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Mirage User Guide

The Mirage User Guide provides comprehensive instructions for using the Mirage software developed by DINAX GmbH, including system requirements, installation procedures, and menu functionalities. It covers supported operating systems, applications, and printers, as well as licensing information and the use of templates. The guide is intended for users to effectively utilize the software for printing tasks and managing print jobs.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
19 views79 pages

Mirage User Guide

The Mirage User Guide provides comprehensive instructions for using the Mirage software developed by DINAX GmbH, including system requirements, installation procedures, and menu functionalities. It covers supported operating systems, applications, and printers, as well as licensing information and the use of templates. The guide is intended for users to effectively utilize the software for printing tasks and managing print jobs.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 79

Mirage User Guide

© 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


2

Mirage User Guide


© 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH

The Mirage software is the property of:


DINAX GmbH, Fuggerstrasse 9a, 41468 Neuss, Germany.
Phone: +49-2131-3418-0
Fax: +49-2131-3418-99
Email: [email protected]

Adobe, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop are


registered trademarks owned by Adobe Systems Incorporated in the USA
and/or other countries.

Apple, Mac OS X, and Bonjour (network technology) are trademarks owned by


Apple Inc. and registered in the USA and other countries.

Epson and Epson Stylus are registered trademarks owned by Seiko Epson
Corporation.

Canon and Canon Image Prograf are registered trademarks owned by Canon
Inc. and/or other members of the Canon Group.

Note: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe InDesign, and


Adobe Illustrator are not part of the Mirage software package.

Copyright notice: The text and screenshots in this user guide may not be copied,
published, or used in any other way without previous written permission from
DINAX GmbH.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Contents 3

1. System Requirements 6
1.1 Supported Operating Systems ............................................................................... 7
1.2 Supported Applications ............................................................................................ 7
1.3 Supported File Formats ............................................................................................ 7
1.4 Supported Printers .................................................................................................... 7
1.5 Upgrades ...................................................................................................................... 7

2. Installation 8
2.1 macOS & Windows .................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Licensing ...................................................................................................................... 9
2.2.1 Licensing with a TAN ........................................................................................... 10
3. Mirage Menu Bar 11
3.1 File ................................................................................................................................ 12
3.2 Edit ............................................................................................................................... 12
3.3 View ............................................................................................................................. 12
3.4 Stored Settings ......................................................................................................... 13
3.5 Templates ................................................................................................................... 13
3.6 Window ....................................................................................................................... 13

4. First Run 15
4.1 Printer Wizard ........................................................................................................... 16
4.2 Mirage Windows ....................................................................................................... 16
4.2.1 Documents Window ............................................................................................ 16
4.2.2 File and Templates Browser .............................................................................. 17
4.2.3 Mirage Print Dialog ............................................................................................. 18
4.2.3.1 General Settings .................................................................................................. 19
4.2.3.2 Preview ............................................................................................................... 21
4.2.3.2.1 Page Preview .................................................................................................. 21
4.2.3.2.2 Print Preview ................................................................................................... 23
4.2.3.2.3 Pixel-Exact Preview (1 : 1 Preview) ................................................................... 24
4.2.3.2.4 Color Reproduction .......................................................................................... 24
4.2.3.3 Settings Groups .................................................................................................. 25
4.2.3.3.1 Basic ............................................................................................................. 25
4.2.3.3.1.1 Paper ....................................................................................................... 25
4.2.3.3.1.2 Image Size ............................................................................................... 27
4.2.3.3.1.3 Borders .................................................................................................... 28
4.2.3.3.1.4 Rotation .................................................................................................... 29
4.2.3.3.1.5 Position .................................................................................................... 30
4.2.3.3.1.6 Placement ................................................................................................ 31
4.2.3.3.1.7 Print Marks ............................................................................................... 32
4.2.3.3.1.8 Page Print Marks ...................................................................................... 34
4.2.3.3.1.9 Color ........................................................................................................ 35

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Contents 4

4.2.3.3.1.10 White Handling or Metallic Silver Handling (Special Color) ............................. 36


4.2.3.3.1.11 Fluorescent Pink Handling .......................................................................... 36
4.2.3.3.2 Extra .............................................................................................................. 37
4.2.3.3.2.1 Crop ......................................................................................................... 37
4.2.3.3.2.1 "Crop Image" Dialog ................................................................................... 37
4.2.3.3.2.2 Logo Overlay ............................................................................................. 38
4.2.3.3.2.3 Tiling ........................................................................................................ 38
4.2.3.3.2.4 Document Profile ....................................................................................... 39
4.2.3.3.2.5 Print Job Management ............................................................................... 39
4.2.3.3.2.6 Drop Shadow ............................................................................................ 40
4.2.3.3.2.7 Proofing .................................................................................................... 40
4.2.3.3.2.8 Ink Density Adjustment .............................................................................. 41
4.2.3.3.3 Photo ............................................................................................................. 41
4.2.3.3.3.1 Filters ....................................................................................................... 41
4.2.3.3.3.2 Levels ....................................................................................................... 42
4.2.3.3.3.3 Brightness/Contrast ................................................................................... 42
4.2.3.3.3.4 Exposure .................................................................................................. 42
4.2.3.3.3.5 Saturation/Hue .......................................................................................... 43
4.2.3.3.3.6 Sepia ....................................................................................................... 43
4.2.3.3.3.7 White Balance .......................................................................................... 43
4.2.3.3.3.8 Sharpen .................................................................................................... 43
4.2.3.3.3.9 Blur .......................................................................................................... 43
4.2.4 Stored Settings .................................................................................................... 43
4.2.5 Mirage Settings Dialog ....................................................................................... 44
4.2.5.1 General ............................................................................................................... 44
4.2.5.2 Color Settings ..................................................................................................... 46
4.2.5.3 Advanced ............................................................................................................ 46
4.2.5.3.1 Edit Label ....................................................................................................... 47
4.2.5.4 Printers ............................................................................................................... 48
4.2.5.5 Custom Media ..................................................................................................... 51
4.2.5.6 Photoshop Filters ................................................................................................ 55

5. Mirage Queue Monitor 56


6. Mirage Print Application 60
7. Mirage Template Editor 62
7.1 Settings Groups ....................................................................................................... 63
7.1.1 Templates ............................................................................................................. 63
7.1.1.1 Template Size ..................................................................................................... 63
7.1.1.2 Template Background .......................................................................................... 63
7.1.1.3 Slot Bounds ........................................................................................................ 64
7.1.1.4 Slot Rotation ....................................................................................................... 64
7.1.1.5 Slot Image Scale ................................................................................................. 64
7.1.1.6 Slot Fill Order ...................................................................................................... 64
7.1.1.7 Slot Masks ......................................................................................................... 64
7.1.1.8 Slot Tools ........................................................................................................... 64
7.1.1.9 Text Style ........................................................................................................... 65
7.1.1.10 Meta Data ........................................................................................................... 65

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Contents 5

7.1.2 Basic ..................................................................................................................... 66


7.1.2.1 Drop Shadow ....................................................................................................... 66
7.1.2.2 Logo Overlay ....................................................................................................... 66
7.1.2.3 Rotation .............................................................................................................. 67
7.1.3 Photo ..................................................................................................................... 67
7.1.3.1 Brightness/Contrast ............................................................................................. 67
7.1.3.2 Exposure ............................................................................................................ 67
7.1.3.3 Saturation/Hue .................................................................................................... 67
7.1.3.4 Sepia .................................................................................................................. 67
7.1.3.5 White Balance ..................................................................................................... 67
7.1.3.6 Blur .................................................................................................................... 67
7.1.3.7 Sharpen .............................................................................................................. 67
7.2 Toolbar ........................................................................................................................ 67

8. Mirage PRO Add-On 69


8.1 Creating Profiles ....................................................................................................... 70

9. Mirage Job Archive 75


9.1 Archived Jobs ........................................................................................................... 76

Index 78

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


System Requirements
System Requirements 7

1 System Requirements
1.1 Supported Operating Systems

A current list of supported operating systems is available here:


https://dinax.com/mirage/hilfe/
1.2 Supported Applications

A current list of supported applications is available here:


https://dinax.com/mirage/hilfe/
1.3 Supported File Formats

A current list of supported file formats is available here:


https://dinax.com/mirage/hilfe/
1.4 Supported Printers

A current list of supported printers is available here: https://dinax.com/mirage/hilfe/

Note that depending on your Mirage license, some printers and applications may not
be supported.
1.5 Upgrades

Affordable upgrades from Mirage 4 to the current version are available. Information
on available upgrades and Mirage add-ons can be found at:
https://dinax.com/produkt-kategorie/mirage-upgrades/

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Installation
Installation 9

2 Installation
If Mirage is already installed on your computer, go to the chapter First Run. If this is
your first installation, go to the next chapter macOS & Windows.

NOTE: If you have a Mirage dongle, insert this into a USB port on your computer
before starting Mirage.
2.1 macOS & Windows

Please download the current Mirage version from our website https://dinax.com.
Begin the installation by double-clicking
Mac "Mirage.pkg" or
Windows "Setup.exe" Follow the instructions on the screen.

During installation you will be asked which printers should be installed for later use.
Select your printer model by selecting at least one checkbox. If you do not make any
changes, all printers supported by Mirage are automatically installed.

If supported Adobe applications (such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)


are found when Mirage is being installed on your computer, these are displayed and
the appropriate plug-ins are recommended for automatic installation. You can choose
not to install individual plug-ins if necessary (not recommended).

Double-click to open the Mirage Print application.

To use Mirage from Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, open at least one image in
Photoshop, navigate to "File" > "Automation", and then select one of the following
options:
a) "Mirage Print..." to print the active image
b) "Mirage Print All..." to print all images open in Photoshop

NOTE: If you use Photoshop Elements, ensure that expert mode is activated.

To use Mirage from InDesign or Illustrator, open at least one document file, navigate
to "File", and select "Mirage Print..." or "Mirage Print All...".

When you start Mirage for the first time, it will prompt you to select a language for
the user interface. Please select your language from the available options. You can
change your selection later using the "Settings..." dialog field.

NOTE: If you have a Mirage dongle and have connected it, continue to "First Run".
2.2 Licensing

When Mirage is opened for the first time, the "License Mirage" window appears.
You need to register in order to use Mirage. Here you can create an account or log
in with an existing account.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Installation 10

You can specify in the following window whether you only want to test Mirage or
want to activate the installation. If you have already received a TAN (activation
code) from your retailer, then you can enter this
here. Alternatively, you can also purchase Mirage in the shop .

NOTE: The "License Mirage" window is not displayed if you use a Mirage dongle
with a valid license file.
2.2.1 Licensing with a TAN
If you purchased Mirage or acquired it with your printer, then you possess a TAN. A
TAN is a serial number which also contains information about individual activated
components (such as supported printers, programs, etc.). For Mirage to be licensed,
a license file is created from a combination of the TAN and an individual machine ID
generated by Mirage. To create a license file, a connection must be established with
the Mirage license server and a user account must be created on it. You can enter
the TAN in the Mirage licensing window.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Mirage Menu Bar
Mirage Menu Bar 12

3 Mirage Menu Bar


You can access the most important functions of Mirage via this central menu bar

3.1 File

File
Selecting "File --> New" opens another Mirage window where you can prepare
another print job.

Start Over:
All files and templates are removed from the printable area and the File and
Templates browser.

Close
This closes the program.

Print
Here you can start the print.

Print Paused
If this function is selected, Mirage sends print jobs to the Mirage print queue.
However, the actual printout is not started. To start printing, select "Resume Printing"
in the print queue.

Job Archive
Here you can access the archived jobs.
3.2 Edit

Step forward / Step back


Changes in the settings dialog (e.g., in the settings options, but also
adjustment/positioning of images) can now be easily undone.

Select all / Deselect all / Duplicate


This menu item refers to the selected files in the file browser.

Delete all
All files are deleted from the printable area.
3.3 View

Page Preview / Print Preview / Pixel-Exact Preview:

Choose the preview you want to display here.

Loupe/Rulers:

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Mirage Menu Bar 13

Here you can choose whether you want the loupe or rulers to be displayed in the
print preview.

File Preview:

Here you can change the zoom level of the file preview or adjust this to the window
width/height.

Settings Groups:

Here you can specify which settings groups you want to display in Mirage.

3.4 Stored Settings

Here you can call up stored settings (workflows) or create new ones.
3.5 Templates

Create or Manage Template:

Create a new template or edit an existing template here.


The Templates browser opens in a new window when you select this function.

Convert Current Selection into Template:

The file(s) currently selected are converted into a template.

Convert Current Page into Template:

The page currently selected is converted into a template.

Fill Templates:

Templates are automatically filled with images with this selection. First choose the
templates you want to use in the dialog that appears here. Then choose the images
you want to use to automatically fill the templates.

