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A test form to nd the best CIE L*a*b* values and densities to use in the production.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
The point
The point of this test sheet is
Low High
to print graduations in density.
density Cyan range density
Yellow range
Black range
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Two of a kind
You can achieve the same
Low High
E value with two different
density Cyan range density
densities. E does not tell if
the color is light or dark compa-
red to the target. It only says
E 5 Best match E 5
that there is a difference!
E 1.5
The ISO standard does not use
density values. The standard
only refers to the CIE L*a*b*
values, but in practice you can
use the density for the daily
work. You just have to know
the density values that give
the best range in E.
Simple illustration of the same E with low and high density of cyan.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
In practice the range is getting smaller in cyan and magenta when you also
want good results in the secondary blue color.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
The sample shows that the practical range in yellow and magenta is very small
when you also want to have good values in red.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Zone
These color charts are the colors that you need. The rest of the sheet on page 6
is only for the printing process to make sure that a certain amount of printing
ink is being used.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Graduation of density
To nd the best CIE L*a*b*
values and the range of low and
high density, you simply print
the test form with a graduation
of density.
This image is a simulation. If you concentrate on the black part you see low density
on the left-hand side of the sheet.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Very low density Low density Midpoint density High density Very high density
Black graduation
of density
Density:
Very low -6% to -10%
Low -3% to -5%
Midpoint
High +3% to +5%
Very high +6% to +10%
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Very low density Low density Midpoint density High density Very high density
Cyan graduation
of density
Density:
Very low -6% to -10%
Low -3% to -5%
Midpoint
High +3% to +5%
Very high +6% to +10%
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Very high density High density Midpoint density Low density Very low density
Magenta graduation
of density
Density:
Very low -6% to -10%
Low -3% to -5%
Midpoint
High +3% to +5%
Very high +6% to +10%
Simulation of the magenta printing form. Note that the density now is
low on the right-hand side opposite cyan!
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Yellow graduation
of density in rounds
The yellow form requires the
same density all over the sheet,
and has to be printed in ve
rounds.
Density in rounds:
1. Very low -6% to -10%
2. Low -3% to -5%
3. Midpoint
4. High +3% to +5%
5. Very high +6% to +10%
Simulation of the yellow printing form. Note that yellow has the same density
all over the sheet.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
If you see the printing form without black and yellow you have the two colors
cyan and magenta in opposite graduation.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
On the cyan and magenta part (page 13) you print ve different densities
of yellow. The simulation here shows low density in yellow.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
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The densities of cyan, magenta, black
4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values and blue (c+ m) are the same and
therefore you can have an average
to get ne measuring results!
5.
50 variations of red
and green
1. The total numbers of red and
green are 2 x 50 variations, and
when you start measuring the
charts with the best values in
the primary colors, you only
have to measure a few.
2.
If red and green are not satisfac-
tory (on the charts with the best
match in the primary colors)
you can nd better values on
other charts being aware that
3. you are now leaving the best
match in the primary colors
and that you still have to be
within the ISO standard!
When measuring you quickly nd the colors that do not t, and you will
end up with a few only.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
2.
3.
4.
5.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Second test
1. When you print the test form
again, you have very ne mid-
points to reduce the number
of rounds or to print smaller
Round 1. Little low density in yellow.
variations in low and high
density.
2.
3.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Second test
1. An alternative is to print cyan
and magenta in gradients on
half of the sheet.
Round 1. Little low density in yellow.
On the left-hand side of the
sheet the density of cyan is
2. the same. On the right-hand
side the cyan goes from mid-
point to high density.
Round 2. New midpoint density in yellow.
On the right-hand side of the
sheet the density of magenta
3. is the same. On the left-hand
side the magenta goes from
midpoint to high density.
Round 3. Little high density in yellow.
The point is to nd the best
combination of cyan and
magenta to create blue.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
3. If magenta is printed in ve
rounds you get 50 variations
of red and blue, ten variations
Round 3. Midpoint density in cyan. of green and ve of magenta!
5.
If you already know that the range of cyan is narrow, you do not have to print
a lot of variations outside the range.
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Cyan sample 1
This sample of cyan shows
Low High
that with this specic printing
density density
ink on this specic paper
it is impossible to fulll the
ISO standard. Best match is
E 3.45, and it should be less
than E 2.5!
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Cyan sample 2
This sample of cyan shows
Low High
that this printing ink is excel-
density density
lent for the ISO standard.
L* 58.78 58.24 57.27 56.53 55.89 55.59 54.98 54.45 53.94 53.28
a* -36.28 -36.49 -36.66 -36.76 -36.77 -36.84 -36.83 -36.76 -36.62 -36.60
b* -47.69 -48.27 -49.02 -49.63 -50.21 -50.40 -50.93 -51.32 -51.71 -51.48
E 4.49 3.71 2.50 1.59 0.94 0.73 0.95 1.45 2.05 2.30
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4. How to nd the best CIE L*a* b* values
Seven samples
of printing inks
Low High
The samples show the range
density density
of E values from low to high
density printed with seven
different printing inks.
1.14 1.16 1.21 1.26 1.31 1.35 1.37 1.41 1.45 1.47 The test is printed by one prin-
Ink 1 5.53 4.84 4.28 3.69 3.53 3.75 3.91 4.50 5.05 5.44 ter, on the same paper and
printing press. Only the prin-
1.19 1.23 1.29 1.28 1.31 1.35 1.42 1.44 1.46 1.48 ting inks are different from
Ink 2 4.52 3.51 2.60 2.67 2.29 2.32 2.72 3.16 3.49 3.67 seven manufacturers.
1.18 1.22 1.24 1.22 1.27 1.34 1.33 1.36 1.42 1.47 Ink 5 and 7 are excellent for
Ink 3 6.68 4.20 3.95 4.15 3.89 4.24 4.25 4.54 5.34 6.27 the ISO standard. Ink 2 is also
ne.
1.13 1.19 1.22 1.23 1.27 1.31 1.32 1.35 1.39 1.45
Ink 4 5.50 4.64 4.37 4.42 3.98 4.06 4.19 4.74 5.48 6.43 Ink 1, 3, 4, and 6 are not satis-
factory for the ISO standard.
1.17 1.23 1.25 1.27 1.35 1.33 1.35 1.39 1.44 1.48
Ink 5 4.21 3.00 2.91 2.21 1.79 1.72 1.85 2.33 3.24 3.92 The samples clearly show that
it is very important to use
1.16 1.18 1.19 1.22 1.26 1.28 1.31 1.38 1.45 1.52 printing inks, that can handle
Ink 6 5.11 4.68 5.09 4.20 3.17 2.96 2.72 3.10 4.10 5.16 the ISO standard.
1.20 1.23 1.29 1.33 1.37 1.39 1.43 1.45 1.46 1.48
Ink 7 4.49 3.71 2.50 1.59 0.94 0.73 0.95 1.45 2.05 2.30
Numbers in cyan are the density. Black numbers are the E values.
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