If you've noticed that the colors in your printed documents aren't aligning perfectly, you may need to adjust the color registration on your Konica Minolta device. This process ensures that the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) colors align correctly, resulting in crisp, accurate prints.
What is Color Registration?
Color registration refers to the precise alignment of the different color layers in a print. If the registration is off, you might see blurry text, misaligned images, or "halos" around objects. Correcting this ensures that your printed materials look professional and sharp.
- Konica Minolta office color MFP uses an inline engine with four different colors, each with independent image reproduction processing. Due to the difference in the accuracy of the PH unit parts, color shift may occur. This requires a color registration control system to automatically detect and correct the color shift in the main and sub-scanning directions.
- The color shift detection process is as follows: Detection patterns are generated on the front and back sides of the transfer belt. The IDC sensors on the front and back sides read the corresponding patterns, and then calculate the color shift in the sub-scanning and main scanning directions and save the calculated results to the memory.
- The color shift in the sub-scan direction is read from the pattern in the sub-scan detection range. The color shift in the main scan direction is read from all patterns.
- From the data read, the machine can calculate the correction position for each color. Based on the calculated data, the machine controls each point during the output image to correct the color shift.
- The color shift is relative to black. Take black as the reference and adjust the positions of the other three colors. Remember this!
There are four types of color shift
1.Main scan direction color shift: Change the main scan direction write timing
2.Main scan overall scaling color shift: Change the laser diode clock frequency
3.Sub scan direction color shift: Change the sub scan direction write start timing
4.Skew: Adjust the lens in the PH unit to perform skew correction
Color registration control is done automatically by the machine, and manual adjustment is also possible in maintenance mode. The IDC sensor is a detection device, so its surface must be kept clean, otherwise the values will be different.
How to adjust color alignment in maintenance mode:
1.Select "Maintenance Mode - Machine" option: Color calibration adjustment
2.Put A3 or A4 paper in the manual paper tray and press the start key
3.On the generated test sample, check the offset between black and other lines at positions X and Y
4.Select the color to be adjusted and make adjustments
5.After adjustment, generate samples again until it is confirmed that there is no offset
How to reset the print head skew:
1.Select "Maintenance Mode - Machine - Skew Adjustment" option: Skew adjustment reset
Machine adjustment
2.Reset when pressing the start key. At this time, you will hear three sets of relatively continuous thumps, and the sound ends and the adjustment is completed.
Conclusion:
Proper color registration is essential for achieving sharp and professional-looking prints on your Konica Minolta device. By understanding and adjusting the color alignment through maintenance mode, you can ensure that all colors are perfectly aligned, eliminating issues like blurriness or halos. Regularly maintaining the IDC sensors and resetting the print head skew can further enhance your printing quality.
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