VersaWorks Gradient Help with Roland Spot Colors

[buggyjr12]

I'm using VersaWorks version 5.5.1 with a Roland SP-540V.

I'm having problems printing a gradient using the Roland Color System Library.

The light blue (RVW-PR19H) is printing fine as the spot color around the rectangle, but it is being changed to a greenish color in the gradient.

I've sent this to VersaWorks as both RGB and CMYK, EPS and PDF.

I've tried rasterizing it before export, exporting it as a .tiff, etc.

I've printed gradients successfully in the past so I know it isn't the profile.

However, whenever I change "Pre-Press U.S." to something like "MAX IMPACT" in the Color Management tab, it fixes the gradient issue but it mutes out all of the other colors (the red spot color looks muddy brown, etc.).

Does anyone have any suggestions?? I'm about twelve hours and a half mile of material invested in test prints.

See attached...

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

Being you have been able to do good gradients in past with the same printer and VW, and the same inks?
What does your nozzle test print look like? Any defected nozzles?
On this model printer, all colors need to be firing perfectly to get the desired results.

 

[buggyjr12]

Being you have been able to do good gradients in past with the same printer and VW, and the same inks?
What does your nozzle test print look like? Any defected nozzles?
On this model printer, all colors need to be firing perfectly to get the desired results.

Here is my test print...

The printer prints the spot color perfectly if it is not part of a gradient.

The light blue in the gradient and the light blue outline around the rectangle in the first post are both RVW-PR19h. The RVW-PR19H outline prints accurately, the RVW-PR19H in the gradient prints teal.

If I mess with the Color Management settings I can get it to print ALL of the RVW-PR19h as "teal," but I can't make it print correctly.

That leads me to believe the problem is the color "interpretation" in the software somewhere.

The printer prints fine.

 

[buggyjr12]

Well, I think I figured it out. It's not possible.

This is from the Roland support website: "You cannot create gradients using multiple spot colors. Special color gradient supports only one color."

I just did a test using two generic colors from the default color palette and it printed correctly.

 

[cornholio]

Ok, but it's not possible, that you had the same problem with a rasterized file...

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

Go to the Queue settings and make sure both boxes are checked for Convert Spot color and Special colors. Bring file back in.

 

[buggyjr12]

Go to the Queue settings and make sure both boxes are checked for Convert Spot color and Special colors. Bring file back in.

The "Convert Spot Color" box is checked but the "Special Color Setting" section is dithered out.

 

[buggyjr12]

I even tried creating two new colors using the CMYK values of the Roland Spot Colors I'm trying to use and used them in my gradient and had the same issue.

I tried creating them as both BRG and CMYK and it makes no difference.

I'm baffled.

VersaWorks will not print a gradient containing light blue. It turns it teal green.

Any other suggestions?

I've wasted days on this.

It's maddening.

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

So it is a SP-540v.
Try Generic Vinyl profile.
Special Color settings check in Queue settings, not job settings.

 

[buggyjr12]

So it is a SP-540v.
Try Generic Vinyl profile.
Special Color settings check in Queue settings, not job settings.

Yes, it's an SP-540V.

I'm currently using "CWVR (Calendered Wrap Vinyl (ESM)."

I tried "Roland DGA GCVP" and "Generic Vinyl" profiles.

I checked "Convert Spot Color" and "Convert Special Color" and made sure "Use Spot Color Library" was checked in the "Spot Color Details" screen.

None of these things gave me good results. Just varying levels of bad.

Lastly, I made a gradient using two random colors off of the default palate and they printed fine.

So, I then changed the CMYK values of those colors (the default colors are LAB colors) to match the CMYK values of the colors I'm trying to print off of my Roland Color System Library chart (RVW-PR21F = C:50 M:14) and tried to replicate the results. The color inside the gradient printed just like the color of the border, so the gradient issue is fixed, but the colors are off. C:50 M:14 does not look anything like RVW-PR21F.

I don't get it.

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

You may need to print a new RVW Color library chart. Just make sure that you put all the settings that your final job is going to be into Queue A quality’s settings Before you print the chart.
The chart is only as good as the way the machine is printing at any given time and the material you’re using. So, you may need to print new charts from time to time. Also, if your final job is going to be laminated, you need to laminate the chart. You need to treat the chart exactly the way you’re going to be treating your final print the job

 

[buggyjr12]

You may need to print a new RVW Color library chart. Just make sure that you put all the settings that your final job is going to be into Queue A quality’s settings Before you print the chart.
The chart is only as good as the way the machine is printing at any given time and the material you’re using. So, you may need to print new charts from time to time. Also, if your final job is going to be laminated, you need to laminate the chart. You need to treat the chart exactly the way you’re going to be treating your final print the job

I printed a new color chart right before I started.

It's not that the colors are off a little, they're different colors. The blue is rendered green in the gradient but only in the gradient. It prints just fine when not part of a gradient.

Roland says it's not possible to make a gradient with spot colors so I'm assuming that hasn't changed.

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

Yes, you can create a gradient using spot colors, but it's a bit more complex than a standard RGB or CMYK gradient.Essentially, you're creating a gradient between different spot colors or shades within the same spot color.

How it works:

• Spot Color Gradient:
  Instead of blending multiple colors, you're transitioning between different shades or variations of a single spot color.
  
  
• Spot-to-Spot Gradient:
  You can also create a gradient between two distinct spot colors.
  
  
• Software Limitations:
  Some software might not support creating gradients directly with spot colors, so you might need to use workarounds or specific settings.
  
  
• Overprinting:
  Techniques like overprinting can be used to create a gradient effect with spot colors, where the colors are layered and blended on top of each other.
  
  
• Transparency:
  Adjusting the transparency of spot colors can also help create a gradient effect.
  

In essence, while you can't create a full-fledged gradient with multiple spot colors like you can with RGB or CMYK, you can achieve a similar effect through techniques like overprinting, transparency adjustments, and creating gradients within a single spot color.
The real issue is will your version of Versa works replicate the gradients properly, so there is this:
No, you cannot create a gradient using multiple spot colors directly within VersaWorks. However, you can achieve a similar effect by using a gradient curve for a single spot color.

In essence:

• VersaWorks doesn't support gradients with multiple spot colors.You can't mix various spot colors within a gradient directly.
• You can create a gradient with a single spot color: Use the gradient curve feature to adjust the intensity or shade of a single spot color across the desired area.
• Special color gradients support only one color: If you're aiming for a gradient effect with a special color like metallic or gloss, you're limited to a single color within that gradient.

Three Simple Steps for Managing Multiple Gradients

Multiple gradients placed inside multiple, compound clipping paths can be difficult to cut.

www.rolanddga.com

 

[buggyjr12]

I would need to see a video tutorial on how to do this. I'm using Flexi19 and I'm not aware of any way to do any of the things described above.