3.6 Window

Here you can specify how you want the windows to behave (Documents, Copies,
and Templates window).

Hidden:

The chosen window is "hidden" and not visible in Mirage.

Docked:

The chosen window is docked at the chosen point.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Mirage Menu Bar 14

Floating:

The chosen window is displayed as floating. The position can be chosen individually
by you.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


First Run
First Run 16

4 First Run
4.1 Printer Wizard

After licensing Mirage, during the initial installation, the "Printer Wizard" dialog will
open. You can find more detailed information on how to use it in the chapter entitled
"Printers".
4.2 Mirage Windows

Mirage consists of three windows, the Documents window, the print dialog, and the
File and Templates browser.
4.2.1 Documents Window
The "Documents" window is the central location for managing the files to be printed
and the instances of each individual file. It offers a good overview of the files, even if
they are spread across several pages.

You can apply different settings for every file and every instance of each file in the
Mirage Print dialog. Files/instances can be selected in both the "Documents" window
and the "Print Preview".

Holding down the CTRL key (Windows) or CMD key (Mac) and clicking desired
files and instances enables you to select any combination of different files and
individual instances of files.

Every setting in the Mirage Print dialog affects all of the selected files/instances.

Docking to the Print Dialog


The "Documents" window can be "docked" to the print dialog. It becomes an integral
part of the print dialog and is no longer an independent window.

To dock or undock the window, right-click (Mac: Ctrl + click) in the area of the
Documents window to open the context menu. Select "Dock to Print Dialog" or
"Undock from Print Dialog".

If the window is docked to the print dialog, it will appear in the area underneath the
settings groups. By moving the divider between these two areas you can change the
size of the docked "Documents" window.

Instances
In Mirage, instances are different copies of the same file (for example: 3x size "x" +
5x size "y" + 7x size "x" but with a 2 cm wide blue border).
Click on the triangle in front of the preview image in the "Documents" window to
produce instances or to edit existing instances.

To produce an instance, enter a value greater than "1" for the number of copies.

Example:

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


First Run 17

You want to make five copies of a file, three with a width of 10 cm and two with a
width of 15 cm.
Enter "5" for the number of copies.
Then click on the triangle in front of the image preview. A smaller preview appears
(the first instance), and in front of it you will see another triangle. Click on this new
triangle. Below you will see the five new copies.
Select three of the copies (hold down the CTRL key (Windows) or the CMD key
(Mac) and click on three of the small preview images). In the print preview these
three copies will be marked with a blue border.
In the print preview, set the width for these three copies to 10 cm.
As soon as you click away from the input field for the width, the preview size
changes in the print preview. In the "Documents" window, the three copies are
displayed in an individual level (instance).

Select All
Always use this option if you wish to apply the settings to all files/instances.

To select a file or instance, either click on the entry in the "Documents" window or
click directly on the file in the print preview of the Mirage Print dialog.

NOTE: If the "Documents" window is docked, select any document and use the key
combination CTRL+A (Windows) or CMD+A (Mac) to select all.

Deselecting Files/Instances
If you do not wish to print a particular file or instance, just click on the preview image
in the "Documents" window. The file will be crossed out with a red line.

Copies
By changing this value you can make as many copies of a file as you like.

Status Bar
The sum of all copies of all selected files and their instances is shown at the bottom of
the "Documents" window.

Files from Related Applications


If files are loaded in Mirage from different applications (such as Adobe Photoshop,
InDesign, etc.) the Mirage Print dialog displays the related program symbols at the
bottom left.
Click on the program symbol of the related application to remove loaded files for this
application from the print dialog.
4.2.2 File and Templates Browser
The File and Templates browser is divided into two areas.

The first area contains all files that have been loaded for printing in Mirage.

You can add files in Mirage by dragging them directly into the "Drop Files Here"
window or using the button "Add Files" below the settings button.

The second area contains all templates stored in Mirage.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


First Run 18

Templates can be inserted directly into the printable area via drag and drop and then
filled with files.

You can filter templates by keywords.

Print files can be filtered by "placed" and "not placed".

4.2.3 Mirage Print Dialog


Settings Overview
Most of the control elements for the print dialog are found in the three columns
"Basic", "Extra", and "Photo" to the left of the dialog. Settings that belong together
are grouped in the three columns.

By right-clicking (or, on a Mac, holding Ctrl and clicking) in the area of the settings
groups, a context menu can be opened which allows individual groups to be hidden
or displayed. It also allows you to restore the original configuration of the groups.
Individual groups in each of the three columns can also be selected or deselected
here.

You can "collapse" each group, which means only the title is visible and they take up
less room.

It is possible to change the order of the groups by dragging and dropping. Just click a
group title and drag it up or down. As soon as you release the mouse button, the
group will be moved to the selected position.

To get help with the settings options for a group, click on the small "i" symbol on the
right edge of the title bar for the group and the relevant help page will open.

In addition to the "Help" button, most groups also have a "Reset" and "Copy" button.
The "Reset" button ( ) resets the settings option to the basic settings that were in
place when the print dialog was opened. The "Copy" button ( ) enables settings to
be copied to a clipboard that opens as a separate window.
Once the clipboard is open, additional settings can be copied there by clicking on the
respective "Copy" buttons. Settings that have already been copied can be repeatedly
overwritten. The settings in the clipboard can be enabled or disabled using the
selection field. Clicking on "Apply to Selection" applies all checked settings to the
selected images. Clicking on "Apply to All" applies the settings to all images,
including the current selection.
If images with different settings are selected (e.g., one with brightness:10 and one
with brightness:9), these values are not transferred to the clipboard, as they are not
clear.

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First Run 19

In addition to the individual groups, the three column titles "Basic", "Extra", and
"Photo" also include the "Reset" and "Copy" buttons. The column buttons apply to all
settings for all groups in that column.

Save Settings
You can save the current print dialog settings for later use by clicking on the
gearwheel symbol under the settings groups and clicking "Save Settings". The
"Stored Settings" dialog appears and you can enter a meaningful name for the stored
settings as well as check, change, and save the settings.

Using the same symbol you can also apply previously stored settings to all currently
selected files/pages.

Using the gearwheel symbol and the "Edit Settings" button, you can open the "Stored
Settings" dialog and define new settings there.

You can find more information on this topic in the help section about Stored Settings.

"Print" Job
When you have configured all settings, click on "Print" to start the spooling and
printing process. Press Shift to switch the text from "Print" to "Print paused". Hold
down Shift and click to send the print job and simultaneously mark it as "paused".
The print job must then be manually started in the Queue Monitor before it is actually
printed. This may be recommended, for example, if you wish to eventually complete
the print job but must first insert the correct medium into the printer.
The print dialog remains open after printing to allow for reprinting if desired.

4.2.3.1 General Settings


Print to (Select Printer)
If you have installed multiple printers in Mirage, you can use this dialog to quickly
switch between them. The menu item "Add Printer..." at the bottom of the "Print to"
printer menu directly opens the "Mirage Printer Wizard", which can be used to install
new printers. The menu item "Edit..." takes you directly to the "Printers" menu in
"Settings...".

A symbol for your printer is displayed to the left of the printer selection. Hover the
mouse over it to open a floating window displaying the current ink status of the
printer, the active black inks, if there are any, and any error messages or warnings.
The window disappears automatically as soon as the mouse moves away from the
printer symbol.

Note for Canon PRO models


If your printer is connected via USB, you will not have access to the printer status.
Ink statuses and loaded media can only be accessed for networked devices
(TCP/IP). Media that are set up on the printer can still be accessed.

Note

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First Run 20

When information is displayed in gray, the selected printer is probably not switched
on and/or not connected to the computer properly.

On (Select Media)
You can switch between different media types using the "On" scroll list. By default,
this list contains all media types from the printer manufacturer that are supported by
the selected printer. It is also possible to select custom media types, which can be
added manually via the "Custom Media" menu in the "Settings..." dialog or by clicking
the "Edit..." button at the bottom of the "On" printer menu.

The list of supported media is different for every printer and changes when you
switch to a different printer with a different ink set. Mirage always provides you with
a list of media types which are compatible with the ink set loaded in your printer.
Some media types may not be displayed because they are not compatible with the
type of black ink loaded in your selected printer.
In the "On" media menu, there is also a "Loaded..." option. This displays the loaded
medium transmitted via the printer status. Often, several media will be displayed
under "Loaded...". This is because certain media groups (e.g., all paper based on
Epson Photo Glossy) use the same media ID. If several media are listed, you must
select the loaded medium yourself. If a medium is selected that is not compatible with
the inserted medium (e.g., because it has a different media ID), a small yellow
warning triangle will be displayed next to the menu button Clicking on the icon selects
the first compatible paper type.

With (Print Resolution)


The "With" list allows you to choose the print quality/resolution. Mirage provides a
different number of resolutions depending on the selected media type.

Finest Details
Regardless of the actual print resolution, you can transfer the data to the printer in a
higher resolution by selecting this function. This option is particularly useful for
vector-based PDF files or InDesign/Illustrator documents.

Note
Using the "Finest Details" option is only recommended for purely vector-based data,
as the print image is not visibly improved for photos (pixel-based data) and this
option may lead to significantly longer spooling times.

Chroma Optimizer
In the case of Canon PRO printers, the settings for the Chroma Optimizer (CO) can
be found alongside the "Finest Details" button. Depending on the chosen setting, this
will be applied as follows:
CO Auto: the CO is applied wherever there is ink.
CO All: the CO is applied to the entire printable area (not including print margins).
CO All with borderless: the CO is applied to the entire medium.
You can obtain more specific information about the media to which the CO is
applied from Canon.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


First Run 21

Note
The "Chroma Optimizer" option is exclusively available with Canon PRO printers
using a Chroma Optimizer.

Black Enhance Overcoat


In the case of some Epson printers, the settings for the Enhance Black Overcoat can
be found alongside the "Finest Details" button. The following settings are possible:
Black Enhance Overcoat on: Overcoat applied
Black Enhance Overcoat off: Overcoat not applied

Note
The "Black Enhance Overcoat" option is exclusively available with Epson printers
using a Black Enhance Overcoat, and is not available for all media.

Add Files
You can add files supported by Mirage at any time. Just click the "Add Files..."
button and the file browser will open.
Files that are already loaded are ignored when added again.

Alternatively, you can also add files using the drag-and-drop function by dragging the
supported files/folder with supported file formats to the Mirage preview window.
4.2.3.2 Preview
4.2.3.2.1 Page Preview
The "Page Preview" shows you an exact preview of the file, including any added
borders or print marks to be printed with the file.

Adjusting the Cropped Image


If the file to be printed is larger than the defined sheet size, the "Page Preview" will
show you the exact section of the image which can be printed.

Clicking and holding down the mouse button displays the full file, with the cut section
outside the print area shown as partially transparent.

Hold down the mouse button to adjust the area to be printed.

Simulate Paper White


The "Simulate Paper White" checkbox is located at the bottom of the "Page Preview"
window.

NOTE: The monitor must be properly calibrated in order to ensure that this function
is color-true.

Because your monitor produces light, it can provide much higher contrast than the
media type, since the printout can only give off reflected light.

The monitor shows considerably more details than the printout can reproduce. Select
this checkbox to get a better idea of how dark or light your image will look after
being printed on the media type. Choosing "Simulate Paper White" can cause a color

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


First Run 22

cast. Do not let this mislead you. For the simulation only pay attention to the
illumination. To evaluate the colors, please deactivate "Simulate Paper White".

Gamut Warning
The "Gamut Warning" checkbox is located at the bottom of the "Page Preview"
window. If this box is activated, Mirage shows in the preview the points in the file
that lie outside of the printer's color space in combination with the selected media
type. Mirage overlays these points in gray as standard. The color for the gamut
warning can be changed as desired. Click on the set color and choose your desired
color in the window that opens.

If your file displays warnings, you must account for color shifts between the original
and printout at the highlighted points, because these colors are not reproducible with
the selected ink/media. The gamut warning cannot be used to determine how extreme
the color difference will be.

Show Information
The "Show Information" checkbox is located at the bottom of the "Page Preview"
window. When this checkbox is activated, Mirage will, if necessary, display further
information in the "Page Preview" so that you can get an immediate overview of
possible problems.

The following information is displayed if relevant:


• Resolution warning: The text "72/180 dpi" (for example) is displayed for a
particular file. The first number is the resolution of the original file, and the second
is the resolution the file should have to be printed in the set print quality and
desired size without compromising on quality. It is not worth scaling the affected
file in an image processing program first in order to avoid this warning. The file
possibly does not contain enough information in the selected size and may be
blurry or fuzzy when printed.
• Overlap warning: If a file has been scaled to be so large that it no longer fits the
medium and will cause parts to overlap or be lost, this symbol will appear:
• Crop warning: If you have cropped a file in the "Crop" settings option and parts of
the file will consequently not be printed, this symbol will appear:

Loupe
Enabling "Loupe" brings up a hovering magnifying glass that shows you a pixel-exact
preview in the chosen print resolution, including all applied image and color
management settings.
Highlight White Ink
This option is only available for some printer models in combination with specific
media types. Selecting this function uses the set color to highlight the surfaces to be
printed in white. The color for the preview can be changed as desired. Click on the
set color and choose your desired color in the window that opens.

