In this article, you will learn
- what linearization of additional colors mean,
- how to create a linearization profile for additional colors or additional fluids, and
- which substeps are required for this process.
1. Introduction
In addition to the process colors, special inks – referred to as additional colors, additional fluids, or predefined colors – can be selected when creating a profiling project. A distinction is made between three categories:
- Additional Colors – these include additional inks that are not taken into account by the color management system. They are used in printing to reproduce brand colors – such as Ferrari Red – as well as effect colors – such as Silver, Gold, Neon Pink, or Neon Yellow.
- Additional Fluids – these include colors applied as a full-area layer and output as a separate separation – such as White or Varnish.
- Predefined Colors – these include inks used for priming or preparing the substrate to be printed – such as Primer or Permeo.
These special inks can be additionally selected and linearized when creating a profiling project. Depending on the selected category, the order in which the linearization profiles are created within the profiling project is determined automatically. This means that additional fluids are linearized before additional colors. Additional fluids can no longer be changed once a profiling project has been completed. Additional colors, however, can be adjusted at any time afterward.
Specialty Inks in the Profiling Project
Regardless of the specific category of specialty ink, the process for creating the linearization profile is structured in the same way for all variations. A detailed description of the differences between the specialty inks can be found in the "Specialty Inks in Printing" article.
2. Specialty Inks in the Profiling Project
The purpose of linearizing a specialty ink is to create a linearization profile that controls the applied ink quantity or tone value progression of the respective ink across the entire input tone value range. As with the linearization of process colors, the result is a linearization profile that is stored in the profiling project and, in some cases, used for subsequent steps as well as for the generated color policy.
Dedicated Step in the Profiling Project
A dedicated step is available for each additional color enabled when creating the profiling project. In the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application, this step is named after the respective additional color – for example, White or Neon Pink. The step is displayed in the profiling project's step bar before the Linearization step.
3. Create Linearization for Additional Colors
To create a linearization profile for an additional color or additional fluid, the Measure or Manual mode is available [4] (Figure 1). The selected mode determines which substeps are displayed within the step.
In Measure mode, linearization of an additional color or additional fluid is divided into four substeps – similar to the linearization of process colors – ultimately resulting in a linearization profile:
- Printing the Measurement Template Chart – the measurement template chart for the respective additional color or additional fluid is printed on the reference printer defined in the profiling project.
- Measuring the Measurement Template Chart – the printed chart is measured using a measurement device.
- Analyzing the Measurement Data – after the measurement, the measurement data is available for visual analysis.
- Creating Additional Color Profile – in the final substep, the tone value curve for the additional color is defined and the additional color profilei is calculated.
If Manual mode is selected, the Printing the Measurement Template Chart, Measuring the Measurement Template Chart, and Analyzing the Measurement Data substeps are omitted. Only the Creating Additional Color Profile substep is available, in which the gradation curve is defined directly without first printing and measuring a measurement template chart.
3.1. Prerequisites
The following prerequisites must be met to perform linearization of an additional color or additional fluid:
- A new profiling project has been created, and a printer equipped with an additional color or additional fluid has been selected.
- The desired additional color or additional fluid – for example Primer, Varnish, White or Neon Pink – has been enabled when creating the project.
Standard Mode or Expert Mode in the User Interface
The Expert Mode [3] is available in the user interface of each step. Depending on whether Expert Mode is enabled, the user interface changes accordingly.
In each step, you can follow detailed guidance by following the instructions in the status bar [2]. To access additional setting options or return to a previous step, Expert Mode must be enabled. Both modes cover all substeps.
3.2. Step-by-Step Guide
Example Description for All Specialty Inks
This example describes the linearization of an additional fluid (White). The steps described below apply analogously to the linearization of an additional color or a predefined color.
To create a linearization for an additional fluid, proceed as follows:
- Open the respective profiling project and switch to the step for the respective additional fluid [1]. The step is always named after the respective additional fluid.
- The status bar [2] displays the current status.
- The first step of the linearization is to print the measurement template chart. Then click Print [5].
Figure 1: The Linearization step in Expert Mode with Measure mode selected
- This opens the Print Measurement Template Chart - Additional Fluids dialog.
- Enter all required parameters in the dialog and then click Send to [Name of the Printer].
Figure 2: The Print Measurement Template Chart - Additional Fluids dialog in Standard Mode
Detailed Description: Print Measurement Template Chart
A detailed description of all available setting options in the Printing the Measurement Template Chart dialog can be found in the Measurement Template Chart article.
- You are then returned to the Linearization overview. The next step is to measure the measurement template chart.
- Once the desired measurement template chart has been printed, you can start measuring. To do so, click Measure [6].
Figure 3: The Overview of the Linearization of Additonal Fluids in Expert Mode
- This opens the Measure dialog. In this dialog, click the Measure Page 1 command [7]. The information is then transmitted to the respective measurement device, and the measurement process can be started.
- Once the measurement template chart has been measured, this step is complete.
Figure 4: The Measure dialog after the measurement has been completed
Detailed Description: Measuring the Measurement Template Chart
A detailed description of all available setting options in this dialog can be found in the Measuring the Measurement Template Chart article.
- You are then returned to the overview of the Linearization. If Expert Mode [3] (Figure 1) is enabled, the measurement results can be analyzed. A detailed description of all available analysis options in this dialog can be found in the Analyzing the Measurement Data article.
- The next and final step is to create the linearization profile. To do so, click the Create Additional Color Profile command [8].
Figure 5: The Overview of the Linearization of Additional Fluids in Expert Mode
- This opens the Create Additional Color Profile dialog. The linearization curve for the respective channel is displayed in the left section of the dialog.
- In the right section, you can define the ink cut parameters and correct the measurement data. Enter the desired parameters here.
- Finally, click Create Linearization Profile for Additional Fluid to complete this step.
Detailed Description: Create Linearization Profile
A detailed description of all available setting options in the Create Additional Color Profile dialog can be found in the Creating a Linearization Profile for Additional Colors or Additonal Fluids – Setting Options article.
Figure 6: The Ink Cut tab of the Create Linearization Profile for Additional Fluid dialog
Article update: $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW 2.3.0 – 08/2026