How to Create an ICC Profile for Third-Party Inks Using X-Rite

Question:
I run a printing shop and recently watched your video about creating custom color profiles. I also saw a comment suggesting that emailing your company is the best way to ask technical questions, so here I am.

1. I have an Epson L15150 and use third-party inks. I can match the output of the original ink using X-Rite?

2. Would this require printing a reference file using the original ink before creating a profile?

I’d appreciate your insights on this!

Answer:
Thank you for reaching out! I sincerely apologize for the delay in responding. I understand that achieving accurate color reproduction is crucial in a printing business, and I want to provide the most detailed and helpful answer possible. We at BCH Technologies (https://bchtechnologies.com) greatly appreciate your engagement and support, particularly on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback helps us improve and share valuable content.

Now, let’s address your questions.

1. Can an ICC Profile Make Third-Party Ink Match OEM Ink?

Creating an ICC profile can help your third-party ink print results closely resemble the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) ink. The ICC profile acts as a color correction tool, ensuring your printer interprets colors accurately regardless of the ink used.

Using an ICC profile is particularly important when:

• You are using multiple computers (for design, production, etc.) and want them all to display the same colors.

• You have multiple printers using different ink brands and must ensure color consistency across all.

• You need to maintain accurate color reproduction across different print batches.

However, achieving this requires precise profiling with an X-Rite device like the i1 Publish Pro 3 or ColorMunki. These devices can create a color profile tailored to your ink and printer combination.

2. Do I Need to Print a Reference File Using OEM Ink First?

Not necessarily. While some professional workflows involve printing a reference chart using OEM ink to compare with third-party ink results, this is not always required. Here’s what you need to do:

• Print a Color Target Chart using your third-party ink without applying any existing ICC profile.

• Use the X-Rite spectrophotometer to measure the printed colors.

• Generate a new ICC profile based on those measurements.

• Apply the ICC profile to your printing workflow to correct color discrepancies.

If you had an ICC profile for OEM ink and could compare prints side by side, that would help determine how much adjustment is needed. However, it’s not mandatory.

Additional Considerations:

• Each printer, ink, and paper combination requires a separate ICC profile. You must create a new profile if you switch to a different third-party ink brand or paper type.
  

• Monitor calibration is essential. If you’re working with digital designs, ensure your monitor is calibrated with an X-Rite tool to display colors accurately. Otherwise, what you see on the screen may not match the printed result.

• Alternatives to Creating Your ICC Profile: Since creating profiles requires specific tools and expertise, you may consider outsourcing it. Some professionals on platforms like Etsy offer custom ICC profile services.

Next Steps:

1. If you don’t already own an X-Rite spectrophotometer, consider investing in one, such as the i1 Publish Pro 3.
   

2. Print a color target using your current printer and third-party ink setup.

3. Use the X-Rite device to scan the print and generate a custom ICC profile.

4. Apply the ICC profile in your printing software to improve color accuracy.

5. If you need a custom ICC profile but don’t want to create one yourself, consider using third-party services to generate one.

Creating a proper ICC profile can improve print quality and ensure consistency across devices and jobs.

Addressing printer-related issues and color calibration can be technical and hands-on. Unfortunately, we do not provide remote troubleshooting or custom ICC profile creation. However, our local diagnostic facility offers in-person evaluation and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, our services are on a first-come, first-served basis so that availability may be limited. Our goal is to assist with whole printer repairs or specific component issues, but if you prefer a more cost-effective solution, we highly encourage self-research and troubleshooting.

For additional guidance, check out our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search function to find videos related to ICC profiling, color management, and printer setup. We’ve been making instructional content for nearly a decade, so you’ll likely find helpful videos. Plus, YouTube’s algorithm might suggest relevant content from other creators that could be helpful.

Thank you again for your support. I hope this helps. Please feel free to contact me if you need further clarification.