The Media Analyzer tool allows you to visually compare two gamuts at the same time. The tool contains a Left Configuration, a Right Configuration, and a Gamut Data View in the center where it maps a rough wire frame representation of up to two gamuts on an L*a*b* axis. This allows you to determine if your proofing gamut fully encompasses the final output gamut. If the proofing gamut does not cover the final output gamut, it cannot accurately reproduce the desired colors.
Use the Media Analyzer tool to analyze your ICC Profiles and compare the color gamuts of your proofing printer and final output printer.This tool helps you identify whether a certain profile or printer can duplicate the results of another profile or printer. Usually you will want to compare an input profile to an output profile.
- Generic Input Profile are located in the ONYX root directory/Profiles folder by color space.
- Printer specific Output Profile are located in the ONYX root directory/db folder by printer name.
How to compare profiles:
In this example we will be comparing an aRGB(gamma 18) input profile to 3M Match Print Euro CMYK output profile using the <ICC Import> button.
- Starting on the left side, click the <ICC Import> button and browse for the profile.
- Change the <type> of file you are looking for from Printer to Profile to display .icc and .icm file extensions.
- The gamut on the left is represented in RED.
- On the right side, click the <ICC Import> button and browse.
- The gamut on the left is represented in BLUE.<Measure Button> - The Media Analyzer tool can capture gamut configurations from either a measuring device by clicking Measure or by importing the information from an ICC Profile by clicking ICC Import.
<Load Button> - You can directly load an ICC Profile from a .PrnInst file.
<Save Button> - Clicking Save allows you to save a gamut configuration for viewing later. Clicking Load allows you to open a previously saved gamut configuration.
Use the options at the bottom of the MediaAnalyzer window to control what data displays in the Gamut Data View. Each slider control allows you to rotate the gamut view along an axis. The L* axis runs vertically in the Gamut Data View while both the a* and b* axis run horizontally. For the most part, you will want to move the L* slider to rotate the view around the L* axis, which allows you to view the various hues.
Because MediaAnalyzer provides a 3-dimensional perspective view, the parts of the gamut and L*a*b* axis that are closer to you appear further from the center of the view.
Reviewing the Gamut Data:
Once the Media Analyzer tool displays both gamut wireframes, review the Left and Right Report windows (see Figure 5). The Gamut volume value for the proofing gamut should generally be as big or bigger than the gamut of the media that is being proofed.
Use the L* slider to rotate the gamuts and ensure that the blue (proofed) gamut is entirely inside the red (proofing) gamut. Note any places where the blue proofed gamut falls outside the red proofing gamut. This indicates that the proofing media cannot accurately reproduce these colors. It is important to understand the limitations of the proofing media as this sets the proper expectations. In some cases, you may feel that it is acceptable for parts of the final output gamut to fall outside the proofing gamut; however, this depends entirely upon your situation and expectations.
In general, the proofing process is designed to help you understand the expected output, even if the proof is not an exact replica.
Once you determine how your proofing printer and selected media will reproduce the colors of your final output printer and media, you need to configure your proofing printer.
For more information on Media Analyzer, see Chapter 8: Proofing in the 7.0 ONYX Workflow Products Advanced Guide.
