Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6450 User manual

CALIBRATION LINK SETUP GUIDE
Ver.1.00
Canon Inc.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW OF CALIBRATION LINK ................................................................ 3
COLOR CALIBRATION USING CUSTOM PAPER............................................................... 4
OPERATING CALIBRATION LINK........................................................................................ 4
CALIBRATION LINK ENVIRONMENT AND PAPER CONDITIONS .................. 5
RANGE OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY..................................................................... 5
PAPER THAT CAN BE USED WITH CALIBRATION LINK................................................... 6
SETTING UP CALIBRATION LINK .................................................................... 8
1. PREPARE THE COMPUTER FOR MANAGING PAPER ............................................... 10
2. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE PRINTER WITH SPECTROPHOTOMETER UNIT
MOUNTED ...................................................................................................................... 12
3. EXPORT THE CUSTOM MEDIA INFORMATION FILE .................................................. 20
4. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE OTHER PRINTERS ............................................ 22
5. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE COMPUTERS FOR PRINTING .......................... 24
6. EXECUTE PAPER FEED ADJUSTMENT AND COLOR CALIBRATION ....................... 26
OPERATION OF CALIBRATION LINK USING CCMC .................................... 28
CHECKING CALIBRATION LINK ........................................................................................ 28
CHECKING THE PRINTER STATUS.................................................................................. 29
EXECUTING COLOR CALIBRATION REMOTELY ............................................................ 29
Q & A................................................................................................................ 30
Q1. HOW DO I ADD CUSTOM PAPER TO WORK WITH? ................................................ 30
Q2. HOW DO I ADD A PRINTER TO USE?........................................................................ 30
Q3. HOW DO I ADD A COMPUTER TO USE?................................................................... 31
Q4. HOW DO I ONLY USE CALIBRATION LINK WITH GENUINE CANON PAPER? ...... 31
Q5. WHAT DO I DO IF I RECREATED THE CUSTOM MEDIA INFORMATION?.............. 31
Q6. WHAT DO I DO TO ADD CUSOM PAPER ADDED AT A DIFFERENT OFFICE? ...... 32
Q7. WHAT DO I DO IF THE COLOR TONES OF THE PRINTED MATERIAL DO NOT
MATCH?.......................................................................................................................... 33

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OVERVIEW OF CALIBRATION LINK
Calibration link is a color management system exclusive to Canon that delivers a mean color
difference of ΔE00 ≤2.0*1 in the printing results between printers that support calibration link*2.
The color management in calibration link is able to print using the same color tones between
printers that support calibration link by executing color calibration on the individual printers using
a calibration target (data for color calibration that matches the characteristics of the paper) under
the prerequisite that the printers are using the same paper type.
*1 The printers that support calibration link are the iPF6450, iPF6400, iPF8400, and iPF9400. (As of 22th August,
2012)
*2 Values were measured under the Canon measurement environment.
This guide describes the settings and operation required for setting up calibration link.

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COLOR CALIBRATION USING CUSTOM PAPER
In the past, executing color calibration was only possible with genuine Canon paper (including
feed confirmed paper*1), for which the calibration targets were pre-incorporated into the printers.
However, you are now able to perform color calibration even using custom paper*2 by purchasing
a printer with a spectrophotometer unit mounted and using it to create the calibration target for
the custom paper. Since calibration targets that have been created using a single printer with a
spectrophotometer unit mounted can be used on all the printers that support calibration link in a
system, it enables low-cost color management.
*1 Paper where feeding through the printer has been confirmed under standard testing conditions by Canon.
*2 Custom paper is paper that does not correspond to any genuine Canon paper or Canon feed confirmed paper.
OPERATING CALIBRATION LINK
Calibration link is operated by using the Color Calibration Management Console color management
utility (hereinafter CCMC) that is included with printers that support calibration link.
You can perform centralized management of all connected printers that support calibration link
from a computer where CCMC is installed. For example, this allows you to understand the color
management status (the date and time when color calibration was executed and paper
information) of each printer and to execute color calibration in a location remote from the printer.
Example system configuration with calibration link

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CALIBRATION LINK ENVIRONMENT AND PAPER CONDITIONS
RANGE OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY
・ In order to accurately adjust the color tones of printed material, calibration link should be set
up and operated in an environment where the temperature and humidity are kept constant in
the range of 15 to 30°C and 40 to 60%.
・ Since the recommended use environment varies according to the paper type, use within the
recommended environment range suiting the paper type.
・ For details on the recommended environmental conditions for genuine Canon paper, see the
"Paper Reference Guide". "Paper Reference Guide" can be installed on the computer from
the "User Software CD-ROM" included with the printer at the same time as Media
Configuration Tool (hereinafter MCT). Alternately, you may be able to download the latest
version from the website. You can keep the "Paper Reference Guide" up-to-date with the
latest information by downloading and installing the latest versions of the Media Information
Files from the imagePROGRAF website.
・ For details on the recommended environmental conditions for custom paper, check the
environment recommended by the paper manufacturer.

