SECTION 17: Getting Label Print Job Started
51
3) Take out the printed disc from the tray. Referring to the image below, read off the gamma and gain values
on the disc surface.
-The gamma scale has values ranging from -0.30 (0.7) to +0.30 (1.30) to show the deviation of a reading
from the gamma reference value 1.00 that may need correcting.
-The gain scale has values ranging from -12% to +12% to show the deviation of a reading from the gain
reference value 0% that may need correcting.
- Checking current gamma and gain values on sample gauge
Place the image-printed disc on a white sheet of paper so that the gamma reference color is close to you as
shown in Fig. B. Incline the disc at about 45° to the paper. From about 65-80° to the paper, looking at the
sample gauge (boundary) in order of decreasing color depth, from most positive to most negative, read off
the value at which the reference color and the sample color blend together best.
Next, looking at the sample gauge (boundary) in order of increasing color depth from most negative to most
positive, read off the value at which the reference color and the sample color blend together best.
Then, take the intermediate value between the first and second readings.
*If you read off the gamma value of +0.10 when looking at the sample gauge in order of decreasing color
depth and then +0.00 when looking at the gauge in order of increasing color depth, then the intermediate
value should be +0.05.
*The markings on the sample gauges can serve as reference for estimating the deviation of the current
gamma and gain settings from the gamma reference value of 1.00 and the gain reference value of 0%. (*the
values you read off on the sample gauge are referred to as “readings”.)
The ideal gamma and gain readings are 0.00 and 0% respectively.
Color correction is not required if the gamma and gain readings respectively fall within the ranges of -0.05 to
+0.05 and -2% to +2% for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. (If desired, correct the settings so that the gamma
and gain readings can be closer to the ideal values of 0.00 and 0% respectively on the sample gauge.)
Color correction is recommended if there is any color for which the gamma and gain readings fall outside the
acceptable ranges above.
White paper
Fig. B
Approx. 45°
Approx. 65-80°
Darker
Lighter
Reference color
Sample color
Sample gauge
Looking at the sample gauge (boundary) in order of
decreasing color depth, from most positive to most negative,
and then in order of increasing color depth, from most
negative to most positive, read off each value at which the
reference color and the sample color blend together best, and
take the intermediate value between the two readings you
have just made.
*Check both gamma and gain values.
(Shown in the left image is the gamma value image.)
*The color becomes lighter as the value gets larger in the
negative direction.
*The color becomes darker as the value gets larger in the
positive direction.
Fig. A
