1. Overview and Important Notes

1.1 Important Reminder

In 99% of cases, we do not recommend regular users to fine-tune ICC profiles.

This is because fine-tuning involves complex color management knowledge. Improper operation may lead to:

• Printed colors do not match expectations.
• Certain colors are not printing correctly.
• Wasting large amounts of ink and media.

1.2 Our Recommendation

If fine-tuning is absolutely necessary, please contact the LINKO technical support team as soon as possible.

They will provide professional evaluation and guidance.

1.3 Applicable Scope

This guide is recommended for users of LINKO brand DTF or UV printers, and for those who have some basic understanding of color management.

Do not use this guide for other brands or unrelated printing scenarios.

2. What Is ICC Profile Fine-Tuning?

2.1 Definition

Fine-tuning is a process to further optimize color output based on the existing ICC profile.

It allows you to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation to make printed results more accurate.

2.2 Why Do You Need It?

In some special cases, the default ICC profile may not fully meet your needs.

Fine-tuning can help:

• Improve color accuracy;
• Fix visible color shifts;
• Adapt to special materials or inks.

3. Preparation Before Fine-Tuning

3.1 Confirm ICC Profile Is Imported

Make sure you have already imported the correct ICC profile into PrintFactory.

If not, please follow the instructions in the “PrintFactory ICC Profile Import Guide.”

3.2 Prepare Image File

Save the image file you plan to print on your computer, and make sure it is easy to locate.

3.3 Understand the Risks

Fine-tuning may affect the color gamut, output color balance, and gray scale.

If you are not familiar with how it works, it’s safer to keep the default settings.

4. Steps

4.1 Launch PrintFactory RIP Software

On your computer desktop, find and double-click the PrintFactory RIP software icon to launch it.

4.2 Access the Calibrator

In the PrintFactory software interface, find and click the “Target” iconin the upper left corner. This will open the Print Factory Calibrator window.

4.3 Select Media and Mode

In the “Print Factory Calibrator” window, first click the corresponding file in the “Media” list (usually the paper or media profile you are using), then click the corresponding file in the “Mode” list (e.g., CMYK mode).

4.4 Edit the Dot Gain Curve

After selecting the media and mode, click the “Edit the dot gain curve” button to open the curve editing interface.

: Edit the dot gain curve

4.5 Fine-Tune ICC Profile

4.5.1 Input

This means the original brightness or tone level of a color in your image file.

4.5.2 Output

This tells the printer how much ink to spray in order to recreate that brightness or tone on paper.

4.5.3 How to Adjust

On the screen, you will see a curve. This curve tells the printer how to output each brightness level in your image.

You can click or drag points on this curve. Each point represents a tone area: some control the bright areas, some the dark areas, and some the midtones.

When you adjust a point, you are giving instructions to the printer.

For example:

“For this brightness range in the image, the print looks too dark. Please spray more ink to make it brighter.”

Or:

“This area looks too bright. Please use less ink to make it darker.”

▲Only adjust 1–2 points at a time, and always print a test sample to check the result.

4.6 Select Different Color Channels for Adjustment

Dot gain curve adjustments are not limited to overall adjustments for all colors; you can also perform more precise control for individual color channels.

4.6.1 Select a Single Color Channel

• Click the “Master” button. From the options that appear, you can select different independent color channels for adjustment. Common channels include: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, and spot color channels (e.g., if supported and configured, you might see White, Fluorescent Green, Varnish, etc.).
• Adjusting the curve for a single color channel can address issues with specific inks, correct color casts, or optimize the performance of individual inks. This allows for more precise, localized adjustments to a single color.

Example: If you find the printed image has an overall red cast (too much red), you can select the “Magenta” channel curve for fine-tuning, appropriately reducing its output in certain brightness ranges to precisely eliminate the red cast without affecting the balance of other colors.

• By selecting different color channels and adjusting them separately, you can more accurately control the output characteristics of each ink, resulting in color reproduction and print results that better meet your expectations.

4.7 Reset the Curve

If you find the results unsatisfactory during adjustment, or wish to return to the initial state, click the “Reset” button. This will restore the current curve to its default or imported state.

4.8 Save Curve Fine-Tuning Settings

After completing all curve fine-tuning adjustments, click the “Save” button. This will save all your adjustments to the curve. After saving, you can close the curve editing interface and the Calibrator window. Your curve fine-tuning settings are now active, and subsequent print jobs will use these new curve parameters.

You have now completed all ICC profile fine-tuning steps.

If you need further assistance, please contact the LINKO technical support team.