The printed colors from the CX1200 do not match Pantone® colors or do not match the printed output of another printer (CX1200).
Matching Pantone Colors
While the CX1200 utilizes a Pantone calibrated printer it is not capable of reproducing all Pantone colors like a flexo press. Instead it is a CMYK digital laser press. As with any CMYK printer it is not possible to produce exact Pantone colors. However it is possible to approximate the Pantone colors using specific CMYK color values. The color values must be used when the labels are being designed. It is not possible to match Pantone colors when printing to the CX1200 using the same image file that was used for another printer. To match Pantone colors the image file must be designed specifically for the the CX1200.
Pantone provides a general reference for approximating Pantone colors in a Color Bridge® Book. This book consists of a list of 1100 + Pantone colors next to the closest possible CMYK print using their recommended CMYK color values. Above these values, it also includes a color swatch of the Pantone print and a corresponding swatch of what you can expect from a CMYK printer. The CMYK value and the color swatch represent the closest possible match to that specific Pantone color.
Pantone has also developed a similar reference (CX1200 Pantone Palette and Pantone CMYK Reference Table) specifically for the CX1200. The result is essentially a new bridge book with 1137 Pantone equivalent colors and their corresponding color values. We have provided this palette in PDF format below:
CX1200 Pantone Palette
CX1200 Pantone CMYK Reference Table (no swatches included)
Only CMYK Pantone equivalents will be displayed in the CX1200 Pantone Palette. Use the Pantone Color Bridge book in conjunction with either of the PDF documents above. Once you have decided on the specific Pantone color you are going to match, record the Pantone number. Now open the CX1200 Pantone Palette or the reference table, find the Pantone number and the corresponding CMYK value. Use that CMYK value for this Pantone color in your design program.
For example, if you intend to match Pantone 274C find that color in the CX1200 Pantone Palette PDF or the reference table. The resulting value would be C:95 M:100 Y:0 K:13
Note: The CMYK values in the CX1200 Pantone Palette are not the same CMYK values in the Pantone Color Bridge book purchased from Pantone.
Design Program Palettes (Adobe®, Corel®, Quark®)
On the installation disc we have also included calibrated lookup tables (Color Palettes) for all of the major design programs in a format that they can read. Using this file essentially makes the matching Pantone process much easier by doing it automatically for you. With this table/palette installed, when you choose Pantone 274C in your design program, the CMYK values of C:95 M:100 Y:0 K:13 are automatically used. Refer to your specific design program manual for instructions on importing these palettes.
Recommended Design Procedures
Before beginning design work on a particular label the designer should have the specific printing process in mind. This means that the designer will need to create a separate image file for each print process. For example, you cannot use the same image file for the CX1200 that you use on a flexo press and expect the colors to print correctly. The designer will need to design a label specifically for the CX1200. This allows them to tailor the design to the specific attributes of the CX1200. In addition to the design aspect of the label, the designer should also pay close attention to color. If the designer is designing a company logo that will be printed using many different types of printing processes, some of which are capable of matching Pantone and some of which are not, they should choose a Pantone color that can be very closely approximated on a CMYK printer. To pick a good cross process color consult a Pantone Color Bridge book and the CX1200 Pantone Palette above. To get the most accurate approximation of a particular Pantone color the CX1200 Pantone Palette should be printed on the CX1200. See the instructions below under the section titled Print the CX1200 Pantone Palette.
If colors other than Pantone are desired there is another method for determining the proper CMYK values to acheive the desired color output. The CX1200 is actually capable of printing many more colors than are in the Pantone library. 4.2 Billion to be exact. Primera recommends printing CMYK color increment swatches. This will be the best reference point for choosing the colors for a particular design. You can print the swatches on the various substrates that you will be using with the CX1200. (See instructions below for printing these swatches) CMYK color values are printed along with the swatches so if you like a particular color you can get that exact color by using the CMYK value associated with it in your design.
Matching Another Printer
Using the CMYK color increment swatches it is also possible to very closely match the printed output of the CX1200 with other printers. Simply compare the printed output of the other printer with the printed CMYK color increment swatches printed on the desired substrate. Choose the color (CMYK color values) that most closely matches the other printer.
Print the CX1200 Pantone Palette
1. Switch off the printer. Turn it back on. Wait for it to start up.
2. On the CX1200 control Panel, change the MP Feeder paper type to Letter. Paper Menu - Paper Size/Type - MP Feeder Size/Type - Choose "Letter" - Then choose "Custom Type 5". You may have to press the down arrow repeatedly to view all the options on a particular menu.
3. Open the CX1200 Pantone Palette.pdf
4. Go to File- Print - Choose the Color Label Press.
Note: Be sure to switch the Size/Type back to Universal/Custom Type 5 via the Control Panel before sending another print job.
Print CMYK color increment swatches
1. Switch off the printer. Turn it back on. Wait for it to start up.
2. On the CX1200 control Panel, change the MP Feeder paper type to Letter. Paper Menu - Paper Size/Type - MP Feeder Size/Type - Choose "Letter" - Then choose "Custom Type 5". You may have to press the down arrow repeatedly to view all the options on a particular menu.
3. On the control Panel also change the Default Source to MP Feeder. Paper Menu - Default Source - MP Feeder.
4. Open any internet browser
5. Type the printers IP address in the address bar. To find the printers IP address navigate the printer's control panel - Network/Ports - TCP/IP - Address.
6. A printer settings page will appear. Go to the Configuration Menu.
7. Click on "Color Samples"
8. Choose "Off CMYK" or "US CMYK". These choices correspond to color matching settings available in the printer driver.
9. Click Print.
Not all colors will be printed on this job. To focus in more on specific colors you can click the Detailed Samples button on the color samples screen. This will allow you to enter specific CMYK values and a variation increment. The smaller the increment, the closer to the original CMYK value all the swatches will be. We recommend an increment of 2 or 3 when focusing in on specific CMYK values.
Tip! When typing in specific CMYK values, we recommend setting K to 0 to get more vibrant swatches.
Note: Be sure to switch the Size/Type back to Universal/Custom Type 5 via the Control Panel before sending another print job.