To get the best out of FlexiSign, you must make sure that your monitor is properly configured to view colors correctly. Even if you use a high-end monitor the screen may appear slightly skewed and not quite as sharp as it could. This can often be cleared up with a third-party monitor testing program. This will help your computer to readjust to test your monitor for resolution, brightness, contrast, geometry, screen regulation and more. A simple online version of this type of program is available at the Display Calibration site. For optimal monitor calibration, you may need a hardware device that corrects display issues.
Once you have optimally calibrated your monitor, you must make sure that it syncs up with your printer and ink combinations for proper color output during your prints. FlexiSign accomplishes this by importing appropriate International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles, which make sure your colors are set a particular way. When a client gives you an ICC profile, import it by going to Production Manager in the program and clicking on “Default Job Properties.” Click the “Perform Color Correction” box, “Add” and then browse and select the ICC profile. Select “Add” from the Linearization table drop-down menu and then pick the ICC profile again but this time with a Tone Reproduction Curve (TRC) extension. Click “Open” to install the ICC profile. It will now appear in your Production Manager, Flexi RIP and Print sections.
In FlexiSign, when saving an image there is an automatic suppress option to make sure that your file size does not get too large. The problem is that this will affect the quality of your digital image. Using the JPG format in FlexiSign or any other editing program will cause your image to lose quality. If you must submit the JPG file format (as opposed to a compression-free image like a TIF) uncheck the “Suppress” box when saving the file. This will bring up a sliding scale of how much you wish to compress the image. Move the compression to 0 percent and click “OK” then “Save.” This will keep your image quality as high as possible.
Printing at full scale in FlexiSign should be reserved for the last step when you are sure that there are no errors in your design. Before doing this, preview your image using the FlexiSign viewing options. Click on either “Actual Size,” “Actual Pixels” or “1:1” to view the file at the print size. Step back five feet or so and look to see if there are any problems with the sign that can be perceived with the naked eye. Be vigilant in your checking and double-checking to ensure that you will have the best image possible before printing.