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PAPER THAT CAN BE USED WITH CALIBRATION LINK
Genuine Canon paper
Calibration link is possible with the paper marked with "Yes" in the following table.
The paper that can be used with calibration link varies depending on the Country or Region of
Use selected when the MCT was installed.
Paper type
(Display name in the control panel)
Country or Region of Use selected
when the MCT was installed
Japan,
Asia,
Oceania
EU North or South
America
Opaque Paper 120 No Yes No
HW Coated Yes Yes Yes
GlossyPhoto 170g Yes Yes Yes
SatinPhoto 170g Yes Yes Yes
GlossyPhotoHG170 Yes Yes Yes
SemGlsPhotoHG170 Yes Yes Yes
GlossyPhoto 200g No Yes Yes
SatinPhoto 200g No Yes Yes
GlossyPhoto 240 No Yes Yes
SatinPhoto 240 No Yes Yes
GlossyPhotoHG255 Yes Yes Yes
SemGlsPhotoHG255 Yes Yes Yes
RC Photo Luster No No Yes
Premium Gl2 280 Yes Yes Yes
Prem.SemiGl2 280 Yes Yes Yes
LW Gloss Proof Yes No Yes
LW Matte Proof Yes No Yes
Proofing Paper 3 Yes No Yes
Proofing Paper Yes No Yes
Proof SemiGl 195 No Yes No
FineArt Photo Yes Yes Yes
FneArt HW Photo Yes Yes Yes

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Custom paper
Calibration link is possible with the paper that meets the following conditions.
Item Specifications
Size For creating calibration
targets
Roll widths * (iPF6450)
406.4 mm to 610 mm
For executing color
calibration
(automatic adjustment)
Roll widths *
iPF6400/iPF6450: 254 mm to 610 mm
iPF8400: 254 mm to 1,118 mm
iPF9400: 254 mm to 1,524 mm
Sheets size
(iPF6400/iPF6450 only)
A4/LTR to A1
Thickness 0.1 to 0.5 mm
Category Glossy paper, semi-glossy paper, proofing
paper, coated paper, art paper
* For the sizes of rolls that can be used with a printer, check the catalog or Canon website.
Please understand that Canon offers absolutely no guarantee regarding the print quality or feed
properties of custom paper.
Do not use custom paper corresponding to any of the following criteria.
・ Colored paper (yellow coated paper, etc.)
・ Transparent paper (film, etc.)
・ Paper with poor coloring that lack density
・ Paper with bumps (canvas, etc.)
・ Paper where the surface is not even (Japanese paper, etc.)
・ Paper that curls or ripples easily upon absorbing ink (lightweight coated paper, etc.)

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SETTING UP CALIBRATION LINK
Calibration link setup is performed after setting up the printer and spectrophotometer unit. Set up
the printer and spectrophotometer unit by following the setup guides included with the printer.
The following items are used for setting up calibration link.
・ The paper you want to match the colors on using color calibration
・ A printer with a spectrophotometer unit mounted (Calibration link does not need to be
performed if you are only using genuine Canon paper)
・ A printer that supports calibration link
・ Computer for managing paper (Only one computer is used for adding custom paper and
exporting custom media information files. Calibration link does not need to be performed if
you are only using genuine Canon paper.)
・ Computer for printing (There can be more than one of these computers, and one may be
used simultaneously as the computer for managing paper)
・ The "User Software CD-ROM" for each model of printer (used for installing MCT and the
printer driver)

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If you are using custom paper, calibration link setup is performed using the following procedure.
The setup if you are performing calibration link only on genuine Canon paper is only to execute
color calibration. Refer to "6. EXECUTE PAPER FEED ADJUSTMENT AND COLOR
CALIBRATION" on P. 26 for details on how to execute color calibration.
PREPARE THE COMPUTER FOR MANAGING PAPER
Install the MCT and printer driver on the computer for managing paper.
1.
ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE PRINTER WITH SPECTROPHOTOMETER
UNIT MOUNTED
Use the printer with the spectrophotometer unit mounted and MCT on the computer
for managing paper to add the custom paper to the printer with spectrophotometer
unit mounted and create the calibration target.
2.
EXPORT THE CUSTOM MEDIA INFORMATION FILE
Use MCT to export the media information file for the custom paper you added in
step 2.to the computer for managing paper.
3.
ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE OTHER PRINTERS
Use MCT to import the custom media information file you exported in step 3.and
add the custom paper including the calibration target to all of the printers that do
not have a spectrophotometer unit mounted.
4.
ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE COMPUTERS FOR PRINTING
Use MCT to import the custom media information file you exported in step 3.and
add the custom paper to the computers for printing.
5.
EXECUTE PAPER FEED ADJUSTMENT AND COLOR CALIBRATION
Load the custom paper in the printer performing calibration link, and execute paper
feed adjustment and color calibration from the control panel.
6.
(P.10)
(P. 12)
(P. 20)
(P. 22)
(P. 24)
(P. 26)