Highlight Metallic Silver

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This option is only available for some printer models in combination with specific
media types. Selecting this function uses the set color to highlight the surfaces to be
printed in metallic silver. The color for the preview can be changed as desired. Click
on the set color and choose your desired color in the window that opens.

Highlight Fluorescent Pink


This option is only available with some Canon printer models. Selecting this function
uses the set color to highlight the surfaces to be printed in fluorescent pink. The color
for the preview can be changed as desired. Click on the set color and choose your
desired color in the window that opens.

Split View
The "Split View" checkbox is located at the bottom of the "Page Preview" window.
If this box is activated, the currently selected file is displayed in a split view, which
allows for simulation of different output profiles (such as printouts on different media
types).

NOTE: The monitor must be properly calibrated in order to ensure that the soft
proof is color-true.

The division line runs from top to bottom and is marked at its ends with a black
triangle. The division line can be moved within the preview image using the mouse.

Above the preview image, there are two drop-down menus which can be used to
change the display settings of the left or right side of the split preview image. The
following entries are available:

• Original Colors: Display the document's colors using its original color space, i.e.,
without using any printer profiles.
• Current Settings: Display the colors as they are expected to appear on the printout
with the current print settings.
• Different Media Type: In this submenu, you can compare different paper types.
The displayed colors show how the printout would appear on the selected paper.
This allows for comparison of color differences between different media types,
for example.
• Different Simulation: Display the document colors as they are expected to appear
on the printout with a different CYMK profile.
• Different Document Profile: Display the document colors as they are expected to
appear on the printout with a different document profile.
4.2.3.2.2 Print Preview
As described in the chapter entitled "Page Preview", you can adjust the file section
that will be printed if the file is larger than the defined media format. Instead of
switching to "Page Preview", you can also adjust the cropped image in the "Print
Preview" by holding down the mouse button and Alt key (Windows) or the mouse
button and Option key (Mac).

If you selected a cut sheet as the media type, it may be that not all copies will fit onto
a single sheet. If more than one sheet is needed for the number of copies entered,

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then Mirage will inform you of this below the "Print Preview" window with the text
"Sheet x of y". If several sheets are going to be printed, you can navigate between
them using the arrow keys located directly below.

Double-clicking a file in the "Print Preview" brings you directly to the "Page Preview"
for this file.

NOTE: The following functions are identical to those in the "Page Preview" window:
• Simulate Paper White
• Gamut Warning
• Show Information
• Loupe
• Highlight White Ink
• Highlight Metallic Silver
• Highlight Fluorescent Pink
4.2.3.2.3 Pixel-Exact Preview (1 : 1 Preview)
In the "Pixel-Exact Preview" (1: 1 Preview) in the print dialog, a preview is produced
using the print resolution. Here, you will see an exact, pixel-accurate preview of the
image to be printed, including all image and color management settings.

4.2.3.2.4 Color Reproduction


Both the Page Preview and Print Preview are color-true and are called "soft proofs".

Requirements for color-true representation of the colors are:

• Your monitor must be calibrated for the corresponding ICC profiles for proof light
D50.
• A unique ICC profile must be created for print media which is correct for the
printer, medium, and chosen print resolution.
• The final print will be examined under the conditions of proof light D50.
• Every file linked to or placed in Adobe InDesign has a defined source color space
and likewise every image has an associated ICC profile which correctly
describes the source color space.

The following settings in Mirage change the color representation in the preview as
well as the printouts of the file or page/spread:

• The pre-selected media type and print resolution in the "General Settings" menu
• The pre-selected "Rendering Intent"

In general, ICC profiles must be updated from time to time. Monitors change in their
color reproduction through dimming or other factors. Print heads will eventually
succumb to wear and tear, causing altered printing performance, and inks or media
types from different batches vary slightly. It should also be noted that the application
of color to the print medium can turn out differently depending on humidity and room
temperature at the time of printing.

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4.2.3.3 Settings Groups


The settings groups on the left-hand side of the "Mirage Print" window are divided
into three sections: "Basic", "Extra", and "Photo". There is a symbol ( ) next to each
column label. Clicking on this symbol takes you to the "Copy settings" menu. Here,
you can apply all of the settings for one file to all loaded images or to a selection of
images.

The arrow next to the copy symbol ( ) deletes all applied settings and restores the
image to its original state.

Both the copy symbol and the arrow can also be found to the right of the titles of the
individual functions.
4.2.3.3.1 Basic
4.2.3.3.1.1 Paper
Source
Most printer models support different paper sources such as cut sheet or roll. Some
printers even have multiple sources for sheet media. Use the "Source" list to select
where media should be fed from.

Roll Cutting/No Roll Cutting


If "Roll" has been pre-selected as the source, different options are available. These
options define whether and how the integrated cutter of the printer is used:

• "Roll – Don’t Cut" = You have to make cuts manually with the integrated cutter or
a different cutting device (scissors, separator, etc.).
• "Roll – Cut After Each Row" = If a file is printed multiple times (copies), the roll
will be cut after each row when this option is selected.
• "Roll – Double Cut Each Row" = Cutting is performed at the upper and lower end
of each row. This means the printer cuts into the printed area a few millimeters in
order to create prints that are borderless on the top and bottom.
• "Roll – Cut" = The printout is cut after all files of the print job have been printed.

NOTE: If the printer you use has an integrated cutter, Mirage allows cutting of any
pre-selected media type. Your printer's cutter can be damaged if it tries to cut a
medium which is too tough for the integrated cutter or if the medium leaves a fine dust
which can clog the print head nozzles.

When a cutting option is selected, Mirage carries out the cutting according to the
settings in the printer's menu. It is a good idea to set the printer to the default "Cut".

Mirage makes it substantially easier to work with roll media. If a roll media source
has been selected, you no longer need to set the length according to the length of the
file. Mirage only uses the media required for the proper printout of the job.

To select the width of the roll medium in use, choose a default width from the list.
Alternatively, you can also enter the width manually.

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If "Roll" is selected as the media source, the deactivated "Height" input field indicates
which length (height) of the media type will be used. The value always gives the
current height and takes all of the settings in the dialog into account.

Cut Sheet
To print on sheets, select "Cut Sheet (x)" as the "Source". Here, "x" is the media feed
(manual, cassette, etc.). The options for "x" depend on the options available for the
printer you selected from the "Print to" list.

Select the size of the media type in use via the "Standard Size" list. Alternatively, you
can enter the width and height manually to define the dimensions of your sheet.

Width and Height


Some printer models do not support all media widths and lengths. If Mirage changes
your manually entered width, please consult your printer's user guide for supported
formats to avoid print errors.

Select the measurement units to the right, next to the values.

Choose the value based on the media loaded in your printer. Either a period or a
comma can be used as a decimal separator.

NOTE: If you have selected one of the borderless print options, you cannot manually
enter the width for rolls or width and height for sheets. Only the widths and lengths
available for borderless printing as provided by the printer are available when this
option is selected.

Standard Sizes
Mirage offers several standard media sizes for quick selection. This list is context-
sensitive. This means that Mirage only offers the standard size options which are
supported by your printer for the selected source.

Borderless
This menu allows you to decide how the borders should be printed.

It is a good idea to first define the possible settings for borderless printing, because
this information limits the standard sizes and width to the values available for
borderless printing.

NOTES: Borderless printing uses more ink because printing continues over the edges
of the medium. Also, due to physical limitations, the print quality decreases on the
borders. If you have selected one of the borderless print options, you cannot
manually enter the width for rolls or width and height for sheets. You may only select
the standard sizes which are available for borderless printing on that particular
printer.

If you are using a roll or cut sheet, different printer models produce different results.
For example, some printer models can print borderless on all four sides for some cut
sheet formats whereas others can only print borderless right and left.

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If "Normal Border" is selected, certain areas will not be printed on all four sides.
These unprintable areas are shown with a red dashed line in the "Print Preview"
window.

Typically, three different options are available for a borderless print: "Small
Overprint", "Default Overprint", and "Large Overprint". The overprint increases the
printable area beyond the actual media area. To produce a printout without white
borders, you should expand the file until it exceeds the paper size and all areas of the
overprint are filled. "Fit to Page" and "Fit to Width" are the fastest ways to do this.

NOTE: In the "Print Preview", the expanded areas are shown in dark gray on the
outsides. They serve as a guide, because due to the preview size they are not 100
percent precise.
4.2.3.3.1.2 Image Size
This setting allows you to define how large a document is printed. Initially Mirage
inherits the original image size the document was created with, however you can
change this size at any time.

If the document size is set larger than the media size, then a yellow "warning triangle"
will appear next to the "Custom" entry fields to show that the whole document does
not fit on the page.

If the yellow warning triangle is displayed, the Mirage preview will show the portion
of the file which can be printed using these settings. You can adjust the cropped
image.

In order to see the effects of your settings on the actual printout, please make sure
that "Print Preview" is activated.

Fit to Page
Select this checkbox to scale your file to the maximum size allowed for the medium
you selected. The file will be scaled so that with the rotation selected it will be printed
as large as possible without being cropped in any direction.

Fit to Width
By selecting this option, the file will be scaled proportionally so that the longer side of
the file fits the maximum printable width of the medium selected.

NOTE: If the "Borderless" option is selected, the file will be expanded beyond the
medium's width, i.e., clipped.

Fill Page
The file will be scaled to size so that the entire printable area (including any
borderless areas) is filled. In the case of roll media, this has the same effect as "Fit to
Page".
Fill Custom
Here you can define an individual image format for your file. If the aspect ratio of the

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original file differs from the chosen image format, the proportions are retained; a part
of the file is then cropped.
Custom
If you wish to manually define the print format, then select the checkbox for custom
print formats. Now you can enter values for your print format.

The file will be automatically rotated if needed.

Please ensure that the image quality is sufficient if you choose to scale the image.
Selecting the control field "Show Information" gives you a quick overview of any file
sizes that are possibly too small for the desired print format.
4.2.3.3.1.3 Borders
You get the best possible visual overview of the "Border" settings when you activate
the "Page Preview" option, because the entries for top, bottom, right, and left are
based on the original file orientation. Mirage optimizes the printout by rotating files by
90° counterclockwise, for example. This means that if you put in a value for "Top" in
the "Print Preview", the file's right border will be adjusted.

All print marks you select will be printed on the borders of the complete image. The
complete image = print format + borders.

The Mirage "Border" menu allows borders to be quickly and easily added to a file
without having to manually create them in Photoshop or InDesign.

In the top area of the "Border" menu, you can enter values for the top, bottom, right,
and left borders. The preview (of the file, page, or spread in the preview window on
the right side) automatically updates to show your changes. By pressing the tab key
on your keyboard, you can confirm the current entry and move to the next field. In
this way you can begin with the top border and then press the tab key to move to the
entries for left, right, and bottom.

the "equal" sign is visible, only one value is required and the other three values will
automatically be set to the same value. If the "not equal" sign is selected, each value
must be manually entered. Simply click the symbol to change between "equal" and
"not equal".

You can select the measurement units to the right of the text fields. Either a period or
a comma can be used as a decimal separator.

Empty
The default selection is "Empty", which means that the borders, in the dimensions
entered, are added to the file as empty areas.

Colored
You can pick your own border color.

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The Color Chooser brings you to the module for choosing a color. Select a color
by clicking on it. You can control the color intensity with the slider on the left side.

Soft Proof
The Color Chooser offers the full spectrum of colors. However, because not every
color in the Color Chooser can be printed (see Color Reproduction), by selecting
"Soft Proof" you can reduce the choice of colors to those which can actually be
reproduced on the media type chosen.

The Color Picker can be used to select a color from any image in the preview
and adjust the border's colors to optimally suit the content of the file.

Mirrored Image
If the file is going to be printed on a canvas which will be stretched over stretcher
bars, selecting this option will mirror the file on the border.

For the border value simply enter the width which is needed to stretch the image
(side border plus the material on the back side of the stretcher bars which is needed
for stretching).

Stretcher Bars
Mirage provides the following canvas stretching systems as pre-installed options:
• Hahnemühle Professional Gallerie Wrap
• Hahnemühle Standard Gallerie Wrap
• YouFrame®
4.2.3.3.1.4 Rotation
If you would like to rotate the printout to meet your positioning requirements, the
following options are available:

Automatic
"Automatic" is the default setting for "Rotation". Mirage automatically rotates the
printout for you based on the selected "Source".

