Ink savings can first be maximized with the following settings in the Ink Optimizing Solution DeviceLink Definition:

  1. Set Black Start to 0. This ensures that Black ink will be used instead of CMY to produce the gray component of colors.
  2. Set Max Black to 100. This ensures that as much Black as possible can be used.
  3. Set Black Strength to 100. This ensures that the Black ink will replace CMY ink to the maximum extent possible. Ideally, Black should be increased, replacing CMY, until at least one of Cyan, Magenta and Yellow approaches zero, or Black approaches 100%. Ink Optimizing Solution improvements in ColorFlow 11.0.2 maximize this effect.

For further ink savings, use the Limit Dark Point Total Ink feature. This reduces ink consumption by slightly lightening dark colors, while preserving detail.

  1. Select Limit Dark Point Total Ink to:
  2. Reduce the associated Total Ink value. Lower values will increase ink savings, at the expense of less output dynamic range.

Kodak recommends an initial value of about two-thirds the value in the Total Ink Limit: field. You can assess the ink savings, as described in Verifying your ink savings, and gauge the effect on image quality by comparing refined or output PDF files in a PDF viewer.

Example:  Ink Optimizing Solution DeviceLinks for reseparating FOGRA 40 content.

  1. FOGRA 40 ICC device profiles have a typical Total Ink Limit of 270. To maintain the chroma extent of images, set the Ink Optimizing DeviceLink Total Ink Limit to 270.
  2. Select Rendering Intent: Perceptual to ensure highest quality image rendering.
  3. Set Black Start to 0, Max Black to 100 and Black Strength to 100 as above.
  4. Select Limit Dark Point Total Ink to: and enter Total Ink value 180 (two-thirds of 270).
  5. Click OK.

Ink savings are analysed using the test form shown below, separated with a FOGRA 40 device profile and then reseparated with each of two Ink Optimizing Solution DeviceLinks, the last one using Limit Dark Point Total Ink feature.


Test Case

Total Ink Limit

Dark Point Total Ink Limit

Dark Point L*Substrate L*

Average CMYK

Average Total ink

Original FOGRA 40 Separation270270158927, 30, 34, 18109
Ink Op Reseparation270270158914, 19, 23, 2884

Ink Op Reseparation with Dark Point Total Ink Limit

270

180

18.5

89

13, 18, 22, 28

81

The first Ink Op DeviceLink reduces ink consumption by 23%; the second reduces it by 26%. Note that half of the images in this test form are highly chromatic, limiting the opportunity to replace CMY inks with Black. Less chromatic content will yield lower total ink and higher ink savings.