To create a new profiling project, proceed as follows:

1. Go to Color > Profiling Projects.
2. Click Add [1] in the action bar. The Add Profiling Project dialog opens.

Figure 1: The list of all Profiling Projects

3. The now-open Add Profiling Project dialog provides the following settings:
   • Name [2] – enter the name for the profiling project. The name can be entered manually or generated using placeholders [3]. Placeholders are automatically replaced with the corresponding information.
   • Comment [4] – optionally, enter a comment for the profiling project. The comment is for descriptive purposes only and is not printed on output.
   • Printer [5] – select the printer for which the profiling project is to be created.
   • Print Configuration [6] – select the desired print configuration for the previously selected printer. For the reference profiling, select the print configuration that typically delivers the best possible print quality in your production environment.
   • Reference Substrate [7] – select a reference substrate for the profiling project from the list of created substrates. The reference substrate should be the one that can ensure the highest possible color gamut at the best possible quality.
   • Measurement Device [8] – select the desired measurement device from the list. The device must be capable of measuring multiple pages of color patches.
   • Parameter Set [9] – after selecting the measurement device, select the desired parameter set. Note that choosing a smaller measurement aperture requires smaller measurement fields on the measurement chart, which can significantly reduce the number of pages to be measured.
   • Additional colors – if the selected print system has spot colors such as White, Varnish, or Primer, this field appears as the last selection. Select the additional colors to be used for all subsequent processing steps.

Figure 2: The Add Profiling Project dialog

4. Click Save [10] to save the project to the list of profiling projects. During saving, the profiling project is created, and the first measurement charts for the selected color and print configuration are generated based on the selected parameter set of the measurement device.
5. Open the created profiling project using the Switch to Detail View [11] button or by clicking on the name of the profiling project.

Figure 3: The list of Profiling Projects showing the newly created profiling project

6. An overview will now open, displaying all the information about the profiling project in one place.

Figure 4: The Overview tab for the created Profiling Project

The following information is listed in the Overview:

• Profiling Project [13] – shows information about the profiling project: Name, Comment, Working Color Space CMYK, Working Color Space RGB, Ink Limit, Additional Colors, and creation date.
• Color Policies [15] – once a profiling project has been created, the generated color policies are shown here. A profiling project can contain multiple color policies.
• Printer [12] – shows all information about the print system: Name, Printer Type, Serial Number, Software Version, and IP, provided that this information was entered when creating the printer.
• Print Configuration [14] – shows all information about the selected print configuration: Print Mode, Resolution, Channel Configuration Name, Type, Dither Mode, and DitherMix Array.
• Reference Substrate [16] – shows the information for the selected reference substrate – Name and Supplier – if this was entered when creating the substrate.
• Additional Substrates [17] – shows all substrates for which the created color policy can be applied. Use Edit [18] to add or remove substrates.
• Measurement Device [19] – shows all information about the selected measurement device: Name and the selected Parameter Set.

The Add Profiling Project dialog offers the option to activate Expert Mode [23]. Toggling the provided button reveals additional settings and an extra tab in the dialog. As the name suggests, this option is intended for users who require more control. All settings necessary for creating a profiling project are already covered in standard mode.

Figure 5: The General tab of the Add Profiling Project dialog with Expert Mode enabled

The following additional settings are available in the General tab in Expert Mode:

• Working Color Space CMYK [20] – select the CMYK working color space that should be used as the basis for creating the substrate device link profiles. This can be selected when creating the project or when creating a characterization profile. Use Add [24] to add a new print ICC profile.
• Working Color Space RGB [21] – select the RGB working color space to be used as the basis for creating the substrate device link profiles and the RGB device link profiles. Select the color space when creating the project or when creating a characterization profile. Use Add [25] to add a new RGB ICC profile.
• Color Configuration [22] – select from the color configurations available for the selected printer. In standard mode, the color configuration that includes all process colors of the inks available in the printer is used automatically. The selection field becomes active once the corresponding printer is selected. Use this option when creating a special profiling project for a specific color configuration that is significantly outside the normal production conditions for a specific substrate.

Figure 6: The Advanced tab of the Add Profiling Project dialog with Expert Mode enabled

The following additional settings are available in the Advanced tab in Expert Mode:

• Ink Limit [26] – enter the desired ink limit value in percent. This value is used automatically as the basis for the ink limit profile. The value entered here is pre-selected in the Ink Limit process step and can be overridden there. Use this option when you know that a total ink coverage above a certain percentage does not make sense for the print system in combination with the selected substrate.
• Pre-Linearization [27] – enable this option to activate the Pre-Linearization process step for the profiling project. This process step is not available when the print system performs linearization independently. Note that adding a sub-step retroactively is not possible.
• Linearization [28] – enable this option to activate the Linearization process step. In standard mode, linearization is always enabled. This process step is not available if the print system performs linearization independently. Note that adding a sub-step retroactively is not possible.
• G7 Linearization [29] – enable this option to create a G7 linearization for the profiling project based on a linearized print system. This process step is not available if the print system performs linearization independently. Note that adding a sub-step retroactively is not possible.
• Assign to all Substrates [30] – enable this option if the color policies created in this project are to be applied to all substrates. You can restrict or expand the substrate list at any time afterwards.
• Assign to selected Substrate [31] – select all substrates to which the color policies created here are to be additionally assigned. This option is only available when the Assign to all Substrates option is not enabled.

Pre-Linearization is an optional preparation step that can be performed before linearization, provided that the step was enabled in expert mode. It brings the print system to a computationally linear initial state. For more information and a step-by-step guide, refer to the Pre-Linearization chapter.

In standard mode, linearization is always the first step, unless it has been manually disabled when creating a profiling project or is unavailable due to a contone printing system. The linearization step consists of the following sub-steps: Print, Measure, Analyze, and Create Linearization Profile.

In Expert Mode, the following additional settings are available:

• Selection of the measurement template chart
• Parameters for mounting the measurement template charts
• Options for controlling ink limits for the individual color channels
• Options for controlling the transitions between lighter and darker inks
• Options for correcting the measurement data

For more information, refer to the chapter Linearization.

G7 Linearization is an optional process step that can be manually enabled in expert mode in the Advanced tab when creating a profiling project. The process step enables G7-compliant calibration of the print system and is performed after linearization.

For more information, see the G7 Linearization chapter

In this process step, the ink limit profile is created in standard mode based on the percentage value entered when creating the profiling project. The default value is 400 %.

In Expert Mode, ink limit assessment charts can be generated and printed dynamically within the defined range. For more information, see the Ink Limit chapter.

Characterization is the final process step of the profiling project and must always be completed. In this step, the substrate ICC profile, together with the associated device link profiles, is created. These describe the color gamut for the selected combination of printer, print configuration, color configuration, and substrate.

When switching to this process step, the corresponding characterization chart is automatically created in the background based on the parameters from the measurement chart parameter set, the color configuration, and the measurement mode.

Multiple profile variations can be created in the characterization step – each variation generates its own color policy.

For more information, see the Characterization chapter.