Fiery Calibration:
When to calibrate is a commonly asked question. When a noticeable change to color quality has occurred, before printing
large jobs, after a PM and any time a job contains critical color requirements are just some
of the instances that would necessitate calibration. However, depending on the print
environment, a user may also choose to calibrate each time a job calls for different paper
stock! Calibration compares the current performance of the print engine with its optimum
performance. Optimum performance is determined by the various output profiles provided
with the print engine (e.g. 65C-KM Uncoated, 65C-KM Coated Glossy etc.). To maintain
consistent color, calibration is a must.

Note: You will need a Kodak Color Separation and Gray Scale Guide to complete this
exercise.

1. EFI’s ColorWise software offers step-by-step instructions for calibration and supports
a variety of calibration instruments
a. Start by launching ColorWise from Command WorkStation or from the
Windows Start menu by selecting Start > All Programs > Fiery >
ColorWise Pro Tools
2. Select the output profile for the Printer - Print controller that you are working with, and then click Select
a. If the your equipment is not listed, click Add to initiate a search for all networked Fiery
servers
3. Enter the password for the Fiery. The default password is Fiery.1. Now click Login
4. When the ColorWise Pro Tools application launches, click Calibrator
Note: A user must be logged in as an Administrator in order to calibrate. In
addition, only one person may calibrate a given device at one time

5. In the top right hand corner of the Calibrator window, select Expert Mode to open
the window and display the six-step calibration procedure
6. From Step 1 – Select Measurement Method, choose ColorCal from the drop down
menu
7. As mentioned, it is important to calibrate to the paper stock that is being used.
From the Media drop down menu in Step 2 – Check Print Settings - select
Uncoated Normal
8. Step 3 instructs the user to Generate A Measurement Page. This measurement
page reflects the current performance of the print engine. Click Print
9. The Print Options dialog appears
a. Select the appropriate Paper Size (LTR) and Input Tray

10. Click OK and retrieve the measurement page from the output tray of the print
engine
11. Now proceed to Step 4 - Get Measurements. Click the Measure button
12. ColorCal offers the option of calibrating the device’s scanner in the event there has
been a change to the scanner (e.g. a PM). In this exercise, we will also calibrate the
scanner. Click Yes
13. Select the appropriate Page Size (LTR) and Input Tray from the drop down menus
a. Select Dot 1 from the Halftone Screen menu.
b. Select to print 1 page and then click Print. Retrieve the measurement page
from the output tray of the print engine

14. The Scanner Calibration Setup window will instruct you to place both the Kodak
Grayscale and Color Target strips face down on the scanner glass in the upper left
hand corner so that it is centered along the top edge of the of the Scanner
Calibration Page. When complete, click Continue
15. When scanner calibration is complete, click Continue
16. Now follow the directions from the Place Patch Page dialog to calibrate the Fiery.
This time you will use only the Kodak Grayscale strip with the ColorCal measurement
page. Place the Grayscale strip face down in the upper left hand corner of the platen.
Place the ColorCal Page face down over the grayscale strip. Return to your
workstation and select Continue

17. When calibration is complete, click OK
18. Step 5 – Print Pages gives you the opportunity to print a Comparison Page to
visually examine the results of calibration. Click Print
Note: You may either print a Comparison Page or a Sample Image Page from
the Hold Queue in Command WorkStation. Select to print the Comparison Page
Evaluating The Results Of The Comparison Page
The top two rows show the path taken by RGB data through the Fiery. The first
row of thumbnails displays the default calibration. The second row displays the images with
the proposed calibration. The bottom two rows show the path taken by CMYK data through
the Fiery. Row three displays the default calibration with no simulation. Row four displays
the thumbnails with the proposed calibration and a CMYK simulation.
19. In addition to evaluating the Comparison Page, you may also view the results of your
calibration in Step 6 – View Measurements. Select Measurements vs. Target
from the drop down menu and then click View

20. The graph displays the tone curves of measured density values plotted against
optimal or target density values for each color channel
a. Click the “eye” icon next to each color channel on the right hand side of the
Measurement vs. Target window to view one color at a time
b. The thicker line in the graphical display represents the Target density values,
while the thinner line represents the Measured density values
c. The right hand side of the Measurement vs. Target window also lists the
maximum density values (D-Max) for each color
d. In general, we would like to see measured D-Max values meet or exceed the
target D-Max values for each channel. A measured D-Max value falling below
10% of the target value is a strong indication that calibration will not
compensate for color discrepancies and that service is required
21. Place a checkmark next to Apply to all calibration sets so that your calibration is
applied to all supported output profiles. This ensures that the appropriate calibration
is applied when mixed media is used in a print job!
22. Now click the Customize button
23. You may select the stock for which calibration should be applied. When complete,
click OK
24. Now click Apply to accept the calibration. Now click Save To File

25. You may save your calibration as either a measurement, a simulation or as a new
target for use as a benchmark for future calibrations. Click the Measurement radio
button and then click OK
26. You may save your calibration anywhere on the network. The default location is in
the ColorWise Pro Tools folder. For this exercise, click Cancel
27. When you return to the Calibrator window, click Done. You have successfully
calibrated your device