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The objectives of this research are to compare the results of digital printing using different color profiles as embedded within digital image. Three paper types: gloss art, matte art and wood-free paper, were printed with a digital color laser printer using 4 different well-known standard color profiles: Coated/ Uncoated Fogra39, Japan Color 2001 Coated/ Uncoated, Euroscale Coated/ Uncoated and U.S. Sheetfed Coated/ Uncoated. The test form in this study included an ECI 2002 CMYK iCColor test chart with 1,512 color patches, control strips of process-color, and some images applied from the GATF Digital Test Form and CGS Testchart 2008. The print qualities: solid density, tone value, hue error, gray balance, print contrast and color gamut, were evaluated using a spectro-densitometer. The color values (CIEL*a*b*) of digital printing were also compared to offset printing. The results showed that the printed images on coated-paper using U.S. Sheet-fed profile had the most tone value increase (TVI) and the least print contrast. The solid ink densities of CMYK printing with the Euroscale profile were the lowest on wood-free paper. Fogra39 and Euroscale profiles were not significantly different in TVI and print contrast. However, the Fogra39 and Japan Color profiles showed wider color gamut than did the Euroscale profile. The observers satisfied the digital printed images of Fogra39 profile because the images closely matched the offset printing with the lowest color difference of around 4.82 while the U.S. Sheet-fed profile had the most color difference of around 9.45.
Keywords: Color profile, Digital printing, Offset lithography, Print quality.
Introduction
The profile is a set of data that characterizes a color input or output device according to standards setting for some printing conditions. For color workflows to succeed, color information must be shared by many people, from original creator to final publisher. For this reason, the standard color profiles are being supplied as a free download for graphic professionals to use across their workflows. The standard color profile is generally selected in color setting of graphics programs for the conversion of RGB original file to CMYK printing. Digital printing refers to methods of printing from a digital based image directly to a variety of media [1]. It usually refers to professional printing where small run jobs from desktop publishing and other...