DeviceLink conversion

The purpose of DeviceLink conversion

DeviceLink Profiles complement the use of standard ICC Profiles, countering the weaknesses (for certain purposes) of color conversion based on ICC Profiles. These weaknesses primarily involve CMYK-CMYK transformation and generally lead to loss of data relating to black generation and the number (and configuration/purity) of color channels used.

A CMYK-CMYK transformation using ICC Profiles, however, always uses the device-independent lab color space, which leads to complete re-separation of the data and sometimes to unexpected and undesirable results.

DeviceLink Profiles prevent this outcome: they allow direct control of the color composition without the extra work of using an intermediate color space.

There are also DeviceLink Profiles with differing source and target color spaces.

The callas DeviceLink Library includes a set of the most commonly used DeviceLink Profiles.
However, you can also install your own DeviceLink Profiles. More on this issue can be found in this chapter.

You can very easily use your own Profiles for DeviceLink conversion with the pdfToolbox. Simply click on the “Import” button in the DeviceLink Action or in the “Convert colors with DeviceLink Profiles” Fixup, then select a Profile from your system.

An XML file with descriptive text and a PNG file with the icon (all three with identical names, differing only by the file extension) will be automatically generated. These can be customized according to your exact needs.

Please note that Profiles must end with the “icc” file extension in order to be imported.

Example XML file

<?xml version=”1.0” encoding=”UTF-8” ?>
<devicelink>
<profile lang=”ENU”>
<header>DeviceLink_ISOcoatedV2_280_GCR70</header>
<explanation>This is the descriptive text for the DeviceLink profile.</explanation>
</profile>
</devicelink>

If you make any changes to the XML file, make sure to save it in UTF-8 format.

You can also create different sets of descriptive text for different languages: simply copy the area designated “ENU” and mark it with e.g. “DEU”. If only the “ENU” section exists, it will be used for all languages.

Example PNG file

The PNG file should be 64x64 pixels in size. It is only used in the Switchboard and only needs to be changed if you wish to use your own icon.

Beispiel PNG-Datei
Switchboard-Aktionsfenster

Import and use paths

You can easily select and import DeviceLink Profiles using the “Import” button.

The Profile will then be stored in your user preferences (in the current library from Version 9 onwards).

The files to be used for your own DeviceLink Profiles will be stored under the following paths:

Mac:

/Users/<USERNAME>/Library/Preferences/callas software/callas pdfToolbox <VERSION>/Repositories/<CURRENT LIBRARY>/DeviceLink

Windows:

%AppData%\callas software\callas pdfToolbox <VERSION>\Repositories\<CURRENT LIBRARY>\DeviceLink

The pdfToolbox is supplied with a range of DeviceLink conversions as standard.
From Version 9 onwards, these can be found in the “DeviceLink” Library.
Starting with version 10.1, the previously required add-on license is no longer necessary and a large set of new DeviceLink profiles is included (old set of DeviceLink Profiles are attached just below).

You can also use your own DeviceLink profiles with pdfToolbox, of course.

To use your own DeviceLink Profiles, simply create a new Fixup.

Alternately, you can edit existing Fixups and create duplicates in order to e.g. produce variants depending on the objects to be converted.

To import your own DeviceLink Profiles, simply click on the “Import” button.

The input file’s color limit is over 300%.

This can be visualized in the standalone version using the “Highlight total color limit” tool in the “View” menu.

After applying the Fixup named “Convert colors using DeviceLink sheetfed offset, reduce to 300% ink limit (ISO)”, the output file has a color limit below 300%.

RGB to CMYK

Source
Target
Adobe RGB (1998)
ISO Coated v2
Adobe RGB (1998)
PSO Coated v3
sRGB
ISO Coated v2
sRGB PSO Coated v3

Conversions between standards - Europe

Source
Target
ISO Coated v2
PSO Coated v3
PSO Coated v3
ISO Coated v2
PSOsc b_paper v3 (FOGRA54)
ISO Coated v2
PSOsc b_paper v3 (FOGRA54)
PSO Coated v3
ISO Coated v2
eciCMYK
PSO Coated v3 eciCMYK
eciCMYK
ISO Coated v2
eciCMYK
PSO Coated v3
ISO Coated v2
PSOsc b_paper v3 (FOGRA54)
PSO Coated v3 PSOsc b_paper v3 (FOGRA54)
PSO Uncoated v2 PSO Uncoated v3
PSO Uncoated v3
PSO Uncoated v2
PSO Coated v3 PSO Uncoated v3
ISO Coated v2 ISO Newsprint
ISO Coated v2 PSO LWC Standard
ISO Coated v2 PSO LWC Improved
ISO Coated v2 ISO Web Coated
ISO Coated v2
SC Paper
ISO Coated v3
ISO Newsprint
ISO Coated v3
PSO LWC Standard
ISO Coated v3 PSO LWC Improved
ISO Coated v3
ISO Web Coated
ISO Coated v3
SC Paper
PSO LWC Improved
ISO Newsprint
ISO Web Coated ISO Newsprint

Conversions between standards – Europe/Japan

Source
Target
ISO Coated v2
Japan Color 2001 Coated
PSO Coated v3
Japan Color 2001 Coated
Japan Color 2001 Coated
ISO Coated v2
Japan Color 2001 Coated
PSO Coated v3

Conversions between standards – Europe/US

Source
Target
ISO Coated v2
Coated GRACoL 2006
PSO Coated v3
Coated GRACoL 2006
Coated GRACoL 2006
ISO Coated v2
Coated GRACoL 2006 PSO Coated v3
Coated GRACoL 2006 Web Coated SWOP grade 3
Coated GRACoL 2006
Web Coated SWOP grade 5
Web Coated SWOP grade 3
Web Coated SWOP grade 5

TAC reduction

Source and target profile
TAC percentage
ISO Coated v2
330
ISO Coated v2
300
PSO Coated v3
300
PSO Uncoated v3
280
ISO Uncoated 280
ISO Web Coated 300
PSO LWC Standard
300
PSO LWC Improved
300
Coated GRACoL 2006 320
SWOP 3
300
SWOP 5
280
Japan Color 2011
340
ISO News 240