System and method for tuning device link profiles for color printing

Abstract

System and method for tuning device link profiles for color printing are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a printer to print a color target on a substrate during a production run of a printing operation; a color measurement device to measure first color space values of the color target; and a processor to: compare the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values; compare the difference to a tolerance range; in response to the difference being outside of the tolerance range, generate a second device profile to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the tolerance range; calibrate the printer based on the second device profile; and continue the printing operation using the second device profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 generating, using a first device profile, a color target during a production run of a printing operation;   measuring first color space values of the color target using a color measurement device;   in response to measuring the first color space values, comparing the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values;   comparing the difference to a tolerance range;   in response to the difference being outside of the tolerance range, generating a second device profile to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the tolerance range;   calibrating a printer based on the second device profile; and   continuing the printing operation using the second device profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the color target during the production run includes printing, using a printer, the color target on a substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is a proof tray. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is calibration paper stock. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including generating a report including the difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the color target during the production run includes the generating of the color target during the production run using an interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the color measurement device is a spectrometer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device profile is associated with a first substrate type and the second device profile is associated with a second substrate type. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first substrate type is different from the second substrate type. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a printer to print a color target on a substrate during a production run of a printing operation;   a color measurement device to measure first color space values of the color target; and   a processor to:
 compare the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values; 
 compare the difference to a tolerance range; 
 in response to the difference being outside of the tolerance range, generate a second device profile to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the tolerance range; 
 calibrate the printer based on the second device profile; and 
 continue the printing operation using the second device profile. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further including a digital front end to cause the printer to print a color target on the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the color target is a first color target and the substrate is a first substrate, wherein the processor is to determine an interval at which a second color target is to be printed to a second substrate during the production run. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the printer is to print the second color target on the second substrate at the determined interval. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the color measurement device is to measure the second color space values. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the interval is based on at least one of time, a sheet count, or a product type. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first substrate is a first substrate type and the second substrate is a second substrate type. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the substrate is a proof tray. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 printing, using a printer and a first device profile, a color target on a substrate during a production run of a printing operation; measuring first color space values of the color target using a spectrophotometer;   in response to measuring the first color space values, comparing the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values;   comparing the difference to a tolerance range;   in response to the difference being outside of the tolerance range, generating a second device profile to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the tolerance range;   calibrating the printer based on the second device profile; and   continuing the printing operation using the printer and the second device profile.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first device profile is associated with a first substrate type and the second device profile is associate with second substrate type. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein printing the color target on the substrate during the production run including generating the color target using a user interface.