The Create Total Area Coverage Limit Profile substep is the final substep of the Total Area Coverage Limit process. The purpose of this substep is to calculate a Total Area Coverage Limit Profile based on a defined limit value. This profile limits the maximum permissible total area coverage for the subsequent characterization. The calculated profile is then stored in the profiling project and used for subsequent profiling steps as well as in the resulting color policy.

The following setting option is available in the Create Total Area Coverage Limit Profile dialog:

• Total Area Coverage [1] – enter the desired limit value for the maximum total area coverage as a percentage. The default value is 400%. If you have previously determined the optimum value using a printed measurement template chart, enter the determined value here.

Figure 1: The Create Total Area Coverage Limit Profile dialog

This step is mandatory in every profiling project. Limiting the maximum total area coverage of the printing system helps ensure the best possible quality in the dark areas of the print while also protecting the printing system and preventing contamination.

If you want to print a Total Area Coverage Limit Chart for visual evaluation, we recommend creating and using a chart that has already been optimized for the printing system with regard to its maximum total area coverage.

If, at a later stage, after you have already created a characterization profile, you find that the selected maximum total area coverage is still too high for everyday production, you can create a new characterization profile with a reduced total area coverage without having to recreate the profiling project. To do this, enter the desired limit value for the Total Area Coverage [2] input field in the Additional Parameters tab of the Create Characterization Profile step.

Figure 2: The parameters in the Additional Parameters tab of the Create Characterization Profile step