Colorado M Series - Spot Inks and Multilayer

This article provides an overview of spot ink and multilayer printing options for the Colorado M Series. 

Spot Inks

These printers support white and gloss as spot inks with compatible resolutions. 

1. Choose a white or gloss compatible resolution.
2. Go to the Page Setup:
   

3. Open the corresponding tab, and then click on Enable separation:
   

     Info

   For more details on the general management of spot colors in CalderaRIP, please take a look at this dedicated article.

Multilayer

These roll-to-roll printers use a controller and support Double-Sided Printing (DSP) as well as multilayer jobs. Layers are submitted one at a time as part of a job. The printer controller processes each job layer by layer. For DSP jobs, you must manually reload the media to print the second side.

Printing White + Multilayer (V19 and later)

Starting with version 19, the M Series printer driver includes the improved Multilayer Manager from the Print Module:

It supports multilayer jobs of up to five layers, including jobs that use a different image on each layer, subject to the limitations described below.

To print different images on different layers, follow the steps in How to print different images in multilayer. At step 5, "Select the desired layer, then set your printing configuration", proceed as follows:

1. Select a compatible resolution.

     Warning

   Each resolution supports only the layer mappings listed below. Selecting an unsupported combination may cause one of the following issues:

   • An error message is displayed in the printer controller, such as Job index invalid for Printing Mode X.
   • No error is displayed, but the job does not appear in the printer controller.
   • The job is malformed.

   We are working to improve this behavior.

   Resolution	Layer Mapping
   White Express (450x600)	1:CMYKW
   White Speed (450x600)	1:CMYKW
   White Speed (450x600)	2:W-CMYK (pos)
   White Speed (450x600)	2:CMYK-W (neg)
   White Production (450x600)	1:CMYKW
   White Production (450x600)	2:W-CMYK (pos)
   White Production (450x600)	2:CMYK-W (neg)
   White High Quality (450x600)	1:CMYKW
   White High Quality (450x600)	2:W-CMYK (pos)
   White High Quality (450x600)	2:CMYK-W (neg)
   White High Quality (450x600)	3:CMYK-W-CMYK
   White High Quality (450x600)	5:CMYK-W-B-W-CMYK
   White Specialty (450x600)	1:CMYKW
   White Specialty (450x600)	2:W-CMYK (pos)
   White Specialty (450x600)	2:CMYK-W (neg)
   White Specialty (450x600)	3:CMYK-W-CMYK
   White Specialty (450x600)	5:CMYK-W-B-W-CMYK

2. In Page Setup > White, select the spot ink separation method and layer configuration. A predefined layering method, such as White under or White over, is selected by default.
3. (Optional) If needed, select Custom to configure each layer individually. However, you can select a spot ink separation method independently for layers 1 to 3 only.

Limitations and Recommendations

• This workflow is recommended for experienced operators.
• Multilayer printing with different images is available only with compatible resolutions. Review the supported combinations in the table above before configuring your job.
• You can select a spot ink separation method independently for layers 1 to 3 only.
• Use the Multilayer Manager only when different images are required on different layers. If your job uses the same image on up to three layers, configure the layers directly in Page Setup > White.

Printing White + Multilayer (V18.2 and earlier)

In version 18.2 and earlier, CalderaRIP supports white print jobs of up to three layers when the same image is used on every layer.

1. Select a compatible resolution.
2. In Page Setup > White, select the spot ink separation method and layer configuration. A predefined layering method, such as White under or White over, is selected by default:
   
    
3. (Optional) If needed, select Custom to configure each layer individually. You can select a spot ink separation method independently for layers 1 through 3.