Specs
Linearization specs
Setup notes and briefing numbers for Linearization.
Ink-limit targets before chart reading
Linearization specs set the base before any ICC profile is worth loading. They cover the print targets, ink limits and reading conditions used when FastJET, Stormjet or Skywalker output must behave properly on a South African production floor.
Linearization starts with the exact media loaded on the machine, the pass mode, and the resolution used for saleable work. On FastJET, Stormjet, and Skywalker units, the first target set is used to find total ink that does not puddle, bronze, or leave weak solids on vinyl, banner, or coated film. Inland dust and coastal moisture can shift how a patch dries, so the readings are taken only after the sheet has stabilised.
A nozzle check must be clean before any strip is printed for measurement. Head height, heater values, vacuum, and bi-directional alignment should be written down beside the target number so the same state can be repeated after a stop-start day. If one channel is dropping out, the chart is not worth reading.
Readings that belong on the sheet
The useful record is not a marketing summary but the exact set of figures that built the curve. Note the media name, RIP, pass count, resolution, per-channel limit, total ink, spectro used, and whether the patches were read M0 or M1. Those details decide whether an ICC profile built later will hold on repeat work.
Before moving to profiling, match these linearization figures to the media note and the machine state saved in the RIP. Keep the printed target and the panel settings, and send the readings through the contact form if a result needs checking against a FastJET, Stormjet, or Skywalker setup. Bellville jobs and Gauteng jobs should still carry the same measured numbers when the media batch is unchanged.
- Per-channel limits for each ink set
- Patch drying checked before spectro reading
- Machine photos linked to target results
Conditions that shift the curve
A chart printed in Johannesburg can dry differently from one printed in Durban, even with the same file and media code. Humidity, overnight temperature swings, and power interruptions change when a strip is ready to read and whether solids stay even across the width. Older print rooms in Crown Mines or small production spaces near Cape Town often need heater and feed settings recorded more carefully than the RIP default suggests.
Coastal conditions usually need extra attention on drying time and surface tack before measurement. Highveld dust can affect sensors, carriage travel, and the cleanliness of patches, especially on slower runs with more open exposure. When load-shedding interrupts a session, print a fresh target after restart rather than mixing readings from two machine states.
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Brief details needed with target files
Send the media name, ink type, pass mode, resolution, and the point where the output starts to break down. Include photos of the target sheet and the printer control values.
Keep the final linearization sheet with the printed strips, RIP preset name, and measurement file. That record is the reference when a buyer asks why a repeat banner run matches one month and drifts the next.
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