e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool

V2.0
Quick Start Guide

1
Contents
1. Installation............................................................................................................................... 3
1.1. Installing the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool Software .................................................... 3
1.1. Removing the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool .................................................................. 4
1.2. Installing the Dongle ........................................................................................................ 4
1.3. Connecting the X-Rite i1Basic Pro2 Spectrophotometer ................................................ 4
2. Profile Creation ....................................................................................................................... 5
2.1. Printer Characterization.................................................................................................... 5
2.1.1. Optimizing the output of the MFP ............................................................................ 5
2.1.2. Printing the Characterization Targets ....................................................................... 5
2.1.3. Measuring the Target ................................................................................................ 6
2.1.4. Averaging the target data ........................................................................................ 11
2.1.5. Reviewing Data ....................................................................................................... 12
2.1.5.1. Comparing Data Sets ........................................................................................... 12
2.1.5.2. Data Inspector ..................................................................................................... 15
2.2. Building the profile ........................................................................................................ 18
2.3. Importing the Profile to the MFP ................................................................................... 20

2
1. Installation
1.1. Installing the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool Software

Before installing the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool (V2.0) it is important to note that the software
requires installation of The Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package on your computer
prior to installing the software. This software can be downloaded from the Microsoft.com web site.

To install the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool (V2.0) software, use the following procedure.

Download the e-Bridge Color Profile Tool software from the Utilities tab in Tech-To-Go.
After downloading the software, right click on the e-BRIDGEColorProfileTool.msi and select
Install from the menu that is displayed. The welcome screen shown below will be displayed.

Click the “Next” button to continue thru the install wizard. The installer will recommend an
installation location in the screen below. You can change the installation location using the
“Change” button.

By default the application will be installed in the private programs area for the current user on
your computer. This destination can be changed to install the application in the Program Files
directory or any other desired location.

After selecting the installation location, click the “Next” button to begin the installation on your
computer.

Once the installation is complete, you will have a desktop shortcut to Color Profile Tool and a
program group populated with all the applications and documentation for the e-BRIDGE Color
Profile Tool.

3
1.1. Removing the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool
The e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool software includes an uninstaller program to remove the
application from your workstation. To use the uninstaller, open the Start / Programs menu, click
e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool and select “Uninstall e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool”.
1.2. Installing the Dongle
The e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool (V2.0) software requires the installation of a USB activation
dongle (part number 6LH18807000 WR-ROM-EBCPT) for full functionality. This activation dongle
can be installed in any USB port on the workstation that is running e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool.
The dongle is automatically recognized by the software when it is installed. Without the dongle
attached, Color Profile Tool will run with limited functionality.
1.3. Connecting the X-Rite i1Basic Pro2 Spectrophotometer (Part Number
EO2BAS)

Instalation
Before the X-Rite i1Basic Pro2 Spectrophotometer can be used with th e-Bridge Color Profile
Tool, it must be installed on your workstation. To install the X-Rite i1Basic Pro2
Spectrophotometer, follow the installation procedure provided by the manufacturer.

Selecting the Device

After completing installation of the X-Rite i1Basic Pro2 Spectrophotometer, you need to confirm
that it can be recognized by the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool software. The Target Reader
application will detect its presence and the target can then be measured.

Open the Target Reader application by clicking on the “Target Reader” Icon.

Click “Spectrometers” in the “File” menu to open up the “Spectrometer

Selection” window. Confirm that the EyeOne spectrometer is shown in the list
of available spectrometers. This indicates that the X-Rite i1Basic Pro2 is
connected to the PC and recognized by the e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool
software. This process takes place automatically when this window is opened.
At this time, only support for the i1Pro instrument has been implemented.

If the EyeOne Spectrometer is not displayed confirm that the device is properly connected and
the EyeOne driver is properly installed.It will not be possible to proceed without a connected i1Pro
instrument.

4
2. Profile Creation
2.1. Printer Characterization

For e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool, the process of creating a useable profile requires
characterization of the printer. The characterization process begins with the optimization
of the MFP and ends with the production of a characterization data file that can be used
to produce a custom ICC profile. In between, there are several distinct steps in the
process.

2.1.1.Optimizing the output of the MFP

• Preventive maintenance of MFP

Perform any required maintenance on the machine to ensure that the copy/print
quality is at an optimum level before proceeding.

• Warm-up the MFP

Be sure that the machine is fully warmed up prior to performing calibration and
characterization of the MFP.

• Calibrate the MFP

Perform both copy and print calibration for all media types before printing
characterization chart.

