In the SmartDFE, color management is controlled by a Smart Media Definition (SMD). This file contains all the information needed to get optimal color on your printer.
An SMD is created by the manufacturer (OEM) to drive any media supported by that printer. This is created using the Smart Media Manager (SMM).
SMM is intended only for use by the OEM and not an end user.
The OEM can create multiple SMDs to create a media library for their printer. This is done at the manufacturer's location on a reference printer in optimal conditions to define that printer model's reference state. The OEM creates an ICC profile for this printer using an ICC creator such as ColorLogic’s CoPrA. The test chart for this is printed using Smart Calibrator (SC); the resulting ICC is written back to the SMD again using SC.
At the end user's location, the printer operator installs their media library supplied by the OEM in the Smart Print Controller (SPC). SPC prints PDFs directly to the printer using the SMD created by the OEM. To use these SMDs on the media supplied by the OEM, they then calibrate their printer back to the reference state, using the Smart Calibrator (SC). SC also allows the operator to correct for banding using PrintFlat technology.
An advanced end user wants more control; they may want to reprofile an existing media or to create an ICC profile for a new media. The process for creating and installing ICC profiles is the same as for the OEM, using the Smart Calibrator. Thus the end user has two applications: Smart Print Controller (for printing) and Smart Calibrator (for calibrating).
The applications that control and use Smart Media are:
