need to print out a reference (i.e. something that you know 100% what the colours should look like) on something that's well within the machines spec (like a colotech 120gsm) after doing a calibrate off the glass. Make sure you do the calibrate on the actual stock you will be using. If the colours are *completely* wrong, then I think you need Xerox in to fix it.

IMO *not* calibrating is a really bad idea in a pay-for-print environment. In my experience you should calibrate digital machines very frequently. You will inevitably get variation as consumables wear, components age and environmental conditions alter.

[JasonSacks]

lfeltion...

I have purchased used ES-1000 that I found on ebay, I am trying that out. It does not have the cradle, but I expect I can use a standard white tile from the calibration swatch that is for screen calibration to calibrate the es-1000 before I calibrate the machine. Does that sound like that would work in your experience?

I found that when I calibrate with aa 100lb text gloss, which is what I print with normally, it does not turn out well. When I calibrate it with standard Xerox paper that came with the machine as a uncoated 81-90 gsm then it calibration works better. ???? I have called and talked to my tech but it is just too new. I am going to call 2nd level tech but right now with the calibration from the standard paper, rather than the paper I acutally use, it seems to be at an acceptable level of calibration.

[lfelton]

lfeltion...

I have purchased used ES-1000 that I found on ebay, I am trying that out. It does not have the cradle, but I expect I can use a standard white tile from the calibration swatch that is for screen calibration to calibrate the es-1000 before I calibrate the machine. Does that sound like that would work in your experience?

I found that when I calibrate with aa 100lb text gloss, which is what I print with normally, it does not turn out well. When I calibrate it with standard Xerox paper that came with the machine as a uncoated 81-90 gsm then it calibration works better. ???? I have called and talked to my tech but it is just too new. I am going to call 2nd level tech but right now with the calibration from the standard paper, rather than the paper I acutally use, it seems to be at an acceptable level of calibration.

Sorry, no idea whether that would work, but if you pushed me for a guess I'd say not very well. Speak to X-rite, they'll sort you out with a replacement shoe.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head with your normal "glossy paper" vs standard Xerox colotech and you're not going to like the answer. To stand any chance of getting colour accuracy you're going to need to profile that paper for your specific machine. Xerox really should have told you that, I'm surprised. I don't know whether you can profile using the basic bustled RIP and your Eye One or whether you will need to buy more options - you're going to need to speak to Xerox about that.

Profiling paper is not that easy if you are not used to it. My advice would be to insist that Xerox come in and teach you how to do it, with them holding your hand on at least one of your paper types.

Sorry, but I think that's pretty much the bottom line.

[X33]

the right tool for calibration is either a densitometer or spectrophotometer

if you create a calibration table for each paper type you are using, you should not have any problems. that's how everybody is supposed to do it.

when you claibrate your 100lb text gloss, make sure you select either Normal or Enhanced Gloss ... all calibration settings have to match with the properties you select in the print driver.

[JasonSacks]

That sounds fine, I will call EFI about the cradle. However, what I was saying about the paper is that calibrating the system using the scanner for the paper produces poor results, calibrating it for standard paper produces good results. Not saying that is how it should work, I am just saying those are the results I am seeing.