The substep Create Total Area Coverage Profile is the final substep in the Total Area Coverage Limit process. The goal of this substep is to calculate, based on a specified limit value, a Total Area Coverage Profile that limits the maximum permissible ink application for the subsequent characterization. The calculated profile is then saved in the Profiling Project and used for the subsequent steps in the color setup process as well as in the generated Color Policy.

The following settings are available in the Create Total Area Coverage Profile dialog:

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

Figure 1: The Create Total Area Coverage Profile dialog

This step is essential in every profiling project. By limiting the maximum total area coverage for the printing system, you ensure the best possible quality in the dark areas of the print. At the same time you also prevent damage to the printing system and thereby avoid contamination of the printing system.

Do you wish to print a Total Area Coverage Chart for visual assessment? In this case we recommend to create and use a chart that has already been optimized for your printing system in terms of maximum total area coverage.

You might discover at a later point, after having already created a characterization profile, that the selected maximum total area coverage limit is still too high for your daily work. In this case you can adjust the total area coverage at any time by creating a characterization profile with a reduced total area coverage, without having to recreate the profiling project. To do this, enter the desired value for the limit in the Total Area Coverage Limit [2] input field on the Additional Parameters tab in the Create Characterization Profile step.

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