If "Roll" is selected as thesource, the file is printed in landscape orientation to save


media when "Automatic" is selected. This only occurs if the file can be printed in
landscape orientation on the medium without being made smaller. This means that a
file in portrait orientation is rotated if it could not otherwise be printed without
cropping. However, if the file is already in landscape orientation, it will not be
rotated.

Unrotated
To reverse the rotation of a file that was automatically rotated by Mirage, select
"Unrotated".

Rotated 90°, 180°, 270°


This option rotates the file on the medium by the pre-selected value.

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4.2.3.3.1.5 Position
The "Position" dialog allows you to precisely define where files are printed on the
media type.

You get the best view of how your settings will appear when you activate the "Print
Preview" option because the files may have been automatically rotated by Mirage to
save media.

Mirage prints the files exactly as they are shown in the "Print Preview". The preview
corresponds to the real printout, i.e., the file is printed from bottom to top.

The settings in the "Position" dialog affect the whole image. For Mirage, the whole
image is a combination of the following elements: Selected file + borders and print
marks.

Generally, Mirage positions your file at the bottom right. To change this setting you
have the following options:

Left and Right


To position a file on the left or right side of the medium, select the option "Left" or
"Right". If you need a margin on the chosen side, use the "Offset" field to set the
necessary margin.

In some cases the file will be rotated to accommodate the selected margin.

Many customers use the "Offset" settings to make it easier to print on media which
have been partially damaged around the edges, i.e., to avoid printing on the damaged
area.

Center Horizontally, Center on Printable Area, Center on Page


Select "Center Horizontally" to center the file along the horizontal axis.

To center the file both horizontally and vertically on the printout, select "Center on
Printable Area" or "Center on Page".

The options "Center on Printable Area" and "Center on Page" are only available
when the source is set to "Cut Sheet" in the "Paper" menu.

"Printable area" refers to the amount of the page that can be printed on. The top and
bottom margins of this area are different for most printers. In many cases the
unprintable area in cut sheet mode is wider at the end of the printout than at the start.

When you select "Center on Printable Area", the printout is centered in this area. If
the file should be centered independently of the unprintable areas, then select "Center
on Page".

Manual
You can manually adjust the placement of all files on the surface of the medium.
Before you begin manually adjusting the placement of the printout, ensure that "Print
Preview" has been selected. The mode applies to all files once it is active. The user

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must then place all files as required. The automatic layout created by Mirage is no
longer used.

To adjust the placement, click on the file and drag it into position.

A series of magnetic guides will assist you in manually positioning the image.

To turn off the magnetic guides, hold down the control key ("CTRL") (Windows or
Mac).

4.2.3.3.1.6 Placement
Here you can configure how files are arranged on the medium. This is only useful
when you want to print more than one file. The final layout of the files can be seen
directly in the "Print Preview" at any time and changes can be made accordingly.

NOTE: If this settings group is deactivated, files were moved manually and "Position"
is set to "Manually".

There are various layout strategies from which you can choose. Mirage automatically
places the files on the medium accordingly.

Optimize for minimal waste


Select this placement strategy in order to use as little material as possible. Please note
that this may result in very compact, unsorted layouts that may call for more work
when cutting.

In this strategy, Mirage ensures that all files can be cut out exclusively using guillotine
cuts (i.e., from one side to the other).

Optimize for easier cutting


Select this placement strategy to find a layout that allows for easy cutting. The files
are arranged here so that as little material is used as possible, but at the same time
each file can be cut out with a horizontal and vertical cut. This layout has the
advantage of arranging the files in rows, which can then be cut automatically by the
printer (see "Roll Cutting").

One Copy per Sheet/Row


Select this placement strategy if you would like each file to be printed on a separate
sheet, or row when using roll media.

Grid
NOTE: The option "Grid" is ideal for creating a contact sheet.
Select this option to place a virtual grid on the printing material in which the individual
files can be placed. Depending on the media type, you can divide the grid by entering
the number of rows and columns (if you have selected roll media then only the
number of columns can be specified, because the number of rows is automatically
generated according to the number of files). If the files are larger than the cells of
your grid, you can easily fit them to the cells. Click "Select All" or select the individual

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files in the "Documents" window and click on the yellow warning triangle in "Image
Size".

Gaps
Regardless of the selected placement strategy, you can define the spacing that
Mirage should allow between files.

Optimize
Normally, Mirage uses a process that chooses the quickest possible layout. This is
not always optimal.

Once the desired settings have been defined for all files, click on "Optimize". Mirage
then uses a considerably longer process to find an optimal layout. If you want to print
lots of files at the same time, the optimization process may take some time. During
the entire process you can see how the layout changes. You can cancel the process
at any time if the layout appears to be good enough.

If the "Optimize" button is deactivated, Mirage is already using the best possible
layout.

Mirage attempts to find a better layout even while you are still configuring the
settings. If one has been found, a note informing you of this appears under the Print
Preview, and you can accept this layout immediately.
4.2.3.3.1.7 Print Marks
NOTE: If one of the options in the "Print Marks" section is selected, Mirage
automatically adds "empty" borders to the file if necessary, in order to create space
for printing the selected print marks.

Corner Crop Marks


Corner crop marks are print marks which are printed on a sheet's corners and show
where the physical page must be cropped to its final size.

Inward Corner Crop Marks


Inward corner crop marks are often better suited for manual cropping than normal
corner crop marks, as with the latter, one crop will sometimes remove an extra crop
mark needed to find the next crop line.

In addition, inward corner crop marks do not require wide borders for the
positioning of the print marks. This helps to save media.

Center Crop Marks


Center crop marks in Mirage are useful when, for certain reasons, an indicator is
needed for the middle of the long or short side of the printed file.

Outline Crop Marks


Outline crop marks form a dashed line along the edge of the image and show where
the physical page must be cropped to its final size. These crop marks do not add
additional borders and are helpful for manually cropping the image using scissors.

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Registration Marks
Two registration marks are printed on each corner of the file to check the alignment
of the printout after printing. These registration marks are often used for color
separation printing.

Calibration Bars
The "Calibration Bars" option is used to display three separate bars with several
different colors on the borders of the file. A measurement device can be used to
check these bars later for the final print.

Grayscales
Grayscale patterns, which contain ten different black tones (10% to 100% black),
will be printed under the file.

RGB Pattern
RGB calibration bars will be printed on the left side of the file. They show the color
pattern of the theoretical base colors of the RGB color space with the following
values (from top to bottom):

Color Value

Position Color R G B

1 Red 255 0 0

2 Green 0 255 0

3 Blue 0 0 255

4 Cyan 0 255 255

5 Magenta 255 0 255

6 Yellow 255 255 0

7 Black 0 0 0

CMYK Pattern
CMYK calibration bars will be printed on the right side of the file. They show the
color pattern of the theoretical base colors of the CMYK color space with the
following values (from top to bottom):

Color Value

Position Color C M Y K

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1 Cyan 100 0 0 0

2 Magenta 0 100 0 0

3 Yellow 0 0 100 0

4 Black 0 0 0 100

5 Red 0 100 100 0

6 Green 100 0 100 0

7 Blue 100 100 0 0

8 Black 100 100 100 100

Label
If you need information to be provided about the printed file, you can select the
"Label" option to add text which will be printed underneath the file. This text can
contain static and dynamic parts (such as the file name). The content and format of
the label can be changed in the "Settings..." menu of the "Advanced" tab under "Print
Marks".

Bleed Area
For various reasons a crop or bleed area may be added to the document (PDF file,
InDesign, or Illustrator) which should also be printed in its entirety. To do this, select
the "Bleed Area" option.

Shift Crop Marks Inwards


The area restricted by crop marks is shifted inwards by the chosen distance starting
from the edges of the image.
4.2.3.3.1.8 Page Print Marks
Page crop marks are printed on every spread and always cover the entire area of all
files placed on the respective spread.

Corner Crop Marks


Corner crop marks are print marks which are printed on a sheet's corners and show
where the physical page must be cropped to its final size.

Inward Corner Crop Marks


Inward corner crop marks are often better suited for manual cropping than normal
corner crop marks, as with the latter, one crop will sometimes remove an extra crop
mark needed to find the next crop line.

In addition, inward corner crop marks do not require wide borders for the
positioning of the print marks. This helps to save media.

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Center Crop Marks


Center crop marks in Mirage are useful when, for certain reasons, an indicator is
needed for the middle of the long or short side of the printed file.

Outline Crop Marks


Outline crop marks form a dashed line along the edge of the image and show where
the physical page must be cropped to its final size. These crop marks do not add
additional borders and are helpful for manually cropping the image using scissors.

Registration Marks
Two registration marks are printed on each corner of the file to check the alignment
of the printout after printing. These registration marks are often used for color
separation printing.

Calibration Bars
The "Calibration Bars" option is used to display three separate bars with several
different colors on the borders of the file. A measurement device can be used to
check these bars later for the final print.

Shift Crop Marks Outwards


The area restricted by crop marks is shifted outwards by the chosen distance starting
from the edges of the image.
4.2.3.3.1.9 Color
Print Color Mode

The default color mode setting is "Normal" for all color files and "Gray" for all black
& white files.

Normal
Select "Normal" to print color files or black & white files which for whatever reason
should be printed with more than just your printer's black ink. In this way you can
ensure that Mirage will carry out all your color management tasks (based on the
selected option "Rendering Intent").

To print images color-true, Mirage requires an ICC profile for the media selected in
the "On" menu under "General Settings". Mirage installs a suitable generic ICC profile
for all pre-installed media types.

If a custom medium without an assigned ICC profile is selected, then "Normal" mode
is not available. Add an appropriate profile for the selected custom medium in the
"Settings..." menu under "Custom Media". If no profile is assigned, images can only
be printed in "Create Profile" mode.

Gray
NOTE: "Gray" print color mode is only available for Epson and Canon PRO
printers. With Epson SureColor P100xx and P200xx printers, "Gray" can only be
selected if the printer is networked (TCP/IP).
Depending on the specifications of the printer manufacturer, "Gray" mode is not
available for all printers or all media/ink combinations. If "Gray" mode is not available

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for this reason, please select "Normal". Mirage automatically selects "Gray" for black
& white files. You can select "Normal" if you wish to print a black & white image in
color mode.

Profile Creation
This mode was implemented for users who wish to create their own ICC profile. In
this mode, chart files can be printed, for example, which are required for
measurement during the creation of an ICC color profile.

If you have selected a custom media type without a corresponding ICC profile, files
will be printed in "Profile Creation" mode or "Gray" mode (if available).

Rendering Intent
In many cases a file's source color space exceeds the color space displayed on the
monitor as well as the color reproduction capability of the printer, ink, or media type.
Mirage's embedded color module, Adobe CMM, offers different ways to tackle this
problem thanks to its rendering intents.

An explanation on rendering is available here, for example:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_management#Rendering_intent
4.2.3.3.1.10 White Handling or Metallic Silver Handling (Special Color)
NOTE: Only available for selected Epson printer models

Define how special colors are used in the print.

No White/Metallic Silver
No special color will be printed.

Use Alpha for Special Color


The document's alpha channel (i.e., transparency information) is used to print the
special color. The maximum application of the special color will be printed under fully
opaque areas. Likewise, less special color will be printed under partially transparent
areas. Completely transparent areas do not receive any special color and remain
transparent.

Layer: ...
This layer of the document is used as a source of the special color. The actual color
values of the document's layer elements are not important. Only the transparency
counts (e.g., 50% transparency corresponds to 50% special color).

Channel: ...
This color channel of the document is used as a source of the special color.
4.2.3.3.1.11 Fluorescent Pink Handling
NOTE: Only available for selected Canon printer models

Define how the special color is used in the print.

No Fluorescent Pink

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No special color will be printed.

Use Alpha for Special Color


The document's alpha channel (i.e., transparency information) is used to print the
special color. The maximum application of the special color will be printed under fully
opaque areas. Likewise, less special color will be printed under partially transparent
areas. Completely transparent areas do not receive any special color and remain
transparent.

Use Swatch Library:


The Canon CANGP21_FlourescentColorLibrary is used.

Colors from this swatch library that are used in Illustrator and were exported as a
PDF are printed in Mirage color-true.

Visit the Canon website for more information about using the color fields and
downloading the library: To this end, please download the required swatch library
from the Canon website: https://ij.start.canon/swatch

4.2.3.3.2 Extra
4.2.3.3.2.1 Crop
You can crop an original file directly in Mirage. The size of the original file is always
used as a basis for the scale. Any other scaling in Mirage has no effect on the image.
If a file is cropped in Mirage, Mirage behaves as if the original file were
correspondingly smaller.

Width and Height


Indicate a relative (as a percentage) or absolute target size for the original file. The
scale is always based on the original size of the file.

Anchor and Offset


Width and height only indicate how big the cropped image should be. Specifying the
anchor and horizontal/vertical offset determines where the cropped image is
positioned in the original file.

Crop
Use this button to open the "Crop Image" dialog in which you can crop the original
file graphically and interactively.

