Lighten or calibrate ArcPress color

Summary

There are several methods available to lighten or calibrate ArcPress color when it may print darker than expected.

The solutions below are organized by product, version, and operating system.

Procedure

• ArcPress for ArcMap 9.2 and above.
  
  
  For printing to most HP Designjets, use the HP Universal driver.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcMap 9.0 and 9.1.
  
  
  For printing to an HP DesignJet 450, 500, 750, 800, 1050/1055, 2500, 3500, and 5000/5500 series printer, use the HP RTL (RGB) TrueColor driver.
  <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/17281' target='_blank'>FAQ: Does ArcPress support the HP DesignJet 5500, 5000, 800 or 500?</a>
  
  For printing to an HP DesignJet 10PS, 20PS, 30PS, 50PS, 100, 110, 110+, 130/130nr, or 500, use the HP PCL (RGB) TrueColor driver.
  <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/28509' target='_blank'>How To: Print with ArcPress to the HP DesignJet 500, 30PS and 130/130nr</a>
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcMap 8.1, 8.1.2, 8.2, 8.3.
  
  
  For printing to an HP DesignJet 450, 500, 750, 800, 1050/1055, 2500, 3500, and 5000/5500 series printer, use the ArcPress RTL Device Dithered RGB driver.
  <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/17281' target='_blank'>FAQ: Does ArcPress support the HP DesignJet 5500, 5000, 800 or 500?</a>
  
  When printing to another printer that uses a non-true color printer driver such as the RTL Device Dithered RGB driver, the best way to lighten the output is to reduce the percentages of CMYK. ESRI recommends setting CYAN, MAGENTA and YELLOW to 55% and BLACK to 90%.
  
  Applying a percentage of hue-lightness-saturation (HLS) lightness or HLS saturation and/or a percentage of under color removal (UCR) or gray component replacement (GCR) can also help improve output.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcMap 8.0.1, 8.0.2.
  
  
  The best way to lighten the output is to reduce the percentages of CMYK. ESRI recommends setting CYAN, MAGENTA and YELLOW to 55% and BLACK to 90%.
  
  Applying a percentage of hue-lightness-saturation (HLS) lightness or HLS saturation and/or a percentage of under color removal (UCR) or gray component replacement (GCR) can also help improve output.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcView GIS 3.x.
  
  
  For printing to an HP DesignJet 450, 500, 750, 800, 1050/1055, 2500, 3500, and 5000/5500 series printer, use the ArcPress RTL Device Dithered RGB driver.
  <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/17281' target='_blank'>FAQ: Does ArcPress support the HP DesignJet 5500, 5000, 800 or 500?</a>
  
  To select the RTL Device Dithered RGB driver:
  

  1. Click Print. 
  2. On the Print menu, select the appropriate HP DesignJet printer from the Printer drop-down list. 
  3. Select HP RTL from the Device drop-down list. 
  4. Click Options. 
  5. On the Color tab, select the RGB Configuration radio button. 
  6. This enables the Hardware check box under Dithering. Check this box. 
  
  This disables all the color correction, saturation and dithering options. 
  
  7. Click OK to approve these options.
  8. Click OK on the Print menu to print.

  
  
  When printing to a another printer that uses a non true color printer driver such as the RTL Device Dithered RGB driver, the best way to lighten the output is to reduce the percentages of CMYK.
  

  1. Send the layout or view to ArcPress by clicking File > ArcPress or the ArcPress button. 
  2. Click Print.
  3. Select the printer.
  4. Select the device.
  5. Click Options.
  6. Click the Color tab. Change the values for Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow to 55. Change the value for Black to 90. (See below)
  Another option is to lower the total color saturation. However, better color control is achieved by modifying the CMYK values.
  7. Click OK in the Options dialog box. 
  8. Click OK to print.

  
  
  If the map includes images, lighten the colors in the legend editor in ArcView before printing.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcInfo Print menu 8.1 and above on PC.
  
  
  For printing to an HP DesignJet 450, 500, 750, 800, 1050/1055, 2500, 3500, and 5000/5500 series printer, use the ArcPress RTL Device Dithered RGB driver.
  <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/17281' target='_blank'>FAQ: Does ArcPress support the HP DesignJet 5500, 5000, 800 or 500?</a>
  
  To select the RTL Device Dithered RGB driver:
  

  A. Select the file to print.
  B. Select ArcPress from the Driver drop-down list.
  C. Click Print. 
  D. On the Print menu, select the HP DesignJet printer from the Printer drop-down list.
  E. Select HP RTL from the Device drop-down list.
  F. Click Options. 
  G. On the Color tab, select the RGB Configuration radio button. 
  H. This enables the Hardware check box under Dithering. Check this box. 
  
