Profiles
Linearization
Linearization sets the ink curve before any ICC profile is built. On FastJET, Stormjet, and Skywalker machines, that means checking how each channel climbs from light tints to solid coverage on the actual vinyl, banner, or paper in use. Good linear data reduces sudden jumps in tone, dirty neutrals, and heavy passes that dry badly in a South African print room.
Ink Curve Checks That Matter
Linearization is one of the core steps behind stable large-format colour. It brings ink response into order before final ICC profiling is done.
Start with the right media preset, pass count, heater values, and head height for the stock on the bed or roll. Conditions in Gauteng and the coast do not behave the same, so linear targets that read well in Johannesburg can need another look in Durban or Cape Town humidity. For smaller shops, one readable strip and clear cartridge notes are usually more useful than pages of theory.
Print and keep the first acceptable linear chart for that media and ink set. A dated sheet beside the printer helps when a cartridge batch changes, a head is replaced, or a setting gets altered during a rushed job. That record makes it easier to compare nozzle behaviour and ink laydown before wasting another length of material.
What Gets Checked Before Profiling
Linearization work should leave you with known limits for ink, smoother steps through each colour channel, and a basis for final profiling. The useful outcome is not a pile of options but one dependable setup tied to a named machine, ink, and media combination. That is the point where ICC profiling can start making sense.
Match the linear file to the relevant press notes and verify it against a fresh swatch before changing anything wider in production. Run one more nozzle check before a Bellville shipment leaves, especially if the machine has stood overnight or after load-shedding. ICC work starts from a test print on your usual roll, together with the RIP version you run.
- Media-specific ink ramp guidance
- Stored chart from the first pass
- Machine notes sent by email
South African Shop Conditions
Linearization in South Africa often has to fit around dispatch windows, imported ink arrivals, and mixed-age equipment still earning its keep. A FastJET in Crown Mines may not need the same approach as a Stormjet near Durban where humidity shifts through the day. When a machine is in active production, it helps to separate the colour issue from routine servicing and operator habits.
Coastal moisture can change drying and dot spread, while inland dust can affect sensors, cappings, and the repeatability of checks. Power interruptions matter as well because heaters, vacuum, and restart routines can alter the first stable print after downtime. A proper demo slot should show print behaviour, chart reading, and setup values, not sales talk.
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Linearization Info To Send
Send photos of the print, the media label, and the machine screen that shows the active settings. Include what failed, whether the issue sits in highlights or solids, and if any head, damper, or cartridge was changed recently. That gives the linearization notes enough context to match the problem.
Keep the calibration note with the measured strips, media code, and RIP settings used for the linearized state. When a buyer queries consistency later, that record ties the approved print back to the exact ink limits and test output.
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