How does the printer know what color to print?
When a user prints a document, information describing the type
and color of each object is sent to the printer. The color
information is passed through color conversion tables that
translate the color into appropriate amounts of cyan, magenta,
yellow, and black toner needed to produce the desired color.
The object type information lets different color conversion
tables be used for different types of objects. For example, it is
possible to apply one type of color conversion table to text while
applying a different color conversion table to photographic
images.
Should I use PostScript or PCL emulation printer software?
What settings should I use for the best color?
The PostScript driver is strongly recommended for best color
quality. The default settings in the PostScript driver provide
preferred color quality for the majority of printouts.
Why doesn't the printed color match the color I see on the
computer screen?
The color conversion tables used in Auto Color Correction mode
generally approximate the colors of a standard computer
monitor. However, because of technology differences that exist
between printers and monitors, there are many colors that can
also be affected by monitor variations and lighting conditions.
For recommendations on how the printer color sample pages
may be useful in solving certain color-matching problems, see
the question, “How can I match a particular color (such as a color
in a corporate logo)?”
The printed page appears tinted. Can I slightly adjust the
color?
Sometimes a user may consider printed pages to appear tinted
(for example, everything printed seems to be too red). This can
be caused by environmental conditions, paper type, lighting
conditions, or user preference. In these instances, adjusting the
Color Balance setting may be used to create more preferable
color. Color Balance provides the user with the ability to make
subtle adjustments to the amount of toner being used in each
color plane. Selecting positive (or negative) values for cyan,
magenta, yellow, and black under the Color Balance menu will
slightly increase (or decrease) the amount of toner used for the
chosen color. For example, if a user believes the overall printed
page to be too red, then decreasing both magenta and yellow
could potentially improve color preferences.
For information about adjusting the Color Balance setting, see
the
Menus and Messages Guide
on the
Software and
Documentation
CD.
My color transparencies seem dark when being projected. Is
there anything I can do to improve the color?
This problem most commonly occurs when projecting
transparencies with reflective overhead projectors. To obtain
the highest projected color quality, transmissive overhead
projectors are recommended. If a reflective projector must be
used, then adjusting the Toner Darkness setting to 1, 2, or 3 will
lighten the transparency. For more information, see the
Menus
and Messages Guide
on the
Software and Documentation
CD.
Make sure to print on the recommended type of color
transparencies. For more information about the paper and
media specifications, see the
User's Guide
on the
Software and
Documentation
CD.
What is manual color correction?
The color conversion tables applied to each object when using
the default Auto Color Correction setting generate preferred
color for the majority of documents. Occasionally, a user may
want to apply a different color table mapping. This
customization is accomplished using the Manual Color menu
and the Manual Color Correction setting.
Manual Color Correction applies to RGB and CMYK color
conversion table mappings as defined in the Manual Color
menu.
Users may select any of the different color conversion tables for
RGB or CMYK:
Color conversion
table
Settings
RGB
•
sRGB Display
•
Display—True Black
•
sRGB Vivid
•
Vivid
•
Off
CMYK
•
US CMYK
•
Euro CMYK
•
Vivid CMYK
•
Off
Note: The Manual Color Correction setting is not useful if the
software program does not specify colors with RGB or CMYK
combinations. It is also not effective in situations where the
software program or the computer operating system controls
the adjustment of colors.
How can I match a particular color (such as a corporate logo)?
Occasionally, users have a need for the printed color of a
particular object to closely match a specific color. For example,
a user may need to match the color of a corporate logo. While
instances can occur in which the printer cannot exactly
reproduce the desired color, users should be able to identify
adequate color matches for the majority of cases.
The Color Samples menu item can provide useful information
in helping solve this particular type of color-matching problem.
The nine Color Samples values correspond to color conversion
tables in the printer. Selecting any of the Color Samples values
generates a multiple-page printout consisting of hundreds of
colored boxes. Either a CMYK or RGB combination is located on
each box, depending on the table selected. The observed color
of each box is obtained by passing the CMYK or RGB
combination labeled on the box through the selected color
conversion table.
The user can examine the color samples pages and identify the
box whose color is the closest to the desired color. The color
combination labeled on the box can then be used for modifying
the color of the object in a software program. For instructions,
see the software program Help. Manual Color Correction may
be necessary to utilize the selected color conversion table for
the particular object.
Selecting which Color Samples pages to use for a particular
color-matching problem depends on the Color Correction
setting being used (Auto, Off, or Manual), the type of object
being printed (text, graphics, or images), and how the color of
the object is specified in the software program (RGB or CMYK
combinations). When the printer Color Correction setting is set
to Off, the color is based on the print job information; no color
conversion is implemented.
Note: The Color Samples pages are not useful if the software
program does not specify colors with RGB or CMYK
combinations. Additionally, certain situations exist where the
software program or the computer operating system adjusts
the RGB or CMYK combinations specified in the program
through color management. The resulting printed color may
not be an exact match of the Color Samples pages.
8
