The predefined Templates [1] provide a quick starting point for the most common printing applications and are intended for users who are familiar with the characteristics of their printing system. When these Templates are selected, the curve preview is read-only and cannot be edited. The following options are available:

• Default – no pre-linearization is applied. The curve is a straight line, and the 50 % point remains unchanged. Select this option, if your printing system already provides a largely linear print.
• Coated Paper (10 %) – the 50 % point is shifted downward by 10 % – that is, to 40 %.
• Uncoated Paper (15 %) – the 50 % point is shifted downward by 15 % – that is, to 35 %.
• Textile (20%) – the 50 % point is shifted downward by 20 % – that is, to 30 %.
• Sublimation Print (25 %) – the 50 % point is shifted downward by 25 % – that is, to 25 %.
• User defined – the pre-linearization curve can be defined by the user. This allows freely defined curves to be created for the pre-linearization of the individual Process Colors.

Figure 1: The Create Pre-Linearization dialog with the selection menu for predefined Templates

If you select the User defined [2] option in the Template drop down list, the Create Pre-Linearization dialog provides a wide range of settings that allow you to create a user defined pre-linearization.

If the Sliders [3] option is enabled, the following options are available in the dialog:

• Value [4] – specifies by how many percent the 50 % point of the curve for the respective channel is shifted downward. This value can be adjusted either using the slider or by direct input.
• Max [5] – defines the maximum output value for the respective channel. The default value is 100 %. Note that this setting is applied to all subsequent steps. If a maximum output value of 90 % is entered, the 100 % output value for the respective channel is reduced to 90%. In subsequent steps, 100 % will still be displayed, but the actual output value is limited to 90 %.
• Gradiation Curves – the curve preview displays all Process Colors. Only the Process Color channels of the printing system are displayed. Light Colors and Spot Colors defined as Output as Separation are excluded from pre-linearization.

Figure 2: The Create Pre-Linearization dialog with the selected Template User defined and the Slider option enabled

When the Edit Curves [6] option is enabled, the gradiation curve of each Process Color channel can be defined by directly editing the curve points. This mode is intended for experienced users who require more precise control over the shape of the curve.

When the Edit Curves option is enabled, the following options are available in the dialog:

• Channel Selection [8] – select the channel whose curve you want to edit. In addition to the individual Process Color channels, All Channels option is also available if all channels are to be edited simultaneously. If you have previously modified a single channel and then switch to All Channels, you can specify which values from which channel should be applied to all channels.
• Curve Points [7] – click on a point in the curve preview to select it, and drag the respective point to the desired position. The following additional options are available in the curve view:
  • Add curve point – clicking on the curve adds a new control point.
  • Delete curve point – a control point can be removed by double-clicking it. Alternatively, the selected point can also be deleted using the Delete selected Point [10] button.
• Values of the selected point [9] – displays the input and output values (in percent) of the selected curve point. These values can also be entered numerically.

Figure 3: The Create Pre-Linearization dialog with the User defined Template selected and the Edit Curves option enabled