Introduction
Maintaining accurate color and smooth gradients in digital printing starts with density linearization. This process ensures optimal ink usage, stable calibration, and high-quality output across all jobs.
Key Takeaways
- Density linearization sets the baseline for print quality and consistency
- It prevents over-inking and ensures smooth gradients
- Channel limits help reduce ink waste and save money
- Smooth transitions between light and dark inks are essential
- Ergosoft’s integrated tools deliver precision and cost savings
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What Is Density Linearization?
The initial density linearization of your printer will serve as the baseline calibration for the printing system. It is a significant component of your company’s print quality and consistency. This process is one of the most important elements of quality control in a print shop, and as such it is directly linked to the quality of your product.
In short, density linearization is process that all digital printers require. When properly done, it will ensure smooth gradients, prevents over-inking, and establishes a baseline that can be restored in the future.
There are two primary functions that a density linearization serves. Ultimately, it is measuring the performance of your ink channels to determine the optimal correlation between ink volume and color density, and it is ensuring a smooth transition between zero and 100% of each ink channel.
Setting Primary Channel Limits: Save Ink, Save Money
Generally speaking, a printer from the factory can lay down more ink volume than is required for good color. In fact, there is a certain point where a printer can lay down more ink and the color does not improve at all. If this is not corrected, you are just wasting ink and negatively impacting your color output. In color management lingo this is called ‘hooking’. It is a basic characteristic of digital printing that happens on all systems. Therefore, when a new printer is installed and set up, it is necessary to cap the 100% of each channel down to a new limit. This is one of the central pillars of the linearization process.
By using a spectrophotometer and measuring the performance of the ink on the substrate, we able to determine the precise point at which your primary channels begin to hook.
A new limit is then applied to each ink channel.
The importance of this element cannot be overstated. By objectively measuring the performance of the printing system, we can ensure that you have the best possible color with the least possible ink. This directly saves you money.
One interesting side note: In Ergosoft 2025, we’ve introduced a feature that allows you to view the linearization curves in a 3D space. This enables the user to visualize the precise point where hooking begins to occur.
Ensuring Smooth Transitions in Gradients
The other important element of a density linearization is the smoothness of your different ink volumes from 0 to 100 percent of each channel. The linearization chart has different color patches that each reflect different amounts of ink. Those measurements are critical for making sure that any design file that uses a gradient will accurately reflect a smooth transition between different ink densities.
In terms of light ink handling, the light ink and the primary channel are treated as one continuous row of patches in the linearization chart. You can then use Ergosoft to determine the transition point where the light ink is no longer used and the primary channel takes over. This can ensure the optimal benefit of your light inks, and also help to prevent over-inking.
Ergosoft’s Integrated Tools for Linearization
In Ergosoft, we offer an integrated density linearization tool that leverages a proprietary process using iterative chart scans. The iterative nature of our linearization is unique to Ergosoft, and delivers highly accurate measurements, considerable savings on ink, and dramatically smooth gradients.
Ergosoft also offers precision control over dot size transition and light ink handling.
For example, you can determine the exact point at which your dot size transition takes place. For some applications, such as sublimation on metal substrates, you can even eliminate the large dot from the linearization entirely.
Conclusion
Whether you’re using a spot color workflow or process colors with an ICC profile, the density linearization is a critical component of quality output.
With the integrated tools in Ergosoft, you can calibrate your printing system with any type of ink set and for any application.
If you’re interested in one-to-one training with us, please feel free to contact us at es.info@ergosoft.net
You can also take a look at our YouTube videos here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is density linearization important for print shops?
It ensures consistent color, smooth gradients, and optimal ink usage, which directly improves print quality and reduces costs.
How does linearization save money?
By capping ink channel limits, it prevents over-inking and reduces unnecessary ink consumption.
What role do light inks play in the process?
Light inks extend smooth gradients and improve transitions, but linearization ensures they are used efficiently without waste.
What makes Ergosoft’s linearization unique?
Ergosoft uses an iterative chart scan process for highly precise calibration, plus tools for 3D visualization, dot size control, and light ink handling.
Can linearization be applied to all types of inks and substrates?
Yes, Ergosoft supports any ink set and printing application, including specialized substrates like metal for sublimation.