Kodak 1200I - Manual (Page 6)

RIPs and ICC Profiles
Several third party RIPs (Raster Image
Processors) are available with profiles
supporting Kodak media for Kodak printers.
Additionally, drop-in settings for similar
media types can be used with the Media
Settings in the above chart. For optimal
results with a custom profile and more
information visit Kodak’s website at:
www.kodak.com/go/wfiprofiles
Special Printer Notes
Several media types, especially stiffer media
such as Kodak Premium Photographic Glossy
Paper / 270g or Kodak Artists’ Semigloss
Canvas / 20mil, should be advanced past the
platen so that they fall over the edge before
being printed. This will allow the media to lie
flat in the printing area and avoid head-strikes.
With printers equipped with dryers, such as
the Encad 800 series printers, it is best to
advance the media through the gap between
the printer and the dryer so that the media
doesn’t get caught on the dryer itself. This
may cause the media to lift up and create a
head-strike.
In lower humidity environments, head-
strikes may occur on media that curls in
these conditions. In this case, a weight can
be clipped to the leading edge of the media
to keep it flat. A bar or wood dowel (not too
heavy) placed in the take-up loop may also
help keep the media flat. Remember that
image quality is largely a function of proper
printer maintenance, balanced with speed of
printing. Following the instructions for head
registration and calibration will allow you to
properly determine the best combination of
speed and quality for your application. As a
rule, slower print speeds and higher passes
mean higher quality. Different media types
will also have higher acceptable quality at
higher print speeds. Adequate testing of
each media type will ensure the best possible
results.
The Kodak 1200i printer represents the latest
in print head technology and drying systems.
Kodak has provided the means to fine tune
the image quality, speed and drying for every
media and application.
The printer heater settings suggested in
the compatibility chart above are designed
to provide adequate drying for media to be
able to wind onto the take-up spool with
no issues. They were determined using
images judged to represent typical customer
work in average working conditions. Should
your image content be skewed toward high
density images, or should your working
environment have high temperature and/or
humidity, you may need to adjust the settings
to ensure proper drying. Conversely, lower
density images or lower temperature/
humidity conditions may allow you to reduce
the heater and fan settings.
With some media types, the use of the
heater, while it may provide faster drying,
may cause the media to cockle or warp,
which may cause head-strikes. If you notice
excessive deformities on your media, try
reducing or turning off the heat while taking
care that drying is still adequate. This will
take some testing for the specific media you
are using and the environmental conditions
of your production area.
The print mode recommendations are aimed
to provide a balance between image quality
and print speed for most applications. Print
modes can be adjusted to provide either
faster printing or better image quality. Testing
the print mode settings for your specific
application is recommended to provide you
the best results.
Printing Recommendations
Kodak wide-format premium photographic
papers may exhibit some signs of warping
or “cockle” when the heater (available on
the Encad NovaJet 800, 1000i and Kodak
1200i printers) is used in lower humidity. To
avoid transport issues or head-strikes in these
conditions, turn the heat to a lower setting or
off and only use the fans.
Kodak wide-format backlit films will provide
the quality needed in demanding backlit
applications when printed at slower speeds
and higher passes due to the way they are
viewed. Image quality defects inherent with
production speed printing are exaggerated
when backlit, so as a rule higher quality print
modes are advisable.
Kodak wide-format coated papers may tend
to cockle with heavier ink laydowns. These
media are intended for low-ink coverage
graphics and line drawings only, so avoid
images and high densities when using them.
Kodak Self-Adhesive Coated Matte Print
Paper has a lower tendency to cockle due
to its release liner, so you may want to use
it when you can’t avoid higher ink limits.
When using Kodak printers equipped with
dryers, such as the Kodak 1200i, use the
dryer setting “on—without rewind.” This will
allow coated papers to remain advanced far
enough after a print to avoid head strikes on
subsequent prints which may occur due to
paper cockle.
Kodak wide-format production media,
including Poly Poster Plus and Removable
Vinyl (all surfaces) offer the advantage
of sharing the same inkjet receiving layer,
which means that they all share the same
color characteristics and only 1 profile is
necessary. (Production backlit films require
unique profiles due to the demands of backlit
applications.)
Kodak wide-format vinyls and banners are
often used for short-term banners and signs
where expectations of image quality, in terms
of resolution and image structure, can be
lowered in favor of quick turnaround and bold
colors. Faster print speeds, lower passes,
and 300 dpi printing can all be appropriate
for these applications. Color saturation can
be maximized by not using an ICC profile
and only using the proper ink limits and
linearization/calibration, which could reduce
potential color gamut to get a particular color
rendition. Several RIPs allow you to turn off
ICC profile for entire jobs, or just for vector
(graphics and linework) colors, providing
maximum color saturation. This is especially
useful when using pigment based inks to
ensure that text and graphics have the desired
saturation.
Kodak wide-format PVC media products
contain no cadmium or lead commonly used
as stabilizers in PVC materials.
Kodak wide-format canvas media will
produce excellent quality at faster speeds as
compared to the smooth glossy surface of
Kodak premium photographic glossy papers
because of the nature of their surfaces. This
is perhaps contradictory to expectations of
fine art applications, which require optimum
image quality, but will prove to be true for
most images and will save you production
time. Be sure to follow the instructions
provided with your printer, for proper media
loading and maintenance of your printer.
Following these guidelines will allow you to
have trouble-free printing throughout all of
your print production.
Quick Switch Guide Page 6 of 7