  This disables all the color correction, saturation and dithering options. 
  
  I. Click OK to approve these options. 
  J. Click OK on the Print menu to print.

  
  
  If the printer is not one of the printers listed above and therefore can not use the RTL Device Dithered RGB driver, then reduce the percentages of CMYK.
  

  1. Start ArcInfo Print. At 9.x, go to Start / Programs / ArcGIS / ArcInfo Workstation / Print.
  2. Browse to the EPS file (or other ArcPress readable file).
  3. Click the Driver drop down list and select ArcPress.
  4. Click Print.
  5. Click the Printer drop down list and select the printer.
  6. Click the Device drop down list and select the appropriate ArcPress device printer for the currently selected printer.
  7. Click Options.
  8. Select the Color tab.
  9. Change the percentages of Cyan, Magenta and Yellow from 100 to 55 and change the percentage of Black from 100 to 90.
  10. Proceed with printing as usual.

  
  
  
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcInfo Print menu 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.2.1, 8.0.x on PC
  
  
  Reduce the percentages of CMYK or total color saturation.
  

  1. Start ArcInfo Print. At 9.x, go to Start / Programs / ArcGIS / ArcInfo Workstation / Print.
  2. Browse to the EPS file (or other ArcPress readable file).
  3. Click the Driver drop down list and select ArcPress.
  4. Click Print.
  5. Click the Printer drop down list and select the printer.
  6. Click the Device drop down list and select the appropriate ArcPress device printer for the currently selected printer.
  7. Click Options.
  8. Select the Color tab.
  9. Change the percentages of Cyan, Magenta and Yellow from 100 to 55 and change the percentage of Black from 100 to 90.
  10. Proceed with printing as usual.

  
  
  
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcInfo on UNIX PLOT menu.
  
  
  Reduce the percentages of CMYK or total color saturation. ESRI recommends changing cyan, magenta, and yellow from 100 to 55 and black to 90.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcInfo on the command line 8.1 and above
  
  
  For printing to an HP DesignJet 450, 500, 750, 800, 1050/1055, 2500, 3500, and 5000/5500 series printer, use the ArcPress RTL Device Dithered RGB driver.
  <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/17281' target='_blank'>FAQ: Does ArcPress support the HP DesignJet 5500, 5000, 800 or 500?</a>
  
  To select the RTL Device Dithered RGB driver:
  

  1. Click Print. 
  2. On the Print menu, select the appropriate HP DesignJet printer from the Printer drop-down list. 
  3. Select HP RTL from the Device drop-down list. 
  4. Click Options. 
  5. On the Color tab, select the RGB Configuration radio button. 
  6. This enables the Hardware check box under Dithering. Check this box. 
  
  This disables all the color correction, saturation and dithering options. 
  
  7. Click OK to approve these options.
  8. Click OK on the Print menu to print.

  
  
  Otherwise, reduce the percentages of CMYK by using a color file (-c{_i|_v}<file>). Consult the online ArcInfo Workstation documentation ArcDoc for more information on how to use this flag.
  
  Applying a percentage of hue-lightness-saturation (HLS) lightness or HLS saturation and/or a percentage of under color removal (UCR) or gray component replacement (GCR) can also help improve output.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcInfo on the command line 8.0.1, 8.0.2
  
  
  Try reducing the percentages of CMYK by using a color file (-c{_i|_v}<file>). Consult the online ArcInfo Workstation documentation ArcDoc for more information on how to use this flag.
  
  Applying a percentage of hue-lightness-saturation (HLS) lightness or HLS saturation and/or a percentage of under color removal (UCR) or gray component replacement (GCR) can also help improve output.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcInfo on the command line 7.1.1, 7.2.1.
  
  
  Try reducing the percentages of CMYK by using a color file (-c{_i|_v}<file>). Consult the online ArcInfo Workstation documentation ArcDoc for more information on how to use this flag.
  
  
• ArcPress for ArcInfo on the command line 7.0.4, 7.1.
  
  
  Try reducing the percentages of CMYK by using a color file (-c<file>). Consult the online ArcInfo Workstation documentation ArcDoc or ArcPress for ArcView GIS documentation for more information on how to use this flag.