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1. PREPARE THE COMPUTER FOR MANAGING PAPER
Use the "User Software CD-ROM" included with the printer to install the MCT and printer driver
on the computer for managing paper.
Install the MCT for each model (iPF6450, iPF6400, etc.) of printer that will perform calibration link.
Install the corresponding printer drivers for all of the printers that will perform calibration link. (For
example, if you have two iPF9400 units, you need to install two iPF9400 printer drivers.)
After installing the MCT and printer drivers, perform the following procedure.
1. Start the MCT.
Windows
From the start menu > All Programs > iPFxxxx Media Configuration Tool >
iPFxxxx Media Configuration Tool.
Mac OS X
From the Applications menu > Canon Utilities > iPFxxxx Media Configuration Tool
> MCTxxxx.app.
2. Click the Add and Edit Custom Paper button in the Media Configuration Tool main
window.

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3. Select the printers to perform calibration link on in Printer in the Select Printer dialog box
and click the Next button.
4. Check that there is no existing custom paper in the printers or printer drivers in the Added
Custom Paper list.
5. If there is existing custom paper, it all needs to be deleted first. Select all of the custom
paper in the list and click the Delete button.
All of the existing custom paper is deleted from the printers and printer drivers.
If you have multiple printers, repeat steps 1 to 5 on each of the printers to delete existing custom
paper from all of the printers and printer drivers including the printer with spectrophotometer unit
mounted.
After finishing this operation, always create custom paper information on this computer for
managing paper.
After you have finished this operation, you do not need to delete existing custom paper from the
computer for managing paper or from the printers that support calibration link.
If you need any of the custom paper that was deleted, use the procedure to newly add it.

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2. ADD THE CUSTOM PAPER TO THE PRINTER WITH
SPECTROPHOTOMETER UNIT MOUNTED
Use the MCT installed on the computer for managing paper to add the custom paper to the
printer with spectrophotometer unit mounted and the printer driver, and then create the
calibration target. Use rolls at least 406.4mm (16 inches) wide for the custom paper. For the
specifications of the custom paper you can use, see P. 7.
Custom paper is added to the printer with spectrophotometer unit mounted by using the following
procedure.
1. Run the MCT (iPF6450 Media Configuration Tool for the iPF6450) for the printer where
the spectrophotometer unit is mounted on the computer for managing paper, and click the
Add and Edit Custom Paper button in the main window.
2. Select the printer with the spectrophotometer unit mounted to use for adding custom paper
in Printer in the Select Printer dialog box, and click the Next button.

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3. Once the Add and Edit Custom Paper dialog box has been displayed, click the Add
Button.
4. The Step 1: Select the standard paper dialog box is displayed. In Paper Category, select
the category of media type to use as the basis of the custom paper you are adding.
Select the category that you think is the closest to the custom paper you are adding.
5. The media type names of the Canon genuine paper and feed confirmed paper within the
selected category are shown in Media Type Name. Select the media type to use as the
basis of the custom paper, and click the Next button.
・ If you do not know which media type to use as the basis of the custom paper, click the
Assist button to open the Media Type Selection Assistance dialog box, and then set either
the Weight (grammage) or the Thickness. The MCT automatically selects the appropriate
paper from the selected paper category.
・ If Cannot create is displayed in Calibration Target for the selected standard paper, a
calibration target cannot be created for that custom paper. Select standard paper that a
calibration target can be created for.
・ For custom paper added using standard paper where Can create for Auto Adjust (High
Precision) is displayed in Calibration Target, the calibration target for executing color
calibration Auto Adjust cannot be created in the control panel and CCMC.

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6. The Step 2: Set the custom paper name dialog box is displayed.
Enter an arbitrary name to display in the printer control panel and printer driver, and then
click the Next button.
Depending on the selected standard paper, you might not be able to enter the Name in
Printer Driver and add the created custom paper to the printer driver as-is. In this case,
create the custom paper information by changing the standard paper to another paper. To
use the custom paper in the printer driver, create it by changing the standard paper to
another paper.
7. Load the custom paper in the printer and then click the OK button.
8. The Step 3: Paper Source Settings dialog box is displayed.
Select Roll Paper 1 and click the OK button.

