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

3In-printing Adjustment Functions
11
3-3. In-printing Adjustment Functions
The in-printing adjustment functions are as follows:
◆Adjustment of image position and image quality
You can select a combination of [Periodical Both Sides Adj.] and [Color Density Control
(during job operation)] or [Auto Image Adjustment].
Example of Periodical Both Sides
Adjustment and Color Density Control
Adjustment chart Adjustment chart
Use the same adjustment value between
N+1 and 2N prints.
Example of Auto Image Adjustment
Measure each page and calculate the
average to feed back in real time.
When the adjustment interval is set to N
sheets:
◆Paper curl adjustment
Feedback data for curl adjustment is created even when jobs are being executed and
updated/applied sequentially by simply setting [Auto] in the RU curl adjustment for each tray.
(Same as Auto Image Adjustment.)
[Periodical Both Sides
Adjustment] and [Color
Density Control] [Auto Image Adjustment]
Accuracy
Depends on the adjustment
interval setting.
Updates the
adjustment values in
real time.
Paper
Supports various
paper sizes.
Requires the trim margin.
Conditions
The counter is reset each time
adjustment is performed.
Recommended for the job with 50
or more sheets.
Precautions
Both the position and gradation
can change significantly after
adjustment.
It is not possible to only adjust
the gradation.
Remarks
When both are turned on, only [Auto Image Adjustment] is available.
Each adjustment function has the following features.
[Color Density] also provides the setting (ON/OFF) to automatically execute both sides
adjustment at the same time.

4Troubleshooting
12
4-1. Troubleshooting for Image Position
Procedure Description
Step-1 Perform [AutoMeasure]. First make adjustments, and check whether
the problem can be solved.
Step-2 Use Image Shift (Image).
If the information registered in Paper Setting
is different from the actual paper size,
[AutoMeasure] may not work properly.
Step-3 Check the paper size.
If the information registered in Paper Setting
is different from the actual paper size,
[AutoMeasure] may not work properly.
Step-4
After manually entering the
front side magnification, use
the front side magnification
lock function.
When the lock function is used, the value
entered manually is used for the front side
magnification.
The back side magnification is adjusted
automatically.
◆Basic troubleshooting
If you are concerned about the image position, consider implementing the following
measures.
◆Auto Duplex Adjustment
The degree of paper shrinkage may differ
depending on the level of coverage (amount
of toner per page).
[Auto Duplex Adjustment] is a function used
to eliminate the positional deviation that
occurs at that time.
Small coverage Large coverage
Shrinkage of
approximately
0.1 to 0.2 mm
Shrinkage of
approximately
0.5 to 1 mm
[Auto Duplex Adjustment] can be set from the printer driver or job management application.
PS Plug-In driver / Print Manager
[Workflow] tab
Fiery driver / Fiery Command WorkStation
[Workflow] tab
When turned on, the crop marks for adjustment similar to [AutoMeasure] are placed and
printed after all of the area 23 mm from the edge of the paper has been erased.
You can create adjustment values by printing only high-coverage pages.
You can create the individual adjustment values by loading high-coverage paper and low-
coverage paper into different trays.
Example) Tray 1: For low-coverage paper (Perform [AutoMeasure].)
Tray 2: For high-coverage paper (Perform [Auto Duplex Adjustment].)

4Troubleshooting
13
Automatically performing the image diagnosis
If both [Auto Selection] and [Auto Run] are turned on in [Package Color Auto Adj.], the simple
diagnosis is automatically performed before the automatic adjustment starts after the power
is turned on.
This is an effective way to detect problems at an early stage.
4-2. Troubleshooting for Image Quality
◆Basic troubleshooting
If you are concerned about image quality, first perform [Package Color Auto Adj].
◆Image diagnosis
If white spots or streaks appear on the image, it is recommended that [Image Diagnosis] is
performed.
Example)
07_070 Troubleshooting
How to perform image diagnosis
It is recommended that [Simple Diagnosis] is performed first, and if there is a problem,
[Detailed Diagnosis] is performed next.
White spot
Color loss
Vertical streaks
Horizontal streaks
[Simple Diagnosis] [Detailed Diagnosis]
[MACHINE] screen - [Adjustment] - [Quality Adjustment] - [Image Diagnosis]
Execute [Simple Diagnosis]
No problem There is a
problem
Detailed Diagnosis
settings associated with
Simple Diagnosis
OFF ON
Display the result of
the simple diagnosis
Execute [Details Diagnosis]
Recover the recoverable items and
display the result of the detailed
diagnosis
•The following paper size is required to perform the image diagnosis (simple and
detailed).
Widthwise: 279.4 mm or more
Lengthwise: 420.0 to 487.7 mm
Caution
If you want to create a
detailed diagnosis

5Others
14
5-1. Other Functions
IQ-501 has other useful functions besides the automatic adjustment/correction
functions.
◆Creation of printer profile
You can use the spectrophotometer and scanners installed in the IQ-501 to create
a printer profile.
CM
Y
CMYK
data
RGB
data
R G
B
The printer profile is one
of the items used for
color conversion from
RGB to CMYK.
A printer profile allows you to optimize different print tints on a paper basis.
<Difference for each paper sheet>
・Thickness (Weight)
・Surface (Coated/Uncoated)
・Tint (Whiteness)
If you want to optimize the tint on a
paper basis, we recommend that you
create a printer profile on a paper basis.
How to create a printer profile
You can create a printer profile on the control panel.
[MACHINE] screen - [Controller] - [Color Management] - [Printer Profile]
•You can improve the accuracy by increasing the number of output jobs.
•Select the colorimetric condition from [M0], [M1], and [M2].
- M0: Illuminant A General illuminant.
- M1: Illuminant D50. Latest illuminant.
- M2: Illuminant A+ UV filter. Illuminant for the paper that uses optical
brightener.
•UCR/GCR can reduce the amount of toner used by replacing CMY with a single
K color.
However, note that the tint may change depending on the settings.
•If you set paper information as a paper profile, the printer profile is also
selected automatically just by selecting the paper profile.
The following paper sizes are available:
‐Standard size: A4, A3, 11” x 17”, 8.5” x 11”
‐Custom size: 210.0 x 279.4 mm or more
Caution
07-080 Creation of Printer Profile

5Others
15
Japan
Europe U.S.A.
・Ugra/Fogra 39
・JapanColor 2011
・IDEAlliance 2013
Selectable industry standards
<Guideline for the industry
standard (tolerance)>
・Correspond to Certificate (strict)
・Commonly-used (realistic)
・Custom (editable)
You can select the desired one
from the 3 types above.
◆Color validation
You can use the spectrophotometer installed in the IQ-501 to check whether the
print tint meets the industry standard (Europe, Japan, and U.S.A.).
Please use this information to confirm the need for maintenance.
Print the chart (wedge)
and make measurements
with IQ-501 at the same
time.
<Implementation method>
You can check the comparison result
between the standard and the
measured values on the control
panel or the report.
07-090 Color Validation
Preparation for color validation
First, perform [Target Settings] on the control panel.
[MACHINE] screen - [Controller] - [Color Management] - [Target Settings]
•If you select [Custom] as a guide, the edit screen is displayed.
On this edit screen, you can check the allowable values of [Correspond to Cert.
Tolerance] and [Commonly-used].
Performing color validation
You can perform color validation on the control panel.
[MACHINE] screen - [Controller] - [Color Management] - [Color Validation]
The following paper sizes are available:
-Standard size: A4, A3, 11” x 17”, 8.5” x 11”
- Custom size: 210.0 x 279.4 mm or more
Caution

MEMO
16