Intended for users with intermediate knowledge of RIP workflows and color management.
This guide provides practical color-management recommendations for CalderaSubmit Sign and DTF. It covers white-undercoat control, choke settings, variable dot sizes, spot colors, and common production issues.
Info
Available options depend on the selected printer driver, inkset, and preset.
Choke in Sign and DTF printing
Use metric units
Choke controls the overlap between the color layer and the white undercoat. It helps prevent visible gaps, white edges, and registration issues.
Although images are pixel-based, set the choke in physical units, such as millimeters or inches. Pixel dimensions vary according to resolution, so a pixel-based value can produce different results at different resolutions:
- At 300 dpi, 1 pixel is approximately 0.08 mm.
- At 720 dpi, 1 pixel is approximately 0.04 mm.
- At 1200 dpi, 1 pixel is approximately 0.02 mm.
A metric value produces a more consistent physical overlap regardless of the image resolution.
Good to know
Start with a small choke value and evaluate the printed result. Increase or decrease the value only when you observe visible white edges, gaps, or loss of fine details.
Choose an appropriate level of precision
A choke adjustment of 0.1 mm is a practical starting point for most jobs. Smaller adjustments can be useful for detailed artwork, but they are more difficult to evaluate and may not produce a visible improvement.
Always validate choke changes with a printed sample, especially for small text, thin lines, and detailed designs.
Use Smart choke when appropriate
Smart choke automatically removes white-undercoat pixels that are not covered by color. This helps prevent visible white outlines or halos around colored areas when slight print-registration misalignments occur.
Review the result in the preview and on a printed sample, especially when the design includes fine details or small text.
Variable ink dot sizes
Variable ink dot sizes can improve gradients, color transitions, and fine details. The available options depend on the printer and printhead configuration.
- Small dots: Useful for fine details, thin lines, and small text.
- Large dots: Useful for solid areas where high coverage and speed are more important than fine detail.
- Mixed dot sizes: Can improve gradients and color transitions when configured correctly.
Incorrect dot-size combinations can produce grain, uneven gradients, or unstable colors. Use the settings recommended for the selected printer driver and validate the result with a test print.
Good to know
Do not change dot-size settings only to solve a color issue. First verify the printer calibration, ink limits, media, and selected preset.
Use spot colors appropriately
Spot-color settings determine how the RIP handles white spot-color data in input files. Select the option that matches the content of the file and the expected print result.
- Ink: Blend (White): Default option. Use this when the white layer should be printed but needs to be combined with generated white-undercoat data.
- Ink: Overwrite (White): Use this option when the file already contains the correct white-undercoat data and the white layer should be printed as defined in the file.
- Ignore: Use this option when the white spot-color data in the file should not be printed as provided and you want the RIP to generate the white undercoat.
Info
Before outputting a production job, inspect the color and layer previews to confirm that white spot-color data is handled as expected.
Common production issues
Color inconsistency
- Problem: Colors differ between prints or do not match the expected result.
- Recommendation: Verify the selected preset, media, and inkset. Regularly calibrate the printer and use the appropriate ICC profile. If the issue concerns the display, calibrate the monitor as well.
Visible white undercoat
- Problem: White ink is visible around colored areas or reduces the vibrancy of the print.
- Recommendation: Adjust Spread, Choke, or Smart choke as needed. Use metric units for consistent results across resolutions.
Ink bleed or oversaturation
- Problem: Excess ink causes blurred details, oversaturation, or poor drying.
- Recommendation: Review the ink limit and the selected preset. When supported by the driver, test a dot-size configuration better suited to detailed areas.
Loss of fine details
- Problem: Small text, thin lines, or intricate details lose definition.
- Recommendation: Use a smaller choke value, review the Smart choke result, and verify that the selected dot-size settings are suitable for detailed artwork.
Addressing these settings during job preparation helps improve print quality and reduces the need for reprints or production adjustments.