Reset
Use this button to reset the file to its original state.
This dialog makes it easier to crop a file, because here you can interactively pre-
select the cut with the mouse, as well as enter exact values.

Cropped
This section shows how much of each of the four sides of the file is being cropped.
You can change these values by entering values in cm/inches or as a percentage.

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Size after Crop


This section shows how large the file will be after being cropped. You can change
these values by entering values in cm/inches or as a percentage.

Click the "Reset" button to cancel the cropping job and start from the beginning.

If you have selected "Centered", the crop will always be selected from the middle of
the file.

Interactive Cropping
Click and drag the sizing handles placed around the crop to move the corresponding
edges or corners.

Hold down Shift when you drag the sizing handles to retain the aspect ratio of the
selected cropped image.

Hold down the ALT key (or CTRL key for Windows) when you drag the sizing
handles to evenly scale the cropped image based on its center.

If you click and drag the cropped image, you can change its position within the entire
file.
4.2.3.3.2.2 Logo Overlay
Mirage provides the option of inserting a logo file in the file to be printed.
To select the logo, click on "Select…" In the file browser which appears, select the
desired file.
You can specify both the size of the logo and its position within the file. The opacity
of the overlay can be set using five preset levels.
Logos can be scaled and moved in the "Print Preview" and "Page Preview" using the
mouse. Once you place the cursor over a logo, the corresponding handles are
displayed and can be used.
NOTE: Only TIFF files can be selected for a logo overlay.
4.2.3.3.2.3 Tiling
You can print a file divided into several tiles. Each tile contains only a part of the file
and, depending on the setting, an overlap between neighboring tiles.

When the tiles are assembled after printing, they make up the complete image. This
option allows files to be printed in a larger size than the maximum available media
size.

The complete file is always displayed in "Page Preview". When tiling is activated, a
tile grid is also displayed over the file. Each tile is clearly marked with an ID made up
of letters and numbers.

This ID can be printed as part of the label under the tile in question. If a label for
individual parts is desired when printing the tiles, click on "Settings..." at the top right
and then on the "Advanced" tab.
Click on "Edit..." in the "Print Marks" area and select "Tile Number".

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Close the "Settings..." window, select "Print Marks" in the Mirage settings on the left-
hand side, and choose the "Label" option.

Under "Print Preview", the files are displayed in the order they will be printed.

If tiling is activated, the "Image Size" settings option relates to the complete image
and not the individual tiles. The image size can no longer be fixed to the paper width
or size.

Tiling Mode
No Tiling
Select this mode if you do not want the files printed as tiles. This is the default setting
and only has to be selected for previously manually tiled images, if these are
ultimately not going to be printed as tiles.

Fixed Tile Size


Specify the desired tile size. Mirage automatically calculates how many tiles to divide
the image into using the set image size.

Fixed Tile Count


In this mode the file will be printed in tiles. Enter how many rows and columns the file
should be divided into and Mirage will use the set image size to automatically
determine the corresponding tile size.

Overlap
You can specify the size of the overlap separately between rows (vertical) and
columns (horizontal). Under "Page Preview", the overlap appears slightly darkened.
The overlap between neighboring tiles will be printed on both tiles to make it easier
to assemble them seamlessly later.
4.2.3.3.2.4 Document Profile
To print a color-true version of a file, Mirage must know the original color space,
known as the source profile. Regardless of the source profile stored in the document,
you can assign any other RGB, CMYK, or grayscale profile installed on your
system.
Please note that selecting a different source profile may result in color changes in the
preview and printout. The profile selection always affects the file and all copies of
that file.

NOTE: We recommend that only experienced users make changes to this menu item.
4.2.3.3.2.5 Print Job Management
You can define basic settings to manage your print jobs in the "Settings..." menu.

Print job paused


If this function is selected, Mirage sends print jobs to the Mirage print queue.
However, the actual printout is not started. To start printing, select "Resume Printing"
in the print queue.

Archive print job permanently

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Select whether the print job should be permanently saved here. Any other
specifications in the settings dialog or Job Archive are ignored for this job.
4.2.3.3.2.6 Drop Shadow
You can add a drop shadow to a file. the following options are available:

Opacity:
The shadow is almost fully transparent when the opacity value is 1%, whereas it is
opaque when the opacity value is 100%.

The Color Chooser brings you to the module for choosing a color. Select a color
by clicking on it. You can control the color intensity with the slider on the left side.

Soft Proof
The Color Chooser offers the full spectrum of colors. However, because not every
color in the Color Chooser can be printed (see Color Reproduction), by selecting
"Soft Proof" you can reduce the choice of colors to those which can actually be
reproduced on the media type chosen.

The Color Picker can be used to select a color from any image in the preview
and adjust the border's colors to optimally suit the content of the file.

Direction:
Here you can use the slider to choose the direction of the drop shadow from -180 to
180 degrees.

Offset:
Here you can use the slider to set the width of the drop shadow.

Softness:
Set the slider to a value between 0 and 100 %.
4.2.3.3.2.7 Proofing
Simulate Output
In this field, you can select the profile you want to simulate. All CYMK profiles
installed on the system can be selected.

Simulate Paper Color


Here you can select whether the paper color of the proof color space should also be
simulated for the proof print. Selecting this option may cause even white spots to be
"overprinted" lightly in gray in the proof print. In most cases, you should use the
default setting, "Yes".

Proofing Traffic Lights


A traffic light symbol, showing either red or green, is displayed next to the settings
options. This indicator attempts to mathematically represent the media profile and
proof settings you have entered to predict whether a proof is likely to print correctly.

If the traffic light is red, you are probably using a media profile that does not cover
the required proof color space, and a certified proof is unlikely to print successfully.

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However, if the traffic light is green, this does not always guarantee that a proof will
be printed correctly. For example, the proof could print incorrectly if the ambient
conditions have changed significantly since the profile was generated. Mirage cannot
predict these types of physical influences.

4.2.3.3.2.8 Ink Density Adjustment


This menu item is only available for selected printers.

It allows you to change the ink density amount regardless of the media presets.
A different setting for the current printout can be defined for each color cartridge
used by the printer model.
Note that once the print dialog is closed, the individual settings are deleted. To make
changes permanent, change the color density in the media presets or create a new
medium with the adjusted settings.
4.2.3.3.3 Photo
4.2.3.3.3.1 Filters
It is possible to integrate Photoshop filter plug-ins (e. g., Google® Nik Filter) into
Mirage.
Filter History: The Filter History displays all filters that have been subsequently
applied to an image. You can jump back to previous versions by clicking on them in
the history.
Filters: Here you can select from the filters that Mirage finds in the directories you
have selected. In the "Photoshop Filters" menu in "Settings...", you can select the
search directory. You can then activate the filters by clicking on "Apply Filter". The
settings of the most recently selected filter can be saved for quick selection (in the
"Save Last Used Setting..." menu). This is only possible if the selected filter supports
Photoshop automation. Existing quick selections can be renamed or deleted via the
"Edit Workflows" menu item.
Filter Dialog: Whereas Photoshop filters only allow one image to be edited at a time,
in Mirage it is possible to select several images and apply filters to them. There are
different modes available for the filter dialog:
· "Show for one selected document": The filter dialog is opened once for one
of the selected documents, and applied to all other selected documents.
· "Show for each selected document": The filter dialog is opened separately for
each selected document. Settings can be adjusted individually for each
image.
· "Show for each selected copy": The filter dialog is opened separately for
each selected image.

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· "Don't show": If a stored shortcut is selected, filters are applied without the
filter dialog being opened.
In the case of filters that cannot be automated in Photoshop, Mirage will only display
the option "Show for each selected document", as these filter settings cannot be
saved. As with all other functions, Photoshop filters can also be used as a "Stored
Setting" for automatic processes. This allows several filters to be applied in sequence,
even during automatic processes. Note: Filters that have been selected but not saved
will no longer be available when Mirage is restarted.
Note
Photoshop filters are always applied before the image is edited in Mirage
(contrast/brightness, etc.). The reason for this is that the time-consuming Photoshop
filters would otherwise have to be reopened every time the native Mirage image is
edited.

Note
Currently, filters can only be used if Mirage is opened as a stand-alone program (not
as a plug-in via Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop Elements). The filters do
work when the plug-in is opened from Lightroom. Filters cannot be applied to PDF
documents. Photoshop filters cannot be applied to images with a color space that is
not supported by the filter itself. Most Photoshop filters only work with RGB images,
meaning they cannot be used with images in the CMYK color space.

4.2.3.3.3.2 Levels
"Channel": Change the RGB curve for one or all colors. The bar chart below the
menu adjusts itself to the selection made.

"Auto Color" adjusts the RGB values to a level that appears optimal for all images.
This will not result in color shifts.

"Auto Contrast" adjusts the RGB values separately in order to produce an optimal
value spread for each of the three channels. This may result in color shifts.

Note
All functions in the "Photo" column will only work in the RGB color space. If they are
applied to images that are not in the RGB color space (i.e., CMYK, gray, and LAB
images or PDF documents), the image will automatically be converted to an RGB
working color space (relative colorimetric, AdobeRGB). The functions are then
applied there, after which the result is converted back to the original document color
space (relative colorimetric).
4.2.3.3.3.3 Brightness/Contrast
Change the exposure and contrast using the slider or enter a value.
4.2.3.3.3.4 Exposure
Change the exposure using the slider or enter a value.

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4.2.3.3.3.5 Saturation/Hue
Change the saturation and hue using the slider or enter a value.
4.2.3.3.3.6 Sepia
Use the slider or enter a value to achieve the desired sepia hue.
4.2.3.3.3.7 White Balance
Use the slider or enter a value to change the original color temperature and tint.

Alternatively, click on the picker and select a point in the file that you want to appear
neutral (i.e., white or neutral gray). The color temperature and tint will be adjusted
automatically.
4.2.3.3.3.8 Sharpen
Use the slider to set the radius, strength, and threshold values or enter manual values
to adjust the sharpness.
4.2.3.3.3.9 Blur
The setting panel "Blur"

Here you have the option to apply Gaussian blurring to images.

You might only be able to properly assess the strength of the effect in the Pixel-Exact
Preview.
4.2.4 Stored Settings
The "Stored Settings" dialog can be opened using the gearwheel symbol and
allows you to manage and change stored settings and also create new ones.

The dialog is divided into several key groups:


• On the left there is a list of all stored settings. Here you can delete, add, or rename
settings.
• On the right there are two columns. The left column shows all active settings
groups for the stored settings currently selected. The right column displays all
available settings groups. By dragging a settings group from one of the columns
into the other, the settings group can be activated or deactivated.
• Underneath the two main columns there is a text area with a summary of the
currently selected settings.

Editing Stored Settings


Stored settings can use one or more settings groups. It is therefore possible, for
example, to save settings which exclusively apply to the "Borders" settings group.

In order to activate settings groups, simply drag the groups from the right column to
the central column using the mouse. To deactivate a settings group, drag it from the
central column back to the left column. Only groups in the central column will be
used for your stored settings.

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With some settings groups it is possible to fill out only some of the text fields and to
leave the others blank. Blank text fields will be ignored when the stored settings are
used later. For instance, it is possible to only fill out the "Width" field in the "Image
Size" settings group, if you want files to always be scaled to a specific width.

NOTE about the "Image Size" settings group:


When width and height are entered, the file will be scaled to such a size that neither
the width nor height entered will be exceeded. It is therefore possible to enter a
maximum rectangle frame which the file must fit as best as possible without
deformation.

Creating Droplets
A "droplet" is an application that can be stored anywhere on your computer. By
simply dragging and dropping files onto the droplet icon, the "Mirage Print"
application will start, open the required files, and apply the settings stored in this
droplet to the files.

Droplets are therefore an effective option for automating frequently used work
processes.

To create a droplet, select a stored setting in the left column and click on the "Create
Droplet" button under the list of all stored settings:

In the file selection dialog that opens, choose where to save the droplet and what
name to save it under.

As soon as a droplet is saved, it is completely independent. For example: Changing


or deleting previously stored settings in Mirage does not affect the droplet. This
allows Droplets to even be swapped between computers – all you need is to have a
working copy of Mirage installed.
A droplet can also be used as a backup for frequently recurring work processes, for
example after a reinstallation of Mirage or a computer change. In addition, settings
can be imported back into Mirage using droplets. To do so, simply double-click on
the droplet symbol. A window will pop up asking if you want to import the settings.
Once you have confirmed the import, the droplet settings will appear under the
gearwheel symbol in the "Mirage Print" window.
4.2.5 Mirage Settings Dialog
Click on the "Settings..." button in the Mirage Print dialog to open the Mirage
Settings dialog.