2.1.2.Printing the Characterization Targets

Characterization is the process of printing a characterization target, then using that target
to create a data file containing the device-space values (RGB or CMYK) corresponding to
a series of printed patches, along with the colorimetric values (XYZ or L*a*b*) measured
on the same patches. This file is created in the Target Reader application. After
calibrating the printer, a characterization target (that is, an arrangement of color patches
on one or more pages) can be printed out and measured, under control of the program,
and the data values are written out to a file on disk. The file that is created is written in a
standard format defined by the Committee for Graphic Arts and Technology Standards
(CGATS), which can then be read and interpreted by the Profile Builder software.

The CMYK characterization targets are supplied in PDF format and can be accessed
from the “Target Files”window within the Target chooser application.

To print the Characterization Targets open the Target Chooser application by clicking on
the “Target Chooser” Icon.

Choose the Charactorization Target

that you want to print from the list of available targets in the “Target Files”
selection box on the left hand side. The selected target will be displayed on
the right hand side of the window.

5
 The following Characterization Targets are available.

Filename Number of Number Description

Patches of Pages
CharTarget_320.pdf 320 1 Toshiba TEC original
CharTarget_IT8-73.pdf 928 3 ANSI IT8.7/3
CharTarget_ECI2002R.pdf 1485 5 ECI
CharTarget_IT8-74.pdf 1617 6 ANSI IT8.7/4

The recommended target for Basic profile creation is (CharTarget_320), a 1 page, 320
Patch, CMYK Characterization Target with 20 columns and 16 rows for use with the Eye-
One Pro. This target was developed by Toshiba specifically to provide the best match for
our MFPs and will provide good results with minimum effort when two pages are printed
with 180º rotation and then averaged together.

After selecting the Charactarization Target, click on “Open Target” at the bottom of the
screen. This will open the target file in Adobe Accrobat

Note: It is recommended that you use Adobe Reader 9.x and 8.x to print the color
characterization test targets. Adobe Reader 10.x is not currently supported

The following is a checklist for printing characterization targets on Toshiba MFP products.
• The MFP must be well maintained. Make sure you service it regularly.
• Make sure the MFP is warmed up before calibration.
• Perform a glass calibration on the print media used to print characterization
targets.
• Turn off all color management and disable any driver color alteration.

Note: To improve accuracy, it is recommended that

you print a minimum of 2 targets rotated 180 degrees
then average the two targets.

To do this, select “Rotate View” from the “View” menu

in Acrobat and rotate the image 180º in either
direction. Then repeat the steps to print a second
target set.

Note: Keep the two sets of characterization targets separate. They must be scanned in
order as a set.

2.1.3.Measuring the Target

Click the “Target Reader” icon to open the application.

6
Click the icon for “Measure Target”.

Select the CharTarget_320.txt characterization target data file and click “Open”.

Note: If you used a different .pdf test target to create your printed target, select the
corresponding .txt file.

Click “Start” at the bottom of the Measure Target screen to begin the measurement.

Calibrate the X-Rite i1Pro Spectrophotometer

You will be prompted to calibrate the i1 Pro device before reading the characterization
target. This ensures a more accurate measurement. Calibration must be performed
before target can be measured.

To calibrate the i1 Pro spectrometer, put the device in cradle and click the “Calibrate”
button. Calibration is performed automatically.

7
When the “Calibration Done” message is displayed Click the [Done] button.

After calibrating the device you can begin measuring the printed target.

Place page 1 of the first printed target in the scanning tray with the top edge toward the
clip. Make sure that it is aligned correctly in the center and held securely in place by the
clipboard style clamp.

Insert the guide tray on top of the target to be scanned.

Insert the i1 Pro Spectrophotometer into the guide so that the feet on the rear of the
device are fully inserted into the black transport carriage and the sensor window aligns
with the opening in the guide as shown in the pictures below.

Align the opening in the guide with the first line of the test target.

8
Move the i1 Pro Spectrophotometer to the white space to the right of the line number.

Press and hold the button on the left side of the i1 Pro Spectrophotometer and listen for a
beep from the workstation. Be sure that the speaker volume is turned up on your
workstation.

As soon as you hear the beep, continue to hold the button and begin moving the i1 Pro
Spectrophotometer toward the right side of the target. Try to move the i1 Pro
Spectrophotometer across the line at a steady rate of speed without stopping and
starting. It should take about 2.5 to 3 seconds to scan the entire line.

Note: Be sure to hold the clear plastic guide securely so that it does not move while
scanning the image.

When you reach the white space at the right end of the line, stop the movement and
release the button.

If the scan is successful, you will hear a double beep and a green square will appear at
the left side of the first line and the red arrow will appear next to the second line. If the
scan is not successful, you will hear a warning tone and the red arrow will remain
alongside the line that you just scanned. Several issues can cause the scan to fail such
as failing to hold the button down thru the entire scan, starting or stopping the scan when
the device is not on the white area, scanning the wrong row, and scanning the line too
fast or too slow. If this occurs simply rescan the line.

