How to add a Custom Inkset?

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the Custom Inkset in CalderaRIP.

How to add a Custom Inkset? [Process inks]

1. Open CalderaRIP.
2. Open EasyMedia and double-click on the Printer icon.
3. Double-click on the printer with which you want to use CustomInkset.
4. Double-click on an existing project. If you do not have one yet, click on the New... button to create one.

5. Once in the project, click on the Edit Inksets... button (located at the bottom right):
   

     Info

   If you do not see the button in this part, it means that the printer driver does not support Custom Inkset.

6. The InkSets window will appear. Click on the New... button.

7. In this example, we will add a CMYKcmOB ink set to be used as a Process color.

   • Suppose that this printer has a Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Light Cyan, Light Magenta, Orange, and Blue ink set (CMYKcmOB).
   • On the Base mode field, select CMYKcm and add under additional inks Orange and Blue (both set to Process color).

   

     Good to know

   The inks in capitals like "CMYK" stand for the regular inks, and the ones in lower case like "cmk" are the diluted or light inks.

8. Click OK and enter your administration password (most probably "caldera") to save the changes.
    
9. The new inkset will appear at the end of the list. Click OK again to close the InkSets window.
    
10. Once back at EasyMedia, you can now create a new media project using CMYKcmOB as the printing mode:
    
    
     

11. Click OK and enter your administration password (most probably "caldera") to save the changes.

      Info

    At this point, you can already view the new media project, with the Custom Inkset as mode, in the Print Module. However, you still need to calibrate its color profile (this is why it is displayed in red color):
    

12. In the newly created media project, click on Next and follow the calibration process. You may be interested in checking the dedicated sections:
    • Calibration (Transition, linearization, and ink limit)
    • Profiling
13. (Optional) If you need to check or change the ink order while calibrating the color profile, follow these steps:
    1. Go to the Transitions tab.
    2. Select "Create new transition curves" and "Run Wizard (Print/Measure/Build)".
    3. Select your device and targets, and at the bottom, select "Print & Measure target."
    4. Go to the Special Options tab.
    5. Click on Inks... 
    6. Enable ink ordering.
    7. Check the order or make changes if necessary. 
    8. (Optional) If available, you can also click on the Assistant... button to print an ink reorder target to determine the correct ink order:
       
        
14. Once the calibration is finished, you can quit EasyMedia.
     
15. The new media project, with the Custom Inkset as mode, will be available for you in the Print Module

How to add a Custom Inkset? [Spot inks]

If you want to use the inks as Spot Colors, the process is similar to the previous one, with one exception. In Step 7, you need to select the Spot option for these inks in the InkSet window.

Additionally, in Print Module > Page Setup, there must be specific spot color tabs. To create these tabs, follow the steps below:

1. In the main interface of CalderaRIP, click on the Settings tab.
2. Open ServerAdmin.
3. Select the printer.
4. Click on the Configure... button.
5. Go to the Special Inks tab.
6. In the first section, Special inks (this driver), click on the button New... 
7. The Special ink window will open, fill in the fields:
   

   • Name: This is how the specific spot color tab will be named (in Page Setup).

       Info

     In the previous example, the spot color "Orange" is identified by the letter "O" on the printer controller. However, the exact naming convention used to reference the color may vary depending on the printer model. For example, some printers may use "Spot-1" or "1" instead of a letter.
     To ensure accurate color identification, refer to the documentation of your printer or perform tests to determine the correct naming convention for your specific printer.

   • Ink type: Select one from the pull-down menu (varnish, fillup, etc.).
   • Color Name: Enter the name of the spot color in the original file that you want to associate with this spot color.
   • Information: Enter the driver-specific details required for this spot color, such as experimental or controller settings.