NOTE: Some changes made in the Mirage Settings dialog will only be applied when
Mirage is restarted.
4.2.5.1 General
License/Machine ID
The machine ID shown here is needed to license your Mirage version. The machine
ID is an ID number generated by Mirage. It is made up of information about various
components in your computer (network access, operating system, motherboard,
connected hard drives, etc.).

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A valid license is required to use Mirage.

New License/Replacement License


If you have purchased another license or a TAN to activate Mirage and wish to
activate it, click on "Change License...".

International Settings
Measurement Units
Set the global default for measurement units here. The settings apply to the
dimensions in the "Print Preview", among others.

Language
Mirage supports multiple languages. Please select your language.

Print Queue
Each file must first be saved as a print file to your hard drive before printing. This is
referred to as "spooling". Depending on the file to be printed, these spool files may
be very large. To avoid performance issues which can arise from insufficient storage
space on your hard drive, we recommend saving the spool directory on a data
carrier with sufficient free space where data can be read and written as quickly as
possible.

If you wish to change the spool file directory, click the "Browse" button and select a
folder.

Limit simultaneous print jobs


The Mirage print queue allows printing to be carried out on multiple printers at the
same time. You can set the number of printers operating simultaneously here.

NOTE:
Depending on your computer's performance (processor, memory, hard drive speed),
printing on more than one printer may cause print jobs to pause sporadically,
because the print data cannot be delivered quickly enough to the printer. Reduce the
number of simultaneous print jobs if printing pauses mid-job.

Automatically archive print jobs


You can select here whether jobs that have already been printed should be stored.
You can store print jobs for either a set period of time or choose to store only a set
number of jobs.

Always start queues paused


Usually, printing starts as soon as a print job is started. With this option, the Mirage
Queue Monitor starts as normal, but the print queue is paused and must be manually
started before the jobs are actually printed.

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4.2.5.2 Color Settings


Default Color Profiles
You can define your default ICC profiles here. Any RGB, CMYK, or grayscale
profiles installed on your system can be selected.
Note that changing the source profile of a file may result in color changes in the
printout. Only one document profile can be selected for all copies (instances) of a
file.

Color Management Policy


Here you can define what happens when files without an ICC profile are opened.
There are three options:

Ask when opening


A message appears indicating that a document profile is missing. You can decide
which action to take in the dialog that follows.

Leave as is
The file is opened despite the missing profile without any further messages. If no ICC
profile is embedded in the file, the file can only be printed in Profile Creation mode.

Assign standard profiles


The profiles set in the previous dialog are assigned.
Changing profiles usually results in color shifts.

NOTE:
We recommend selecting "Ask when opening" as a default in order to receive notice
when profile assignment may be necessary.
4.2.5.3 Advanced
Print Marks
Use thin Inward Crop Marks
Activating this option makes the inward corner crop marks thinner during printing
(width of 1 pixel) than would normally be the case (width of 0.2 mm).

Miscellaneous
Enable not recommended media types
Mirage usually only shows media and settings that will lead to optimal results. If this
setting is pre-selected, Mirage provides the option of using photo black ink on media
types that are intended for matte black ink. Note that an optimized ICC profile is
required for this configuration.

Automatically apply saved settings


Select a stored setting from the list to apply it to all files automatically upon start-up.

Preview Image Quality


Mirage uses small preview images of opened documents for the print and page
previews. By default, files are displayed with a size of 500 x 500 pixels ("Low
Quality").

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If you prefer a higher resolution so that you can better assess the preview, the
preview can be increased up to 2500 x 2500 pixels.

NOTE:
A higher preview image quality requires significantly higher performance from your
system, possibly resulting in a delayed preview.

Processing Bit Depth

Here you can choose whether data should always be processed at 8-bit precision,
always at 16-bit precision, or at the printer's maximum possible precision.

8-bit image files can also be processed at 16-bit precision. The printer receives the
final image data at the maximum possible precision.
This is usually 16-bit for new Epson printers and 10/12-bit for Canon printers,
depending on the medium and quality selected.
This setting is not saved with the print job and only takes effect once printing starts.
As a result, it is also possible for paused and archived jobs to be retroactively
processed at a different bit depth.

GPU Acceleration
The print previews in Mirage (Page Preview and Print Preview) are OpenGL-
accelerated. This setting will be enabled by default, provided that it is supported by
the hardware (graphics card). If the option cannot be selected, this means that the
hardware requirement has not been met. In the bottom left-hand corner of the
Mirage Print dialog it is indicated whether GPU acceleration is enabled.

Measurement Condition
Here you can switch between the M0 and M1 measurement modes. This setting only
affects the Epson SpectroProofer ILS30, and will be ignored by other measurement
devices.

4.2.5.3.1 Edit Label


Label Template
Here you can edit the text printed under every file if the "Label" print mark has been
activated. You can use specific placeholders that will later be replaced by the correct
value for the file and print. These placeholders can be inserted at the current position
in the text by clicking on the appropriate button.

The following placeholders are available:


• Print Date: Date and time the print job was spooled, i.e., the time at which you
started printing in Mirage
• Media Type: Name of the medium selected for the print
• ICC Profile: Name of the ICC profile used for the print

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• Simulation Condition: Simulation color space (profile) and rendering intent used for
proof printing
• Printer Name: Name of the printer (as shown in Mirage) on which printing is taking
place
• Printer Type: Model of the printer on which printing is taking place
• Printer Ink Set: Name of the ink set used
• File Path: Complete file path for the file to be printed
• Title: Name of the file to be printed
• Application: Name of the application from which Mirage was used
• Tile Number: Unique ID for each individual tile used in tiled printing. The ID
consists of a letter (indicating the consecutive columns) and a number (indicating
the consecutive rows).
• Unique ID: An alphanumerical ID used to uniquely identify each print. IDs are only
ever assigned one time to one print globally and cannot be repeated at a later
time. (UUID)
• Mirage Version: Version of the Mirage software used for printing
• Machine ID: ID indicating the Mirage installation used for printing the file

For all available placeholders a value is always shown in the "Example Label" area
which corresponds to the actual value inserted later.

Furthermore, you can select whether the text under the file is left-aligned, right-
aligned, or centered.

Font
Here you can select the text font, size, and color to be used when the label is printed.
Note that very small text sizes are not displayed in their actual size in the "Example
Label" field so that the text can still be read. These sizes are converted correctly,
however, in the print preview and during printing.

Any font color can be pre-selected using the color selector.

NOTE:
Depending on the selected printer and media type, the font color displayed or
selected in the preview may differ from the actual print result.

If your label contains special characters, ensure that you select a font that supports
these characters (such as "Arial Unicode MS").
4.2.5.4 Printers
In the "Printers" tab under "Settings..." you will find an overview of all printers stored
in Mirage. These can be selected and deselected using the selection fields.
Deselected printers are not deleted, they simply no longer appear in the selection list
in the Mirage Print dialog.

NOTE:
If your printer is connected via USB, then only select "New Printer Wizard".

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Adding a Printer
Click the "Add Printer" button to add a new printer for use by Mirage. Select your
printer from the list and wait until Mirage has tested the connection to your printer.
You will be notified whether the connection has been established successfully by way
of either a green (successful) or red (unsuccessful) circle. Once a connection has
been established, you can select the name, ink system and, where applicable, the
optional measurement device for your printer.

To manually add a printer that is connected via a network (and not via USB), click
the "Add Manually..." button in the Mirage Printer Wizard.

Printers
• Printer Model: Select the printer from the list of supported models.
• If the printer you wish to add cannot be selected, it may be that you are using the
wrong Mirage version or that your printer is not supported by the Mirage license
you are using or just generally not supported by Mirage. Download the right
software for your license from http://mirage.dinax.de/userguide-link/downloads
and check the list of supported printers. If your printer is not in the selection list,
contact your retailer or our support team for further assistance.
• Ink: Once the printer has been selected, the ink set is automatically filled in.
Depending on the printer model, you may be able to make changes here.

Depending on your printer model, it may be the case that only either "Photo
Black"/"Matte Black" or "LLK"/"Violet" is installed. To ensure correct, color-true
prints, Mirage must know which type of ink is currently installed in your printer.

If you select a different ink than the one which is actually installed in your printer and
you try to print with these settings, error messages will be generated.

NOTE about Epson

If the following printer types are selected, you cannot manually change the ink type
because the black ink is automatically selected based on the selected medium for the
printout: Stylus Photo R3000, Stylus Pro 3800, 3800c & 3880, 4000, 4900, 4910,
7890, 7900, 7908, 7910, 9890, 9900, 9908 & 9910 11880,11880c, T-3000, T-
5000, or T-7000.

Some printer models require the black ink in the print head to be changed.
Epson Stylus Photo R3000, Stylus Pro 3800, 3800c, and 3880 printers
automatically switch between inks. Depending on your settings in the "Black Ink
Change" printer menu, you may have to monitor the printer's display or information
regarding the ink change if using an Epson Stylus Pro 4900, 4910, 7890, 7900,
7908, 7910, 9890, 9900, 9908, or 9910 printer. Note that changing between the
two black ink types uses up ink!

If you have selected a printer of the type SureColor P7xxx or P9xxx, then you select
the ink that is currently loaded in your printer, either "LLK" or "Violet".

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Mirage displays which black ink is currently active in your printer. Hover the mouse
over the printer symbol in the Mirage Settings dialog. The active ink appears as
normal, and the inactive ink is grayed out.

• Description: To differentiate between the printer you are setting up and other
printers more easily, you can rename the printer according to its location in the
network, e. g., "Canon iPF 6450 – John's office". The name can also be practical
and refer to the kind of ink loaded. Example: "Epson Stylus Pro 4880 Matte
Black".

• Interface: The default setting for "Interface" is "TCP/IP": Enter the TCP/IP address
of your printer, e. g., 192.168.0.129 or 10.0.1.22 (please consult your network
administrator for the correct IP address).

NOTE: The "Print to File" function is solely intended for use by developers. Please
do not set your printer to use the "File" interface.

• Network Port: The default port number is 9100, if the default settings have not
been changed manually using the network card software.
• The "Printers" dialog lists all printers that you have set up for use with Mirage.

Options
• Measurement Device: Depending on your printer, you may have the option to
select a measurement device here. Click on the "Query Printer" button, and
Mirage will automatically fill in this field.

Changing the Settings for an Existing Printer


If you wish to change the settings for a printer, select it and click on "Edit Printer...".
Alternatively, you can double-click on the printer.

Deleting a Printer
To delete a printer, click on it once to select it and then click "Delete Printer".

NOTE: The deletion will be carried out immediately and cannot be undone.

NOTE: If your printer connection changes from USB to TCP/IP, for example, this
printer must be recreated in Mirage.

Dynamic Printers
In the case of dynamic printers (e. g., Canon PRO printers or Epson SC-Sx0600), a
query is launched the first time the printer is selected in the print dialog to check the
available media. To indicate this, a window will appear with a rotating orange circle,
which will turn green if the query is successful, and red if it is not. You must wait until
this dialog has finished working; the query cannot be canceled. Media loaded from a
printer in this way (i.e., media that only exist on this printer and are linked to it) are
displayed in the list of available media with a tag, such as "@ Canon XXX".

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4.2.5.5 Custom Media


All installed media for each installed printer are displayed in this tab.
Of course, you can set up media types in Mirage which are not included in the initial
installation. The Mirage website contains "Mirage media
packages" (http://mirage.dinax.de/userguide-link/mediapkg-download) which can be
downloaded and installed easily. You can also install individual media types manually.

Grouping Media
You can arrange media in groups for an improved overview. The groups are shown
as submenus during media selection in the print dialog.

NOTE: A created media group is automatically available for all identical printers
(same printer model).

To create a new group, first click on any medium for the printer type for which you
want to create a group. Then click on the . An empty folder with the name "New
Group" will appear in the media list. Add to this new group by dragging media to the
group. Double-clicking the group name allows you to rename it.

NOTE: Groups are displayed in alphabetical order in the "On" selection field of the
print dialog in the Mirage main window. To move a group to the top of the list, add
an "a" to the beginning of the group name.

You can delete a group by selecting it and clicking the "Remove" icon .

Note: It is not possible to move groups or media between two different printer types
because media are always tied to one printer type.

Activating/Deactivating Media
If you only wish to always use certain media types, you can hide all of the unused
media types to create a better overview in the "On" menu. The check mark in front of
the medium determines whether that medium can be selected in the "On" selection
field of the print dialog in the Mirage main window. If the box is not checked, the
medium is not displayed in the print dialog.

Filtering the Displayed Media


To create a better overview, you can choose to display only custom media or only
media included in the initial installation of Mirage. This display does not affect the
availability of individual media types in the Mirage "On" selection field of the print
dialog.

If the button is selected, original Mirage media will be displayed. If the button is
deactivated, these media will be hidden.
If the button is selected, custom media will be displayed. If the button is
deactivated, these media will be hidden.

Adding Custom Media


To add custom media, click on the "Add Medium" button in the bottom right corner.

