Resources
Spec Card
A working spec card for SA print floors, covering printer model, ink set, media width, RIP settings, and the profile in use.
How the spec card gets checked on live work
The Spec Card gives each printer a clear working record for the floor. It captures the model, ink set, media width, RIP settings and the ICC profile currently in use. That makes it easier to keep output consistent when operators change, shifts rotate or stock is swapped.
Record the exact substrate first, then the usable width, heater values and pass mode being run on the machine. A good Spec Card must reflect South African production conditions such as inland dust, coastal moisture and interruptions after load-shedding. On FastJET, Stormjet and Skywalker units, that single page helps operators match the profile to the media that is physically loaded.
Add a photo of the control panel, ink labels and the roll tag when the card is created. Those images help the next shift confirm carriage height, feed setup and the media code without relying on memory. When a rerun is needed, the card should show what was mounted on the printer on that day.
Details captured on the card
The completed sheet should show the printer model, ink configuration, media width, RIP preset and the ICC profile name being used. Include any limits proven in production, such as heat ranges, vacuum settings or a speed that held colour and drying together. That gives the team one working reference beside the machine and another in the job file.
Send the filled Spec Card through the contact form together with the printer screen values and the media label code. State the machine name, the RIP in use and the profile filename so the record is easy to trace later. If the job is leaving Durban or Bellville, note the dispatch location on the card itself rather than in a vague message.
- Machine, media and profile on one sheet
- Panel and sample photos attached
- RIP preset named exactly as saved
Checks for SA production sites
A Spec Card is most useful when it reflects how work actually moves through Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and smaller print shops. Note whether the printer sits in a dusty inland area, near coastal humidity or in a shared warehouse where stock changes often. Those conditions affect drying, cleaning intervals and whether a previous profile can be trusted on the next roll.
Power interruptions should be noted if they happened during setup, especially where heaters had to recover before the first acceptable print. Coastal shops may need different observations around curing and head maintenance than sites around Crown Mines or the East Rand. The card must capture what the operator saw on the machine, not a guessed setting from an old file.
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Spec Card filing routine
Complete the spec card with machine model, ink type, media range, RIP details and limits already discovered in production. Include supporting photos and keep the subject line factual.
Store the Spec Card with the test print, job note and any calibration record used for that media. When a buyer asks why a repeat differs, the sheet should show the profile, pass count and ink set that were approved at the time. This makes handover simpler when shifts change or stock from another batch is loaded.
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