Konica Minolta Color Care IQ-501 User manual

Table of Contents
1
2
3
4
5
Quick Guide
* This guide assumes that UK-301 is not mounted on this
system.
Introduction
Pre-printing Adjustment
Functions
In-printing Adjustment
Functions
Troubleshooting
Others
Ver. 01.00
- QG No. 07 -
IQ-501

1Introduction
2
Image position
YES YES YES
[AutoMeasure]
[Periodical Both
Sides Adj.] or [Auto
Image Adjustment]
[Auto Duplex
Adjustment]
Image quality
YES YES YES
[Package Color
Auto Adj.]
[Color Density
Control] or [Auto
Image Adjustment]
[Image Diagnosis]
Curl
YES
[RU Curl Adj.]
1-1. What Is IQ-501?
Scanner 1
Scanner 2
Spectrophotometer
IQ-501 is a "quality optimization unit" that can automate adjusting of the image position
and image quality.
IQ-501 is equipped with 3
sensors.
・Spectrophotometer
・Scanner 1
・Scanner 2
<Spectrophotometer>
Used to adjust color and
density.
Only a spectrophotometer for
the front side is installed.
<Scanner>
Used to adjust the density and
image position.
2 scanners for the front and
back sides are installed.
Before printing During printing Troubleshooting
The automatic adjustment and correction functions installed in IQ-501 are
useful for the following 3 processes:

2Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
3
2-1. Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
The initial quality for printing can be ensured by properly using each adjustment
function on the control panel of the machine.
Image position adjustment function
Image quality adjustment function > To
Sections 2-3 and 2-6
[AutoMeasure]
Performed at the desired time(s): Section 2-2
"Periodical adjustment (full auto)" setting: Section 2-5
Performed when the tray is opened and closed to
replenish paper (ON/OFF).
Performed when the number of printed sheets
reaches the specified value (ON/OFF).
Optional image shift (Manually enter the adjustment
values.)
Charts are printed, and measurement and adjustment
are performed automatically.
Use [AutoMeasure] in [Both Sides].
[Package Color Auto Adj.]
Performed at the desired time(s): Section 2-3
"Automatic execution (full auto)" setting: Section 2-5
After the power is turned on, the machine
automatically starts adjustment (ON/OFF).
This system automatically performs the pre-selected
adjustments.
Use [Package Color Auto Adj.] in [Adjustment] - [Quality Adj.].
Paper curl adjustment function > To
Sections 2-4 and 2-6
[RU Curl Adjustment]
Performed at the desired time(s): Section 2-4
Optional adjustment (Manually enter the
adjustment values.)
This system automatically creates
adjustment values.
Use [RU Curl Adjustment] on the setting screen of each tray in [Paper Setting].

2Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
4
2-2. Automatically Adjusting the Image Position ([AutoMeasure] Adjustment)
On the [AutoMeasure] screen, you can collectively adjust various items related to
the image position for each tray.
<Automatically adjustable items: All paper sizes / Only for paper with length 900 mm or less>
[MACHINE] screen - [Both Sides] - [AutoMeasure]
Paper feed direction
The following 2 functions are manual
adjustment items:
・Up/Down Shift (Image)
・Right/Left Shift (Image)
Vertical Horizontal Up/Down Shift Right/Left Shift
Rotate Skew Trapezoid(CD) Trapezoid(FD)
Curve Peak of Curve

2Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
5
07-010 Both Sides
<Recommended adjustment procedure>
•[AutoMeasure] creates adjustment values based on the paper size values specified in
[Paper Setting].
Use the paper that meets the following 2 conditions:
‐The vertical and horizontal sizes of the paper are correct.
‐All four corners of the paper are at right angle (90 degrees).
Caution
Multiple items are automatically adjusted
at once using the adjustment chart.
Up to 20 charts can be printed out.
The average value is used, so accuracy is
improved as the number of sheets
increases.
Automatic measurement
Fine adjustment (Manual)
Compare the paper
edges with the crop
mark positions on the
chart, and calculate the
adjustment values to
place the crop marks in
the correct positions.
The adjustment value can be changed as
desired after the automatic measurement is
performed. However, the next time automatic
measurement is performed, the changed
value will be overwritten with the new
adjustment value.
Image Shift
(image) is not
affected by
[AutoMeasure].
For other adjustments,
the crop marks and
the image move
together each time
[AutoMeasure] is
performed.
Up/Down Shift (Image) / Right/Left Shift (Image)
You can enter the desired amount of image shift.
This entered value is not reset even if automatic
measurement is performed.
<Convenient function>
Front side magnification lock
For example, you may want to manually fine-adjust the magnification because the paper
size is different between the registered value and the measured value. Normally, the
adjustment value is reset every time automatic adjustment takes place. However, this
function does not reset the front side magnification (Vertical/Horizontal), so you can
maintain the manually entered value.
To use this function, turn on the "key" mark (shown on
the right).
When turned on, the magnification is automatically
adjusted on the back side only.
The front side magnification is not automatically
adjusted.

2Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
6
2-3. Automatically Adjusting the Image Quality ([Package Color Auto Adj.])
On the [Package Color Auto Adj.] screen, you can automatically make various adjustments of
the image quality at once.
[MACHINE] screen - [Adjustment] - [Quality Adj.] - [Package Color Auto Adj.]
<Automatically adjustable items and standard time / number of sheets>
Adjustment item KM controller Fiery controller
Gamma Automatic Adjustment 2 minutes / 0 sheets
Density Balance Auto. Adjustment 1 minute / 2 sheets
Maximum Density Adjustment 6 minutes / 4 sheets
Color Density Control 1 minute / 2 sheets (High accuracy)
Controller Calibration 2 minutes / 1 sheet
Exact Color or G7 2 minutes / 10 sheets
(EC)
2 minutes / 5 sheets
(G7)
Total
12 minutes /
19 sheets (EC)
12 minutes /
14 sheets (G7)
12 minutes /
9 sheets
•The above shows the case where only [Screen1] is selected as the adjustment target.
•[Max Density Adjustment] requires the same paper as the one used to register the
target density.
Caution

2Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
7
07-020 Automatically Adjusting the Image Quality
<Adjustment procedure>
•The following paper sizes are available for [Package Color Auto Adj.]:
‐KM controller: A3, SRA3, 11” x 17”, 12” x 18”, 13” x 19”
The custom size is 279.4 x 420.0 mm or more.
‐Fiery controller: Paper of A3 or 11” x 17” or more
When making adjustments using paper other than the above, refer to the Quick
Guide [Quality Adj.] (6A/6B).
Caution
Check the paper information for
<Maximum density adjustment> and
<Adjustment>.
If necessary, replace the paper in the
tray and change the setting in [Paper
Setting].
Checking and setting paper information
Checking and setting [Initial Setting]
Executing adjustment
Change the setting as needed.
When [Auto Selection] is selected, this
system automatically selects only the
necessary adjustments each time.
Checking the adjustment result
Press the [Start] button to execute the
adjustment.
Press the [Adj. Result] button and check
the adjustment result.
2-4. Automatically Adjusting Curl ([Auto Curl Adjustment])
Use the adjustment chart to automatically adjust paper curls.
This adjustment can be performed individually for each tray.
•RU-518 or RU-518m is required to use this function.
•This function is not available for paper of length 488 mm or more in the feed
direction.
Caution
[MACHINE] screen - [Paper Setting] - Tray selection - [Change Set] - [RU Curl Adjustment]

2Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
8
2-5. Mastering Adjustments (Advanced Level)
There are convenient settings to automatically adjust the image position and image quality.
07-030 Mastering Adjustments
◆Periodical Both Sides Adjustment setting (Image position: [AutoMeasure] adjustment)
[AutoMeasure] is automatically performed for each specified adjustment interval (number of
sheets).
The entire setting screen and the ON/OFF setting for each tray are provided separately.
◆Adjustment Before Job (Image position: [AutoMeasure] adjustment)
[AutoMeasure] is automatically performed after the tray is opened and closed (in other words,
after the paper is loaded or replaced).
The entire setting screen and the ON/OFF setting for each tray are provided separately.
◆Auto Run (Package Color Auto Adj.)
When the power is turned on, the system checks the date and time of the previous [Package
Color Auto Adj.] operation. If the date has changed, [Package Color Auto Adj.] is performed
automatically.
[Adjustment] - [Quality Adj.] - [Periodical Both Sides Adj.]
[Periodical Both Sides Adjustment] (Common setting screen)
If you set the Adjustment interval (100 to 9999 sheets), adjustments are performed
during printing.
500 501
Example: Adjustment interval, 500 sheets
Adjustment chart
... ...
If Deviation Check is selected,
printing is paused without
making adjustments when the
deviation exceeds the allowable
value.
Allowable value: 0.5 to 10.0 mm
[Both Sides] - Tray selection - [AutoMeasure]
[Periodical Adj.] (ON/OFF setting for each tray)
[Adjustment] - [Quality Adj.] - [Both Sides Adj. Before Job]
[Both Sides Adjustment Before Job] (Common setting screen)
[Both Sides] - Tray selection - [AutoMeasure]
[Before Job] (ON/OFF setting for each tray)
[Adjustment] - [Quality Adj.] - [Package Color Auto Adj.] - [Initial Set.]
[Initial Set.]