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Alternatively, you can use "Duplicate Medium" to apply the settings from an existing
medium to a new one.

Printer Model
Select the printer model you wish to use for the custom medium.

Ink
Depending on your printer model, it may be the case that only either "Photo Black"
or "Matte Black" is installed. To ensure correct, color-true prints, Mirage must know
which type of ink is used in your printer. Select the black ink to be used here.

If you select a different ink than the one which is actually installed in your printer and
you try to print with these settings, error messages will be generated.

NOTE about Epson


Information pertaining to the different ink types can be found in the chapter entitled
"Printers".

Base Medium
Only media types that match the selected black ink type are displayed. For example,
high-gloss paper is not available if "Matte Black" is selected. If you wish to use non-
recommended ink/media combinations, this is also possible.

Certain basic settings must be pre-selected for each medium. The printer receives
information when one of the base media suitable for your media type is selected. This
includes the thickness of the media type, for example, in order to prevent the print
head from colliding with the medium and being damaged. Additionally, some media
require the application of more ink than others. For advanced users, below is a list of
some settings which are preset when you select a base medium:

• Ink Limit
• Ink Restriction
• Base Linearization
• Microstepping for Paper Feeding
• Paper Thickness

Note: Choosing the correct base medium is very important. If you are not sure about
the best setting for "Base Medium", please contact the supplier/manufacturer of the
medium you wish to use.

Name
Give any manually added medium a descriptive, unique name so that you can more
easily differentiate it from the standard media at a later date.

Advanced Settings
Depending on the printer model, there are different individual special settings for
printing on media. For example, you can set (depending on the printer model) the ink
density, drying time per print head movement, paper weight, suction strength, and

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much more. Please see your printer's operating instructions to find the possible
settings for your printer.

Aside from the printer-specific settings, this menu offers a special Mirage setting,
"Paper Feed Correction". With some media (especially canvas), the problem often
arises that the print is longer or shorter than the stipulated output size. These
variations due to slips or humidity can be easily corrected in Mirage. Simply enter the
correct values in the input fields.

Check the values under "Paper Feed Correction" regularly because the determining
factors can sometimes vary drastically depending on humidity, room temperature,
and the media batch.

The last item in the "Advanced Settings" allows you to mirror the print job. To do so,
check the box next to "Mirrored Print".

Profiles
In general, ICC profiles are differentiated according to their color space. RGB
profiles are generally used in Mirage.

NOTE about Epson


The Epson WT 7900 uses CYMK profiles.
Epson SureColor SC-30600/50600/70600 models can use both RGB and CYMK
profiles.

Mirage can, of course, print color-true files with any source color spaces, regardless
of the printer's ICC profile.

For colors to be printed properly, at least one ICC profile is required for every
custom medium. If you already have the corresponding ICC profile, click on the
"Browse" button next to the resolution for which the ICC profile was created. In the
window that opens (Windows Explorer or Mac Finder), you can navigate through
your hard drive to the saved ICC profile. Click on the required ICC profile to select
it and then click on "Open".

Mirage will automatically use this profile for all resolutions available for this medium,
unless an individual ICC profile has already been created. If you have different ICC
profiles for different resolutions, then repeat the ICC profile selection for the other
available resolutions. The selected profiles will be automatically copied to the Mirage
profile folder.

If you do not have the corresponding ICC profile, you must create one or have one
created by a service provider. Your media supplier may be able to provide you with
an appropriate profile.

Deleting Custom Media


You can delete custom media by clicking on the medium to be deleted to select it
and then clicking the "Delete" button to start the process.

The deletion will be carried out immediately and cannot be undone.

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Changing the Settings of Custom Media


To change the settings for manually added media, double-click the medium. The
"Settings" menu will open where you can make your changes.

Click on "OK" to accept the changes or "Cancel" to close the dialog without
accepting any changes made.

Exporting Media
You can export one or more media as a "media package". Select all of the media you
wish to export together. Note that all selected media must belong to the same printer
type.

NOTE Only media that you have added manually can be exported.

Click on "Export Media..." and, in the file selection dialog that follows, define where
the media package should be saved. Mirage media packages have the file extension
".mediapkg.zip". You can copy these media packages to another computer and then
import it into Mirage by selecting "Install Media...".

Installing Media
Mirage media packages that have been exported by you or by a manufacturer
(ending in ".mediapkg.zip") can be imported into Mirage.

Click on "Install Media..." and select the media package in the file selection dialog
that follows. Mirage will install the media from the package and you can then access
these media as usual. The media package itself can then be moved or deleted;
Mirage no longer needs it.

A list of available media packages is available here: http://mirage.dinax.de/userguide-


link/mediapkg-download

Creating Custom Media Profiles for Mirage


If a printer with an installed spectrophotometer is used, you can use the Mirage PRO
add-on to create individual ICC profiles.

The ICC profiles supplied with Mirage are generic and offer a good compromise
between the test results of several printers of the same type.

Note: We recommend using individually created ICC profiles for your printer in
order to achieve optimal results.

Because the range of different available media is so large, Mirage cannot offer native
support for all media on the market.

If you do not have your own color measuring system or the software needed to
create an individual ICC profile, please contact your retailer or the Mirage support
team ([email protected]).

Opening the Chart File (Target)

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Normally, the chart file is part of the ICC profile software package or is supplied by
the profile service partner. Generally, the more charts a chart file has, the more
precise the ICC profile will be.

Open the chart file that corresponds to your measurement device/color space in the
Mirage stand-alone program. Ensure that in Mirage the print color mode is set to
"Profile Creation" in the "Color" settings group.

After opening the chart file, go to the "Settings" menu and create the "Custom
Medium" for which you wish to make the ICC profile.

Printing the Chart File (Target)


Once you have created the custom medium, exit the "Settings..." menu and select as
the media type the newly created custom medium, with the appropriate print
resolution for which you are creating the ICC profile.

Then print the chart file.

NOTE
Before measuring, allow sufficient time for the printed chart to dry. You can then
carry out the measurement using a color measurement device and create an ICC
profile using ICC profile creation software.

Once you have created the profile from the measurement data, you simply have to
assign it to the custom medium.
4.2.5.6 Photoshop Filters

Under the "Photoshop Filters" tab, select the search directories in which you want
Mirage to search for filters. By default, Mirage uses existing Photoshop and Nik
installation directories. All filters that have been found will be shown here. They can
be disabled using the selection fields. Manually disabled filters are not displayed in
the settings dialog.

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Mirage Queue Monitor
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5 Mirage Queue Monitor


Print Queue
Every print job from Mirage is saved to the hard drive. The Mirage print queue
controls all Mirage print jobs.

The Mirage print queue allows printing to be carried out on multiple printers at the
same time. You can change the number of printers operating simultaneously in the
"Settings..." menu under the "General" tab.

If printing is taking place simultaneously on different printers, a separate print queue


will open for each printer. This allows for optimal print job management.

Every print queue window contains a symbol for the printer. Hover the mouse over it
to open a floating window displaying the current ink status of the printer and any
error messages or warnings. The floating window disappears automatically as soon
as the mouse moves away from the printer symbol.

Current Print Job


The Mirage print queue shows status information about the current print job to the
right of the printer symbol.

Print Preview:
To the right of the printer symbol, a small preview of the current print job is
displayed. At first the actual preview is grayed out. As the print job continues, the
"gray mask" lifts from bottom to top to reveal a clearer image, thus indicating the print
job progress.

Hover the mouse over the preview image to open a floating window with a larger
preview of the current print job.

A green circle with a triangle pointing right (next to the printer symbol) indicates that
the current job is being printed.
A red stop sign indicates that the current job cannot or can no longer be printed,
because the printer is not turned on or is not ready, for example, or the connection to
the printer has been interrupted, the ink has run out, the printer has run out of medium
on which to print, etc.

If the red stop sign is displayed, the current print job does not continue, even if the
problem causing the error message has been resolved.

Retry:
If the current print job has not printed correctly, the "Retry" button appears at the top
right. Click on "Retry" to restart the print job immediately.

Cancel:
To cancel the current print job, click on "Cancel".
To protect against inadvertently canceling a job, a confirmation dialog appears where
you are asked if you really wish to cancel the current print job.

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If the current print job consists of more than one page, the following confirmation
dialog appears after "Cancel" is clicked: "Do you want to abort the current print job
right now, or after the page is complete?" Click on "Abort After Page" to allow the
current page to print completely.

Spooled Jobs
Print jobs which have already been spooled but not yet printed are shown in the
bottom area of the Mirage print queue. The following information is shown in this
area:

Status Indicates whether the print job has been completely transferred to Mirage
and is ready to print.
Title General job information.
Media Type The medium chosen for the print job.
Application Indicates the program from which the original file was sent to
Mirage.
Total Length: Indicates the total length of the print job in cm.

Moving the mouse over a print job shown in the print queue displays a preview of
that job in a floating window.

Changing the Order of Print Jobs:


To change the order of the jobs in the print queue, click on the print job you wish to
move, hold down the mouse, and drag the job to the desired position.

Deleting a Print Job:


Select the print job you wish to delete by clicking once and then click the "Delete
Job" button.

Pausing a Print Job:


A print job that has not yet been printed can be paused and printed later. Simply
click the print job to select it for pausing. Then click the "Pause Job" button. The
paused print job is then highlighted in red. To restart a print job that has been
paused, select that print job by clicking on it once and then click the "Resume Job"
button.

Pausing a Print Queue:


You can pause and continue the entire print queue for a printer. The job currently
being printed is completed, and further jobs are only processed when the print queue
is continued.

Sort Sequence:
There are two types of sort sequences to choose from:
• Manual Sort: You have full control over the sequence of the individual print jobs.
• Media Sort: Mirage automatically groups print jobs by the preset media type for
each job and by the required media size. You can still change the order of the
print jobs, but this will only change the order of jobs within one group or the
position of the group itself within a sequence of groups.

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Paused print jobs can be resumed when the Mirage print queue is reopened. They
remain in the print queue until they have been deleted or started and then completely
printed. To ensure that jobs are retained after the computer is restarted, the target
location of the print queue must be changed from the temporary directory
("Settings..." menu > "General" tab) to another folder (such as your user folder).

Media Change
In the job list, Mirage indicates positions within the print queue where the medium
will need to be changed. If a media change is necessary, a prompt appears. The
following options are available:

Continue:
Once the medium has been changed, you can continue printing.

Skip Medium:
If you cannot or do not wish to insert the required medium, this medium can be
skipped. The jobs for this medium are sent to the bottom of the print queue but are
not deleted. When no other print jobs exist in the queue, you will be prompted again
to insert the required medium.

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Mirage Print Application
Mirage Print Application 61

6 Mirage Print Application


In addition to being used as a plug-in in different applications such as Adobe
Photoshop, Mirage can also be used as a stand-alone program for printing image and
PDF files.

On Mac computers, the application is located in the "Programs" folder and is called
"Mirage Print".

On Windows computers, a shortcut to "Mirage Print.exe" is created on the desktop


when the software is installed. The actual application is located in the Mirage
installation directory.

Double-click to start the program. As soon as a window with the text "Drop Files
Here" appears, you can drag folders and files you wish to print together into the
window.

Mirage loads all files with formats that it supports. You can then configure the print
settings as usual and start printing.

If problems opening the files occur, make sure that the file formats are supported by
"Mirage Print". A list of the file formats supported by Mirage can be found in the
chapter entitled "Supported File Formats".

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Mirage Template Editor
Mirage Template Editor 63

7 Mirage Template Editor


7.1 Settings Groups

The settings groups on the left-hand side of the Template Editor are divided into
three sections: "Templates", "Basic", and "Photo".

The arrow deletes all applied settings and restores the image to its original state.

7.1.1 Templates
7.1.1.1 Template Size
In addition to the default sizes, you can also define a custom size for your template.

If you want to change the size of the template at a later date, you can also specify
here where exactly you want the template to be adjusted.

7.1.1.2 Template Background


Here you can choose a color background for your template or your own
background.

Empty
The default selection is "Empty", which means that the borders, in the dimensions
entered, are added to the file as empty areas.

Colored
You can pick your own border color.

The Color Chooser brings you to the module for choosing a color. Select a color
by clicking on it. You can control the color intensity with the slider on the left side.

Soft Proof
The Color Chooser offers the full spectrum of colors. However, because not every
color in the Color Chooser can be printed (see Color Reproduction), by selecting
"Soft Proof" you can reduce the choice of colors to those which can actually be
reproduced on the media type chosen.

The Color Picker can be used to select a color from any image in the preview
and adjust the border's colors to optimally suit the content of the file.

Background Image

Here you can choose one of your own files as the background image. In addition to
the standard image files (.tiff, jpeg, .png), you can also select .pdf files and scalable
vector graphics.

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Mirage Template Editor 64

7.1.1.3 Slot Bounds


First create one or more slots using theslot creation tool found in the left-hand toolbar
of the Template Editor.

