CostProof - Overview

This article explains how to view and configure ink and media usage information for printed jobs using CostProof.

CostProof displays the ink and media consumption of a selected printed job in the dedicated tab of the Spooler module:

Continue reading this article or watch the quick overview video below:

Prerequisites

• CostProof is available with all subscription and perpetual licenses. In earlier CalderaRIP versions, however, it was available as an optional package requiring a separate license:
  • If you use an earlier version of CalderaRIP with a perpetual license, verify that your license includes the Cost module before using CostProof. If it does not, the CostProof tab displays a message and provides media usage information only.
• For most printers, halftone support is required because CostProof uses halftone printing data to calculate ink consumption accurately.
• To display CostProof information for a job in the Spooler, the "Print" action must be enabled in the Print module for the selected printer.

About CostProof calculations

To calculate ink usage, CostProof requires the drop size for each printer in your production environment. Most CalderaRIP drivers include preconfigured drop size values based on the printheads used by the printer.

If your driver does not include these values, or if you need to update them, configure them in Spooler or ServerAdmin, as described below.

Configuration in Spooler

Some printer models and drivers allow you to configure CostProof directly in the Spooler module. Open the CostProof tab and click Configure.

Ink

You can enter ink drop sizes and cost manually.

• Printers with fixed drop sizes:  Enter the value in the first drop size field only.
• Printers with variable drop sizes: Enter the small, medium, and large drop sizes in the first, second, and third fields, respectively:
  

Click Compute next to Cost (per liter) to open the ink cost calculation window. Enter:

• A value for the ink bottle content and the unit of measurement. 
• The bottle cost. 

CostProof calculates and applies the corresponding cost per liter.

Media

You can enter the media cost manually or click Compute next to the Cost field to open the media cost calculation window. Enter the roll width, length, and cost.

CostProof calculates and applies the corresponding cost per square meter (for example).

When configuring media costs, select how CostProof calculates the media area:

• Use Printed area to calculate cost: Calculates the cost based on the area covered by the printed image.
• Use Sheet/Roll area to calculate cost: Calculates the cost based on the full area of the sheet or media length used from the roll.

Configuration in ServerAdmin

If the drop size fields are not editable after you click Configure in the CostProof tab:

You must add or modify the drop size values in the ServerAdmin module. For instructions, continue reading or consult the dedicated article:

1. In CalderaRIP, go to the Settings tab.
2. Open the ServerAdmin module.
3. Select the printer to configure.
4. Click Configure.

5. Depending on your CalderaRIP version, select the Resolutions or Pages tab:

   Recent versions (V11 and later) Older versions (V10 and earlier)

   Starting with CalderaRIP V11, the ServerAdmin module includes a dedicated Resolutions tab:

   

   

6. Do one of the following:
   • Click New to add a resolution.
   • Select an existing resolution and click Edit to modify it.
7. Enter the required drop size values. The drop size fields are displayed after the label and resolution settings:
   • Printers with fixed drop sizes: Enter the value in the first field only.
   • Printers with variable drop sizes: Enter the small, medium, and large drop sizes in the first, second, and third fields, respectively.

Compatibility and Limitations

CostProof generally requires halftone printing data to calculate ink consumption accurately. In halftone mode, the RIP uses drop size and resolution information to estimate the amount of ink applied. In contone mode, this information is not available in the same way. As a result, ink cost calculations are generally not supported.

Some HP printer models are an exception. Through a specific Caldera development, they can support a contone configuration that enables ink and media cost calculations.

To check whether your CalderaRIP printer driver is compatible with CostProof, refer to its dedicated technote. If the documentation states that "CostProof is supported with limitations", the printer may require additional manual configuration, even when it supports halftone mode.

As described earlier in this article:

• Configure the drop size values manually in ServerAdmin first.
• Then, configure ink and/or media costs manually or automatically in the Spooler.