Reading an Ink Heatmap
A heatmap makes spatial differences in an ink measurement easier to see. Its colours are an overlay legend; they are not the colours that will be printed. A bright region is not by itself a failed production check.
A heatmap makes spatial differences in an ink measurement easier to see. Its colours are an overlay legend; they are not the colours that will be printed. A bright region is not by itself a failed production check.
The measurement method, page coverage and unavailable-data rules are explained in Ink Coverage. That guide is the shared reference for this topic; this page keeps the reading workflow in one place.
Read the evidence before the colours
- Confirm which page was measured and which quantity the legend represents.
- Distinguish measured engine data from a screen-rendered estimate. A colour preview cannot prove CMYK separation values.
- Check whether plate data exists. An unavailable plate or unmeasured page is unknown, not zero ink.
- Compare with the provider's paper/process limit. A heatmap does not certify compliance with a FOGRA condition or an ICC profile.
- Review suspect regions in the source artwork and in the target RIP/DFE before changing the PDF.
The tool does not automatically apply GCR/UCR, convert colours or reduce ink. Keep the original and obtain an approved corrected copy if the print provider requires one. See colour management and reading results.
War dieser Artikel hilfreich?
Ink Coverage: Measurement and Limits
Total ink coverage (TAC/TIC) is the sum of the C, M, Y and K percentages at a location. For example, C=80%, M=60%, Y=40%, K=20% gives 200%. A maximum, a page average and estimated ink consumption describe different things; do not interchange them.
Print Specifications from a Filename
The print-order filename helper uses text patterns to suggest fields. It is a deterministic parser, not an AI inspection of the PDF's contents. A suggested value is not a verified order requirement.