Sharp AR-C260M User manual

Page
COLOR ADJUSTMENT
USER'S GUIDE
Adjusting the Color Balance ..................................2
Color Adjustment Flow Chart ................................2
Printing a Test Page and Checking the Colors ....3
Printing a Test Page ..............................................3
Checking the Colors...............................................4
Using the Color Balance Settings .........................5
Using Easy Calibration ...........................................7

2
Adjusting the Color Balance
As the printer is used, ambient conditions and the depletion of consumables (the toner cartridge and drum
cartridge) can gradually cause changes to occur in the four color components of color images, cyan, ma-
genta, yellow, and black. This results in deviations in the color balance.
These deviations in the color balance occur gradually over a long period of time. Ambient conditions (tem-
perature and humidity) and the number of times the printer is used can have a large effect on color devia-
tion.
The printer has two color adjustment functions for the purpose of correcting deviations in the color balance.
These functions are executed from the key operator programs. For details on using key operator programs,
see the Key Operator’s Guide.
When should the color balance be adjusted?
•Color adjustment canbeperformed whenevera noticeable changeoccurs in the color balance.
•Color adjustmentshould always be performed when one of the toner cartridges (cyan,magenta, yellow,
or black) is replaced.
Color adjustment functions
The printer has the following two color adjustment functions:
• Color Balance settings
This function is used to adjust each of the density levels (low, mid, and high) ofthe four color components,
cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Use this mode when the color deviation is large.
• Easy calibration
This mode is used for fine adjustment of the gray balance at the mid density level of the colors cyan,
magenta, and yellow. Use this mode to correct minor color deviations.
Color Adjustment Flow Chart
Use the key operator program on page 3 of the Key Operator’s Guide to
print a test page
Do the colors on the test page match the colors on the standard color
chart included with the printer? (see page 4)
No Yes
How much do the colors differ?
Large difference Small difference
Using the Color Balance set-
tings (see page 5)
Using Easy Calibration
(see page 7)
Print a test page (see page 3)
Color balance is successfully adjusted

3
Printing a Test Page and Checking the Colors
Printing a Test Page
Follow these steps to print a test page from the operation panel.
1Enter the key operator programs.
To enter the key operator programs, see “Using
the key operator programs” on page 3 of the Key
Operator’s Guide.
2Touch the [PRINTER SETTINGS] key.
3Touch the [COLOR ADJUSTMENTS] key.
4Touch the [TEST PRINT] key.
5Load A4 or letter-size paper in the tray and
touch the [EXECUTE] key.
When the [EXECUTE] key is touched, "SELF
PRINT IN PROGRESS" appears in the display.
After a brief interval, a color test page will be
printed (see below).
Test Page (printed by printer)
The top line of the test page shows the four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) at low density, mid den-
sity, and high density. The bottom line shows processed gray* at low density, mid density, and high density.
*Processed gray is the color obtained when the cyan, magenta, and yellow colors on the top line are com-
bined together.
KEY OPERATOR
CODE CHANGE
PRINTER
SETTINGS
A
CCOUNT
C
ONTROL
Y
SETTINGS
ST PRINT PRODUCT
K
N/W SCAN
N
SETTING
S
OPERATI
O
SETTIN
G
ENERGY SAVE
R
E
INTERFACE SETTINGS
COLOR ADJUSTMENTS
K
COLOR ADJUSTMENTS
EASY CALIBRATION
TEST PRINT
EXECUTE
Low Density Mid Density High Density
C M Y Bk C M Y Bk C M Y Bk
Low Density Mid Density High Density

4
Checking the Colors
The standard color chart included with the printer is used to check the colors on the printed test page.
Follow the steps below to check the colors.
Low Density Mid Density High Density
CM YBk CM YBk CM YBk
Low Density Mid Density High Density
Low Density Mid Density High Density
Place the color chart on
the printed test page as
shown. Check the den-
sity of the colors on the
test page and see if they
are adjusted to the same
level as the colors on the
standard color chart.
If the result of the comparison is that:
• There is a large deviation in the color densities, use the Color Balance settings (see
the following page).
• There is a small deviation in the color densities, use Easy Calibration (see page 7).
Test page (printed by the printer) Standard color chart (included with the printer)