2Pre-printing Adjustment Functions
9
Then, perform test printing (1 copy), and perform [Auto Curl Adjustment] as needed.
Now, preparation is complete.
Let's start printing the job.
2-6. Summary
This section describes the pre-printing adjustment recommended for the particular times
shown below:
◆After power-on in the morning
Perform [Package Color Auto Adj.].
If [Auto Run] is turned on, this function is performed automatically, which prevents forgetting
to make adjustments.
Adjustment item Every day Once / Month Remarks
Gamma Automatic Adjustment ✓ ✓
Density Balance Auto.
Adjustment ✓With the paper to be used
Maximum Density Adjustment ✓ ✓ With the paper for
adjustment
Color Density Control ✓ ✓ With the paper to be
used
Controller Calibration ✓Fiery controller only
Exact Color or G7 ✓KM controller only
Adjustment item Normal Mode Important Remarks
Gamma Automatic Adjustment ✓ ✓
Density Balance Auto.
Adjustment
Maximum Density Adjustment ✓With the paper for
adjustment
Color Density Control ✓ ✓ With the paper to be
used
Controller Calibration
Exact Color or G7
07-040
◆Before job printing
First, perform [AutoMeasure] to adjust the image position.
By turning on [Before Job], you can prevent forgetting to make adjustments when changing
the paper.
Make fine adjustments (Up/Down Shift or Right/Left Shift (Image)) as needed.
If there is a large number of printed sheets per job, you can set [Periodical Both Sides Adj.] in
advance.
Next, carry out [Package Color Auto Adj.].
Normal: Every time 1,000 to 2,000 sheets are printed
Important: Before printing an important job that requires color stability

3In-printing Adjustment Functions
10
3-1. In-printing Feedback Adjustment Function -1 ([Auto Image Adjustment])
[Auto Image Adjustment] is a function used to arrange crop marks and gradation patches in
the trim margins concerning the image position and image quality (gradation), and feed
back and correct a deviation that occurs during printing.
3-2. In-printing Feedback Adjustment Function -2 ([Auto Curl Adjustment])
<Options>
・Position and Gradation
(Crop marks and gradation patches are
printed.)
・Position only
(Only crop marks are printed.)
* "Gradation only" is not provided.
•The available standard sizes are SRA3, SRA4, 13” x 19”, and 12” x 18”.
•The available custom size is 225.0 mm to 900 mm in the feed direction.
Caution
•Feedback data is created starting from the 10th sheet and subsequent sheets after
printing starts.
•After feedback data is created, it is applied to prints.
•You can set an allowable value for Auto Image Adjustment.
You can also pause printing when an error occurs.
•Periodical Both Sides Adjustment and Color Density Control (during job operation) do
not work for jobs that have Auto Image Adjustment executed.
Main points
This function automatically adjusts paper curls when jobs are being executed without using
adjustment charts when Auto Curl Adjustment is turned on.
This adjustment can be performed individually for each tray.
•RU-518 or RU-518m is required to use this function.
•This function is not available for paper of length 488 mm or more in the feed direction.
•The adjustment starts "after 3 or more sheets are measured and feedback data is
calculated".
Caution
These options can be specified from the printer driver or job management application (*1).
*1: PrintManager or Fiery Command WorkStation
Crop mark:
Gradation patch
07-050 Auto Image Adjustment 07-060 Auto Curl Adjustment