9
After successfully scanning the first line move the guide to the position of the second line
and repeat the scanning process.

Repeat the process until all of the lines of the first test target
have been scanned successfully as indicated by the green
square to the left of all of the lines.

Note: The Target Reader application has built in pattern

detection allowing the user to scan the lines from left to right or
right to left. The application will also detect if the wrong line is scanned and indicate an
error.

If the test target that you are scanning consists of multiple pages, repeat the process until
all of the pages of the test target have been scanned.

Note: All pages of a multiple page test target must be scanned in sequential order.

After completing the scan of the first test target, save the data by clicking the [Save]
button. You can save the file anywhere on the workstation using any naming convention
you desire. Please note the location and name of the file so that it can be accessed later.

Repeat the scanning process for the second test target and save that file under a
different name.

When you are finished saving the last file, click “Done” to close the window.

10
2.1.4.Averaging the target data

Click the Target Reader icon and select “Average Targets”.

Click “Add” in the Average Targets window to select data to be averaged.

Select the first file to be averaged and click “Open”.

The selected file will appear in the Average Targets
window.

Click “Add” again and add additional files to be

averaged.

When all of the files that you want to average have been added click the “Average”
button.

11
 The data will be averaged and a “Save Average File As” screen will be displayed. Save
the file using a name that can be easily identified for future use.

After saving the averaged data file you will be returned to

the Average Targets screen. At the bottom you will notice
the name of the “Output Target File” that you just saved is
displayed.

Click the “Done” button at the top to close the Averaged Targets window.

2.1.5.Reviewing Data

Data Viewer provides several ways to view the data to determine if it is suitable for use in
the creation of a profile.

2.1.5.1. Comparing Data Sets

One way to confirm the accuracy of the data collected is to view the characterization data
plots and compare each characterization data set.

A Characterization Data Plot is a diagram that takes each color that was sampled and
plots it in a chart indicating where that color lies within the CIE L*a*b* color space. (See
User Guide v2.0 for information on CIE color space)

To do this you can click on the “Compare

Characterization Data Sets” check box at the
bottom of the Data Viewer window.

12
The averaged data file that you just created will be displayed in the list of files for
comparison.

To compare the averaged data to the original data add

the original data files by clicking the “Add” button and
selecting the data files that you used earlier to create
the averaged data file.

With the files listed in the comparison window you can click on the Characterization Data
Plots buttons and display the characterization data plot for the file that is highlighted. If
you leave the characterization data plot window open the image that is displayed will
change each time a different file name is selected in the “Compare Characterization Data
Sets” window.

The following examples show characterization data plots using accurate target data.
Notice how the plots are all similar in size and shape with minor differences.

13
0º Target Data 180º Target Data Averaged Target Data

0º Target Data 180º Target Data Averaged Target Data

0º Target Data 180º Target Data Averaged Target Data

14
 The following comparison would be an example of inaccurate data. Notice the uneven
edge on the lower portion of the plot. This would indicate an anomaly or inaccurate
sampling of data. This would indicate an error in printing or scanning of the
characterization target. If this occurs you should confirm image quality of the MFP and
repeat the characterization process again to see if it improves.

Accurate data Inaccurate data

Another method of confirming the accuracy of the characterization data is using the Data
Inspector application to confirm the “fit” of characterization data for creating the profile.

2.1.5.2. Data Inspector

Data Inspector not only displays the data but takes it through the forward model
converting the data from CMYK to the LAB color space and displays adherence of the
data to the forward model. If appropriate, the LAB values can be corrected manually.

To open the Data Inspector, click on the “Data Inspector” icon in Data Viewer.

15
The first screen that will be displayed is the Characterization Data Inspector “Colors”
display grid. This window shows a visual representation of the color samples that were
produced during the scanning of the characterization targets or the averaging of
characterization data. The image displayed will vary depending on the data used and the
number of patches in the sampling.

CharTarget_IT8-74R “Color” CharTarget_320 averaged “Color”

The most useful information can be found in the “DeltaE” display grid. This window can
be accessed by clicking on the “DeltaE” radio button in the “Display Grid” box in the
upper right corner.

CharTarget_IT8-74R “DeltaE” CharTarget_320 averaged “DeltaE”

This screen shows a graphic representation of how the characterization data compares to
the calculated Lab values of the forward model. This is done using colored squares to
identify the quality of the data. The first thing that you want to look at is the overall quality
of the data as indicated by the “Data Quality” bar at the bottom. This bar shows the
overall quality of the data using a sliding bar graph that indicates varying degrees of
quality from “Poor” to “Excellent”. The example below shows three different levels, “Poor”,
“Good” and “Very Good”.