5
Using the Color Balance Settings
The color chart included with the printer is used to adjust the Color Balance settings. Follow these steps to
adjust the settings using the operation panel.
NOTE: • Keep the Color Chart in the place near printer. Do not discard it.
•Do not expose the Color Chart to direct sunlight.
Color balance is the utility to set the print image to the recommended status. But if you do not feel the im-
age is distorted, you need not use color balance.
1Enter the key operator programs.
To enter the key operator programs, see “Using
the key operator programs” on page 3 of the Key
Operator’s Guide.
2Touch the [PRINTER SETTINGS] key.
3Touch the [COLOR ADJUSTMENTS] key.
4Touch the [COLOR BALANCE] key.
5Load A4 or letter-size paper in the tray and
touch the [EXECUTE] key.
When the [EXECUTE] key is touched, "SELF
PRINT IN PROGRESS" appears in the display.
After a brief interval, Test Pattern 1 will be printed
(see the following page).
6Place the color chart on Test Pattern 1, com-
pare the color densities, and then adjust the
color balance in the following screen.
For a detailed explanation of adjusting the color
balance, see “Adjusting the color balance” on
the following page.
How to use the keys in the screen:
: Use the and keys to select
the color (C,M,Y, or Bk) in “LOW
AREA”, “MIDDLE AREA” or “HIGH
AREA” that you wish to adjust.
: Use the and keys to select
the density level (+4 to -4) that
matches the density level in the stan-
dard color chart.
: Use the key to return all values
to the default settings.
+ALL : To adjust all values simultaneously,
select “ALL” with the key and
then adjust the values with the
and keys.
7Touch the [OK] key.
Your settings will be saved and you will return to
the Color Setting screen. Print a test page as
explained on page 3 and verify that the colors
match the colors in the standard color chart.
The processed gray on the bottom line of the test
page provides a good indicator of the color bal-
ance when performing fine adjustment of the
color densities.
KEY OPERATOR
CODE CHANGE
PRINTER
SETTINGS
A
CCOUNT
C
ONTROL
Y
SETTINGS
S
T PRINT PRODUCT
K
N/W SCANN
E
SETTING
S
OPERATI
O
SETTING
S
ENERGY SAVE
E
INTERFACE SETTINGS
COLOR ADJUSTMENTS
OK
COLOR BALANCE
O
EXECUTE
OK
KEY OPERATOR PROGRAMS
COLOR BALANCE
C M Y Bk C M Y Bk C M Y Bk ALL
LOW AREA MIDDLE AREA HIGH AREA

6
Adjusting the color balance (additional information for Step 6 on the previ-
ous page)
1Place the color chart on test pattern 1 and compare the colors.
For the placement of the color chart, see page 4.
2In column 1 of test pattern 1, locate the color density level that is the same as “1” in the color chart.
Mark that level with a pencil or pen to help you remember it.
If none of the levels in column 1 match “1” in the color chart, do the following:
• If the density level of “1” in the color chart is darker than the maximum value (+4) in column 1, mark “+4”
in column 1.
• If the density level of “1” in the color chart is lighter than the minimum value (-4) in column 1, mark “-4” in
column 1.
3Repeat the above step for columns 2 through 12 of test pattern 1, comparing each column with the
corresponding color in the color chart.
4Enter the levels that you marked on test pattern 1 (each level corresponds to a value from +4 to -4
as indicated on the right ) in the following screen (the screen in Step 6 on the previous page).
How to use the keys in the screen
: Use the and keys to select the color (C,M,Y,or Bk) in “LOW AREA”, “MIDDLE AREA”
or “HIGH AREA” that you wish to adjust.
: Use the and keys to select the density level (+4 to -4) that matches the density level in
the standard color chart.
: Use the key to return all values to the default settings.
+ALL : To adjust all values simultaneously, select “ALL” with the key and then adjust the values
with the and keys.
5Perform Step 7 on the previous page.
If you selected “+4” or “-4” for a color that does not have a density level that matches the level in the color
chart, repeat steps 5 through 7 on the previous page.
12 12
High Density
CMYBk
Low Density
CMYBk
Mid Density
CMYBk
Test pattern 1 (printed by printer) Color Chart (included with printer)
Column 12
Column 1
Color density level
C M Y Bk C M Y Bk C M Y Bk ALL
LOW AREA MIDDLE AREA HIGH AREA

