Profiles
Media Pairing
Media pairing starts with the exact roll or board, then checks whether the chosen ICC profile suits that surface, ink set, and printer state. On FastJET, Stormjet, and Skywalker machines, small differences in coating, heater behaviour, or pass mode can shift colour enough to make a profile useless.
Matching vinyl, banner and board
Media pairing is where a profile either makes sense or wastes time. ColourRight matches the correct media, ink set and machine condition so large-format jobs hold colour properly across South African print rooms.
Pairing media means testing the print material against the profile, not assuming two white rolls will behave the same. Johannesburg dust, Durban humidity, and Cape Town temperature swings can all change drying, dot shape, and adhesion, especially on self-adhesive vinyl, PVC banner, PET film, and coated paper.
A quick record at first setup helps later when the same stock returns under a different batch code. Photo the roll label, note the heater settings, and keep one marked test strip near the printer so operators can compare density, grain, and colour cast before a long run starts.
What gets checked first
The useful output is a media match that names the substrate, the ink configuration, and the machine condition it was built around. That gives the print room one sensible route for repeat work instead of swapping profiles every time magenta looks heavy or blacks dry too slowly.
Check the linked Profiles entry before changing rip limits, then compare it with the matching Presses note and the nearest Swatches reference.
- Media matched to specific ink sets
- Heater and pass notes recorded
- Photo-based pairing detail by machine
South African print room variables
Media pairing in South Africa has to account for couriered stock, mixed batch numbers, and machines that run hard through power disruptions. A profile that works in Crown Mines may need different heat or feed adjustment after stock sits in coastal air, or after rolls move through OR Tambo and reach a smaller shop inland.
Dry winter air on the Highveld can increase static on film and paper, while coastal conditions can slow curing on heavier ink loads. Those changes matter when comparing banner to vinyl, or when deciding whether a head clean, nozzle check, or fresh linearisation should happen before judging the profile.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Useful details before testing
Send the media name, width, finish, and any supplier code if it is on the core or packaging. Include the rip resolution, pass count, heater settings, and a note on what failed, such as muddy reds, weak solids, bronzing, banding, or poor laminate appearance.
Keep the approved settings with the test print while the roll is still loaded and the operator can verify them against the machine screen. That note becomes more useful when a buyer asks why one PVC banner matched well but another batch needed a different profile or ink limit.
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