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.
Using your own DeviceLink Profiles
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.
DeviceLink in the Switchboard
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
DeviceLink as Fixup
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.
Editing a DeviceLink Fixup
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.
Use a DeviceLink Fixup to reduce color limit to 300%
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%.
List of integrated DeviceLink profiles
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 |