Find the color that looks right in the real world.
CalderaColor helps you create, review, and print ColorBooks for professional color-matching workflows. A ColorBook is a printed set of controlled color variations that helps you identify the closest reproducible match for a target spot color.
Colors can look different depending on the printer, ink set, media, and print configuration. By reviewing printed variations, you can select the color that best matches your target in the actual production environment.
How ColorBooks work
- Start with a target color, such as a spot color.
- Create a set of controlled color variations.
- Print the ColorBook using your production configuration.
- Review the printed variations and select the closest match.
- Use the selected color for production.
For example, you can create variations of the PANTONE 137 C orange used in Caldera's brand design. The printed ColorBook lets you compare the variations in real-world conditions and select the closest reproducible result:
PANTONE 137 C orange
Printed color variations
The color to use in production
Choose a workflow
CalderaColor supports two workflows. Choose the one that corresponds to your RIP environment.
Connected workflow
Use the connected workflow with CalderaSubmit DTF v2.7. This workflow transfers the ink set and color values between the applications and lets you send the completed ColorBook back for printing:
Start with your color
CalderaSubmit DTF v2.7
Fine-tune your ColorBook
CalderaColor
Adjust inks & review pages
Print your ColorBook
Back in CalderaSubmit DTF v2.7
Color management off automatically
Manual workflow
Use the manual workflow with CalderaRIP, a manufacturer RIP, or any third-party RIP software. This workflow does not require a direct connection to a supported application.
Create your ColorBook
CalderaColor
Enter ink values manually
Set variations and review pages
Export TIFF ZIP
Save the archive
Extract the TIFF pages
Import them into your RIP
Print with your RIP
Choose one destination
or
or
What you can do in CalderaColor
- Set ink levels and configure ink locks.
- Create controlled ColorBook variations.
- Configure patch and page layouts.
- Review ColorBooks using live preview.
- Send ColorBooks to a connected print workflow.
- Export ColorBooks as TIFF ZIP archives for manual printing.
Get started
For detailed instructions, follow Get Started with CalderaColor.
The guide walks you through creating a ColorBook, configuring its variations and layout, reviewing it in live preview, and printing it using either the connected or manual workflow.