Even though the Data Quality bar only shows 4 different categories of quality, it can also
indicate varying degrees of quality within each category. This is done by using a variable
colored background to show different levels. The following sample shows 3 different
levels of “Very Good” indicated by the amount of green in the background. The more
green the higher the quality. At the highest level of quality “Excellent” the bar would be
completely green. Data in the “Very Good” to Excellent” range, are ready to be used for
profile generation and need no further processing.

16
You can also see the quality of each individual patch indicated by its color. The patches
have been color coded to show the difference between the measured and the calculated
Lab values, reported in units of delta-E2000 measurement. The “dE2000 legend” at the
bottom of the screen shows the meaning of the individual colors.

Green deltaE is less than or equal to 1

Blue deltaE is greater than 1 and less than or equal to 3
Yellow deltaE is greater than 3 and less than or equal to 5
Cyan deltaE is greater than 5 and less than or equal to 10
Red deltaE is greater than 10

A representation of very good data would be mostly green and dark blue with a few
scattered yellows. Good data would be indicated by a lower number of green patches
with more dark blues and some yellow patches. Large quantities of yellow patches or any
cyan or red patches would be considered poor quality data and should be troubleshot to
determine the cause before proceeding.

Very Good DeltaE Poor DeltaE

It is possible to have overall good data (mostly green and blue) with 1 patch that is red or
cyan. This is considered an “outlier” usually caused by an anomaly in the image
production such as a spot or flaw in the paper in the area of that patch or a failure in the
target scanning process like lifting the spectrophotometer momentarily during the
scanning process. This should not occur if the target was printed twice and averaged.
This is because the data from the two targets is averaged reducing the possibility of one
patch being far out of range.

In the case of an outlier you should first confirm the cause for the poor quality data.
Confirm that this was not the result of image quality issues on the MFP. If the anomaly is
determined to be of unknown origin you can remove the data for one particular patch

17
 causing it to be ignored during the profile generation process or you can modify the data
to bring it more closely in line with the data of the forward model.

To delete the patch data select the patch and clicking on the “Remove” button in the
lower right side of the screen. If this is done with one patch there should be little effect on
the profile. However if the data from several patches is deleted the profile would be
adversely effected. Keep in mind that deleting 1 patch from the data of the 320 patch
target will have more impact than deleting the data for one patch of the 1617 patch target.
Caution should be used when deleting patch data.

To modify the data compare the LAB_* measured data to the MOD_* calculated data and
modify the LAB_* values to be closer to that of the same MOD_* value. For example
changing the LAB_L value in the following picture from 74.337 to 89.9, LAB_A from -
0.508 to 0.65 and LAB_B from -9.203 to -9.9 would bring the data within range and
restore the patch to green color. It is important to remember that as with deletion of patch
data this can have an adverse effect on the profile itself if over used. Only use this
method with “Outlier” data and only after determining that poor quality data was caused
by an anomaly and not an image quality issue.

If you have made any changes to the characterization data you must save them using the
“Save” button.

2.2. Building the profile

Click on the “Profile Builder” icon in e-BRIDGE Color Profile Tool main menu.

Open the “Characterization Data” selection box by clicking on the blue arrow button. And
browse to the location of the averaged data file that you created earlier.

18
With the averaged data file selected, confirm the following default settings.

• “Profile Parameter Optimization” = “Optimized for Images”

• “Default Rendering Intent” = “Perceptual”
• “Separation Table Size” = “Large”
• “ICC Profile Version” = “Version 2.4”
• “Neutral Axis Settings” and “Black Width Setting” should remain unchanged.
• “User Comments” can contain any notes that the user wants to add about the
specific profile. They can be viewed later.

Click the “Build Profile” icon at the bottom to create your profile.

You will be prompted to name and choose a location to save your profile. When you are
finished, click “Save” to save your profile.

Profile Builder will create the profile and save the results. This step may take several
minutes to complete

When the profile is successfully completed, you will return to the “Profile Builder” main
screen and “Profile Build Completed” will be displayed at the bottom.

19
2.3. Importing the Profile to the MFP

Open TopAccess for the desired MFP.

Click administration tab and log in using the
administrator password.

Select “ICC Profile” from the Setup menu.

Click the “Maintenance” button under “Destination Profile.

In the Destination Profiles Maintenance screen click the “Browse” button, browse to the
location of the profile that you created earlier and click “Open”.

Confirm that the path to your ICC profile is listed in the

File Name window and click “Import”.

20
Confirm that the new profile is displayed in the “Current Profiles” list at the bottom and
click “Previous” button at the top.

Confirm that the new profile is listed in the

“Destination Profiles” drop down list and click “Save”
at the top of the window.

Confirm that you want to save the profile by clicking the ”OK” button when the “Are You
Sure?’ prompt is displayed. This completes the save process and makes your profile
available from the print driver.

Your new profile is now accessible from the Advanced tab in Image Quality / Advanced /
Settings of the PostScript print driver.

21