Not getting solid black?

The black swatch in Illustrator is normally 100% K. To obtain a deeper black you want to use a rich black CMYK value. People all have their preferences but the standard is 50% C 50% M 50% Y 100%K. The RIP will still try to reinterpret that color based on your color profile so if you want to have 100% control over the CMYK values you can create a special color in Versaworks that replaces say 100% K with 50% C 50% M 50% Y 100%K automatically so you don't have to think about it in the future.

 

Almost like we need a sticky post for this.

 

Illustrator has the Libraries feature where you can save color swatches and other items that are frequently used. I've got a couple of different rich blacks in there, my CutContour swatch, etc.

 

There are 2 x Black options in the Roland Color Systems Library, one 100% K and one composite. Using these will give you consistent results and not change with colour management settings

 

Also depends on what profile is used. RGB black (0% R , 0% G , 0% B) in artwork, Roland SP-300V and using profile Oracal 3651 lays down an intense black, literally a puddle of black so thick you can see and feel how thick the ink layer is.

 

my jpeg or tiffs always print better when designed in rgb vs cmyk. i am using corel. i can not get a decent black in .eps file mode at all.

 

If you have the VesaWorks color library installed in Illustrator use spot color BK21A. It gives me consistent blacks every time. John

 

The reg marks are printed using black only. BK21A is black only - give that a try. Better yet, print out the entire Roland Color Library Chart and pick the one you like best.

 

First things first, go to Illustrator preferences to the Appearance of Black tab and notice some of the options. Check to see if you're set to Display All Blacks Accurately and Printing / Exporting Output All Blacks Accurately.

 

The trouble with this method is one does not really have control at all. The given number values are only arbitrary because there is no context as to what color space they're in. The values could possibly result in over-inking or the contrary.

Also, could the OP be designing in RGB where black is defined as an easy 0, 0, 0, no-doubt-about-it-black in any of the common RGB color spaces in any software, layout / RIP / display, etc?

 

The setup you're using could use attention to remedy the waste of ink.

 

EPS files by themselves don't carry an ICC profile. You might try a PDF file type instead but there are still a lot of variables here as far as settings and workflow.

 

I'm sure it's working for but you might be interested to know that the particular swatch is meant to reproduce as a very, very dark gray. (Just above black using a standard 20-step photographer's gray scale.)

 

Usually reg marks are imaged using 100% of CMYK to show actual registration of the 4 colors, thus reg marks.

 

Are you sure this is accurate?

 

I'm looking at my chart on the wall right now and BK21A is 0% C, 0% M, 0% Y, 100% K. BK22A is composite, or rich, black.

 

Do you know where the chart came from and what type of file it's made from? PDF out of Illustrator, Corel maybe? Does your chart have values actually printed along side the swatches?

 

We're referring to the print/cut registration marks here, not color registration marks. The printer only uses black so there are no blurry edges in the case of print head alignment problems.

 

Understood except...

...the OP already has good marks in rich black as to the marks he's already printed. I think you're suggesting he try only a single channel black which may be his trouble to begin with, no?