7
Using Easy Calibration
Use Easy Calibration when there is only a small difference between the colors in the color chart and the
test page printed as explained on page 3.
Follow the steps below to perform Easy Calibration using the operation panel.
1Enter the key operator programs.
To enter the key operator programs, see “Using
the key operator programs”on page 3 of the Key
Operator’s Guide.
2Touch the [PRINTER SETTINGS] key.
3Touch the [COLOR ADJUSTMENTS] key.
4Touch the [EASY CALIBRATION] key.
5Load A4 or letter-size paper in the tray and
touch the [EXECUTE] key.
When the [EXECUTE] key is touched, "SELF
PRINT IN PROGRESS" appears in the display.
After a brief interval, the test patterns for Easy
Calibration will be printed. (see the following
page).
6Select the gray color that you prefer from
either of the printed test patterns (test pattern
2 or test pattern 3), and set the X and Y coor-
dinates of that color in the following screen.
For a detailed explanation of this procedure, see
“Easy Calibration”on the following page.
How to use the keys in the screen
:
7Touch the [OK] key.
Your settings will be saved and you will return to
the Color Setting screen. Print a test page as
explained on page 3 and verify that the colors
match the colors in the standard color chart.
KEY OPERATOR
CODE CHANGE
PRINTER
SETTINGS
A
CCOUNT
C
ONTROL
Y
SETTINGS
ST PRINT PRODUCT
K
N/W SCAN
N
SETTING
S
OPERATI
O
SETTING
S
ENERGY SAVE
INTERFACE SETTINGS
COLOR ADJUSTMENTS
OK
KEY OPERATOR PROGRAMS
COLOR ADJUSTMENTS
EASY CALIBRATION
TEST PRINT
EXECUTE
MEMO
If you cannot find an acceptable color of
gray in the test patterns, adjust the color
balance using the Color Balance settings
as explained on page 5.
KEY OPERATOR PROGRAMS
TEST PRINT
OK
PLEASE PLACE THE PRINTED TEST PATCH SELECT.
:Touch the , ,
and keys to select the
desired color of gray.

8
Easy Calibration (additional information for Step 6 on the previous page)
Easy Calibration is performed by selecting the desired color of gray (processed gray), which is a combina-
tion of cyan, magenta, and yellow.
Test patterns 2 and 3 indicate processed gray colors with the current gray color as the reference point
or origin (“0”).
•The X axis shows the density of magenta in seven increments from -3 to +3 (-3 to 0 in test pattern 2 and
0 to +3 in test pattern 3).
•The Y axis shows the density of yellow in seven increments from -3 to +3.
•The density of cyan is constant.
1Select the processed gray color that you prefer from test pattern 2 or test pattern 3.
For example, if you prefer the color indicated above in test pattern 3, select “+1”for X and “-2”for Y.
2Enter the X and Y coordinates of the color you prefer in the following screen (the screen in Step 6
on the previous page).
How to use the keys in the screen
:Touch the , , and keys to select the desired color of gray.
3Back to step 7 on the previous page.
Test Pattern 2 (printed by printer) Test Pattern 3 (printed by printer)
Magenta
(-3~±0)
Magenta
(±0~+3)
Example:if this is
the desired color,
select “+1” for X
and “-2” for Y.
Yellow
(-3~+3)
Yellow
(-3~+3)
SHARP CORPORATION PRINTED IN CHINA
2002M KS2
TINSE2363FCZZ