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9. Since Step 4: Paper feed adjustment is automatically performed when creating the
calibration target later, it is omitted at this point. Click the Next button.
10. The Roll Paper Settings dialog box is displayed.

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Configure the following settings as necessary, and then click the Next button.
Setting Details
Automatic
Cutting
Settings
Configures the method for cutting roll paper when it is ejected after printing.
・ Automatic Cut: Rolls are automatically cut by the cutter unit.
・ Eject Cut: When the Cut key is pressed on the printer control panel, the
rolls are cut by the cutter unit. Select this if you do not want the printed
material to drop immediately after printing, such as to wait for the ink to dry.
・ User Cut: Cutting is not performed by the cutter unit. Cut the rolls using scissors
after each sheet. Select this for paper that cannot be cut by the cutter unit.
Drying
Time
Specify the time that the printer waits for ink to dry, as needed.
・ Off: Ejects immediately after printing finishes.
・ 30 sec./1 min./3 min./5 min./10 min./30 min./60 min.: Ejects after the
specified time has elapsed after printing finishes.
Borderless
Printing
Configures whether or not to permit borderless printing.
・ Permit: Borderless printing is permitted.
・ Deny: Borderless printing is denied.
・ Depending on the paper, there are types that cannot be cut by the cutter unit, and types that
speed deterioration of the blade and cause damage to the cutter. For thick paper, hard paper,
etc. do not use the cutter unit, and instead cut the roll paper using scissors, etc. after printing.
In this case, select User Cut as the Automatic Cutting Settings.
・ If borderless printing is performed on paper where the ink drying is poor, the cutter unit may leave
scratches where it touches the printed surface, or may not cut correctly. In this kind of situation,
configure the amount of time to wait for the ink to dry after printing using Drying Time.
・ For custom paper where there is a need to set the Automatic Cutting Settings to User Cut,
set the Borderless Printing to Deny.
11. The Step 5: Configure the amount of ink used dialog box is displayed.
First, click the Test Print button to perform a test print of each level.

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12. The Test Print Settings dialog box is displayed.
Select the print priority and print quality of the test print using Print Priority and Print Quality.
Set the level to test print using Maximum ink usage and the image to use using Image
used in test print, and then click the Start Print button.
13. Determine and set the ink level that is thought to give the best visual test print results with
no bleeding or scraping of ink.
14. Configure Head Height and Vacuum Strength as required and click the Next button.
Usually, these do not need to be set.

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・ If you set the Head Height lower than the automatically set height in parentheses ( ), check
that the printhead does not rub against the paper. (If the printhead rubs against the paper,
there will be scratches in the printing results.) If the printhead rubs against the paper, this
can cause damage to the printhead.
・ If you change the Vacuum Strength, check that the printhead is not rubbing against the
paper. (If the printhead rubs against the paper, there will be scratches in the printing results.)
If the printhead rubs against the paper, this can cause damage to the printhead.
・ For details on the Head Height and Vacuum Strength, refer to the help.
15. The Step 6: Confirm the settings dialog box is displayed.
Configure the settings of the custom paper, and then click the Next button.
16. The Confirm Update dialog box is displayed.
Confirm the updates and then click the Execute button.

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17. The Add and Edit Custom Paper dialog box is displayed.
Select the paper that you want to create the calibration target for from the Added Custom
Paper list and click the Create Calibration Target button.
18. Click the Execute button in the Execute create calibration target dialog box.
Creating the calibration target takes approximately 40 minutes.
19. Once the calibration target is registered in the printer, click the Next button in the Execute
create calibration target dialog box.
20. The Confirm Update dialog box is displayed.
Confirm the update and click the Execute button.
This completes adding the custom paper.
If you have multiple different types of custom paper, perform steps 1 to 20 for each type of paper.
Once you have finished adding all of the custom paper, export the custom media information file.

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3. EXPORT THE CUSTOM MEDIA INFORMATION FILE
Export the media information file for the custom paper you added to the printer with
spectrophotometer unit mounted to the computer for managing paper so that it can be added to
each of the printers and each of the printer drivers on the computers.
The custom media information file is exported using the following procedure.
1. Run the MCT (iPF6450 Media Configuration Tool for the iPF6450) for the printer where
the spectrophotometer unit is mounted on the computer for managing paper, and click the
Add and Edit Custom Paper button in the main window.
2. Select the printer with a spectrophotometer unit mounted where the custom paper was
added in Printer in the Select Printer dialog box and click the Next button.