You can then change the size, proportion, and position on the template here.

7.1.1.4 Slot Rotation


The individual slot(s) on the template can be rotated 360 degrees here.

To this end, mark the slot you want to rotate with the selection tool.

You can rotate multiple slots at the same time by holding down Shift.

7.1.1.5 Slot Image Scale


Here you can define the behavior of files that are placed into slots.

Fill Slot
The file is scaled just large enough to fill the entire slot.
Fit Inside Slot
The file is placed in the slot in such a way that it is not cropped.
Custom Image Scale
The file is scaled according to your requirements upon placement.

7.1.1.6 Slot Fill Order


If you create new slots using the slot creation tool, these new slots will then
automatically receive a consecutive number.

When filling the template, the slots are filled in the sequence of the numbers.

You can change the filling sequence in this menu item. You can also give the same
number to multiple slots; these will then be filled with the same file.

7.1.1.7 Slot Masks


With theslot creation tool you can only create square slots.

Using masks, you can adjust the slots in accordance with the selected mask.

You can find a number of different templates for this in this menu item.

7.1.1.8 Slot Tools


Here you can specify which slots are to be positioned in the foreground or in the
background.

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Slots that are positioned in the background are partially hidden if there is an overlap
of slots.

You can also define the slot layout here.

Slot Overlap:

Here you can specify which slot is to be positioned in the foreground or in the
background. Some of the content may then be hidden.

Slot one step forward:


The selected slot is moved one value forward in the sequence of slots.

Slot one step back:


The selected slot is moved one value back in the sequence of slots.

Slot right to the front:


The selected slot is moved right to the front in the sequence of slots.

Slot right to the back:


The selected slot is moved right to the back in the sequence of slots.

Slot Layout:

In addition to the free layout of slots, you can also arrange slots according to fixed
specifications.

Please note that the slots to be arranged must be selected beforehand.

7.1.1.9 Text Style


To be able to edit a text slot, please first create a text slot using the tool "Create Text
Slot" found in the toolbar of the Template Editor.

Existing text slots can be edited here.

Font

Here you can specify the font, font size, color, and opacity.

Any font color can be pre-selected using the color selector.

Text Alignment

Specify the text alignment within the text box here.

7.1.1.10 Meta Data


Here you can maintain some keywords for the created template.

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Mirage Template Editor 66

You can use the search field in the Templates browser to filter templates by
keywords.

7.1.2 Basic
7.1.2.1 Drop Shadow
Here you can add a shadow to a slot. the following options are available:

Opacity:
The shadow is almost fully transparent when the opacity value is 1%, whereas it is
opaque when the opacity value is 100%.

The Color Chooser brings you to the module for choosing a color. Select a color
by clicking on it. You can control the color intensity with the slider on the left side.

Soft Proof
The Color Chooser offers the full spectrum of colors. However, because not every
color in the Color Chooser can be printed (see Color Reproduction), by selecting
"Soft Proof" you can reduce the choice of colors to those which can actually be
reproduced on the media type chosen.

The Color Picker can be used to select a color from any image in the preview
and adjust the border's colors to optimally suit the content of the file.

Direction:
Here you can use the slider to choose the direction of the drop shadow from -180 to
180 degrees.

Offset:
Here you can use the slider to set the width of the drop shadow.

Softness:
Set the slider to a value between 0 and 100 %.

7.1.2.2 Logo Overlay


Mirage provides the option of inserting a logo file in the file to be printed.
To select the logo, click on "Select…" In the file browser which appears, select the
desired file.
You can specify both the size of the logo and its position within the file. The opacity
of the overlay can be set using five preset levels.
Logos can be scaled and moved in the "Print Preview" and "Page Preview" using the
mouse. Once you place the cursor over a logo, the corresponding handles are
displayed and can be used.
NOTE: Only TIFF files can be selected for a logo overlay.

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Mirage Template Editor 67

7.1.2.3 Rotation
Specify here how you want to rotate files placed in a slot within the slot. the following
options are available:

Unrotated
This option does not rotate the file in the selected slot. This is the default behavior.

Rotated 90°, 180°, 270°


This option rotates the file in the selected slot by the pre-selected value.
7.1.3 Photo
7.1.3.1 Brightness/Contrast
Change the exposure and contrast using the slider or enter a value.
7.1.3.2 Exposure
Change the exposure using the slider or enter a value.
7.1.3.3 Saturation/Hue
Change the saturation and hue using the slider or enter a value..
7.1.3.4 Sepia
Use the slider or enter a value to achieve the desired sepia hue.
7.1.3.5 White Balance
Use the slider or enter a value to change the original color temperature and tint.

Alternatively, click on the picker and select a point in the file that you want to appear
neutral (i.e., white or neutral gray). The color temperature and tint will be adjusted
automatically.
7.1.3.6 Blur
The setting panel "Blur"

Here you have the option to apply Gaussian blurring to images.

You might only be able to properly assess the strength of the effect in the Pixel-Exact
Preview.
7.1.3.7 Sharpen
Use the slider to set the radius, strength, and threshold values or enter manual values
to adjust the sharpness.
7.2 Toolbar

The toolbar for the Template Editor is located on the left beside the template
preview.

The following tools are available:

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Selection Tool:
You can select one or more slots with the selection tool.

Text Selection Tool:


You can edit text in a slot with this tool.

Create Slot Tool:


You can create new slots with this tool.

Create Text Slot Tool:


You can create new text slots with this tool.

Delete Slot Tool:


You can delete slots with this tool.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Mirage PRO Add-On
Mirage PRO Add-On 70

8 Mirage PRO Add-On


Mirage PRO is a professional add-on for the Mirage main program which allows for
ICC color profiles to be created using an optional spectrophotometer connected to
the printer.

Mirage PRO will automatically layout and print chart files (individually according to
the media width), dry the print with the spectrophotometer's drying unit (if there is
one), measure the charts, and create and incorporate a customized ICC color profile.

Mirage PRO is only available if you have a valid license for this add-on.

NOTE for Epson:


To use the Mirage PRO add-on, your Epson Stylus Pro printer must be connected
to your computer via a network connection (TCP/IP). USB is not supported!
8.1 Creating Profiles

General Information on Profiling


To create ICC profiles automatically in Mirage, you need a printer with a
spectrophotometer installed.

NOTE for Epson:


If you have an Epson Stylus Pro printer with SpectroProofer, you can use it as a
measurement device for creating ICC profiles for other printers supported by
Mirage.

NOTE:
The profiles created using the Mirage PRO add-on are for personal use only. The
Mirage PRO add-on must not be used for commercial purposes, such as creating
and selling ICC profiles. Furthermore, passing on ICC profiles free of charge and
distributing ICC profiles created using the Mirage PRO add-on are strictly prohibited
under licensing laws.

Start of Profiling
To begin creating a profile, open Mirage and click on the "Custom Media" tab in the
"Settings..." menu.

Click on "Add Medium" or open a previously created medium for editing by double-
clicking it. Specify the printer model, ink, base medium, name, and any necessary
"Advanced Settings" as described in the chapter "Custom Media".

Then click on "Print and Measure Chart(s)…"

Operation Mode and Printer/Measurement Printer Selection


Canon Models Only
Select the printer for which to create a profile and click on "Next >".

Epson Models Only

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Mirage PRO Add-On 71

Choose which profiling stages you would like to carry out. In most cases "Print and
measure chart" is the best choice..

If you have already printed the charts without having carried out a measurement, you
can measure these charts by selecting "Measure previously printed chart". Ensure that
the correct, specified spread is inserted. The information on the spread contains the
number of the spread.
If the media type requires extensive drying before measurement, it may be a good
idea to select "Print chart for measuring later".
Select the measurement device for the measurement (measurement printer) at the
bottom of the window.
Select the printer for which profiling is being carried out; this is the printer which will
print the charts. The measurement printer and this printer can be the same or
different. Click on "Next >".

Loading Paper
Select the paper source in the field "Source".

You can either select the media width from the "Standard Size" field or manually
enter it in the field marked "Width".

Epson Models Only


Depending on the process mode and whether the printing and measurement are being
carried out on the same printer, these settings will be used for printing and measuring.
If this is not the case, you will be prompted to select the paper source during the
separate measurement of the chart file.

If the printout and measurement occur automatically, you can set the drying time to
be observed between printing the chart file and starting the measurement.

Canon Models Only


The settings for using the installed UV blocking filter or for measuring without the UV
blocking filter can be found below the setting for the drying time.

Click "Next >".

Chart File Selection


Mirage PRO enables you to create an ICC profile from different chart files. The
chart files differ based on the number of charts. Generally, the more charts a file has,
the more precise the profile will be. However, it is not always necessary to use the
chart file with the most charts. The following chart files are available:

NOTE:
The larger the pre-selected chart file, the more ink and media consumed and the
longer the printing process and actual measurement.

Small
This chart file contains 364 color patches and is a good choice if you are creating an
ICC profile for original media from the printer manufacturer which are available as a
"Base Medium" in Mirage.

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Mirage PRO Add-On 72

Standard
This chart file contains 1248 color patches and was designed to have a sufficient
number of support points to create color-neutral ICC profiles for printouts with very
smooth characteristics.

Advanced
If you feel you need an ICC profile with the highest possible differentiation between
individual colors, then the "Advanced" chart file with 2433 color patches is the right
choice. The color patches in this chart file have been customized for the extended
color space of inks. We recommend using the "Advanced" chart file in particular if
you feel the default setting (set during the selection of the base medium) is not linear
enough to get the best performance from your medium.

The number of pages to be printed and the amount of roll media that will be used for
the printout is indicated at the bottom of the dialog. If, for example, you print on roll
media but intend to carry out the measurement on another printer, the chart files will
be divided into charts, which you have to cut out in an intermediate stage. This
produces the difference between "Pages to Measure" and "Printed Pages".

The "Use recommended chart height on roll media" option divides the charts that
would be especially long into multiple shorter sections. This improves the reliability of
the paper return and the probability of a successful measurement. However, it does
increase paper consumption slightly. Use this option for media that tend to have feed
and return problems inside the printer, or if the measurement has been canceled
unexpectedly.

Click "Next >".

ICC Profile Names


Select the print resolution(s) for which to create an ICC profile (multiple selection is
possible).

If you are very color sensitive, you may have noticed that printing with different print
resolutions using the same profile may produce slightly different output colors. In
most cases this slight color shift is either not visible or still acceptable. However, if
you find that this color shift is not acceptable, you can create a custom ICC profile
for every available resolution. Check the box for the resolutions for which a profile
should be created.

Note:
If you create an individual ICC profile for each print resolution (when multiple
resolutions are selected), the chart files are printed more than once (one copy for
each print resolution).

Note:
Depending on the base medium selected, it is possible that not all print resolutions
will be available for selection.

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Mirage PRO Add-On 73

Mirage PRO will automatically suggest a name for the new profile. You can change
this name in the text field. When changing the profile name, ensure that you do not
delete the ".icc" extension, as the created profiles will otherwise not be usable. After
you have made any desired changes, click "Next >".

Printing, Measuring, and Profile Creation


To start the automated process, click on "Start".
The Mirage window will continually update the process status during the fully
automatic ICC profile creation process.

Epson Models Only


Semi-automatic process: If the measurement and printing are carried out on different
printers, or if you pre-select the chart printing and measurement of the charts in
question to be carried out at different times, only the chart file(s) will be printed in this
first step.
Afterwards you will be prompted to select the paper source for the measurement.
You must also cut the printed charts along the dashed line at this stage. Select the
paper source where you want to place the cut-out charts. An arrow on the printout
indicates the orientation in which you must place the paper into the printer for
measurement. Set the exact width and height of the charts.

Note: The width and height of the charts is indicated in the framed info area on the
charts.

Click "Next >".


In the next stage, which begins when you click on "Start", you will be prompted to
insert the printed chart pages in the correct order.

End of Profile Creation


After successful measurement you will see a message informing you of the successful
creation of your ICC profile.

Click "Exit" to close the Mirage "Create Profile" window.

The ICC profiles created with Mirage PRO are stored in your Mirage user folder. If
you want to use these profiles for other applications (e.g., printing via the printer
driver or as a profile for a soft proof in Adobe Photoshop), you can copy them from
the Mirage user folder:

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\{current user}


\Application Data\dinax\Mirage\Profiles\
Windows Vista & Windows 7/8: C:\Users\{current user}
\AppData\Roaming\dinax\Mirage\Profiles\
Mac OS X: ~/Library/Application
Support/Mirage/Profiles

If you cannot find the Application Data (Windows XP) or AppData (Windows
Vista, Windows 7/8) folder in Windows Explorer, make sure that any hidden folders
are visible. If you are not sure how to make hidden folders visible, please follow this
link:

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Mirage PRO Add-On 74

• http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/402/kb402324.html or
• http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/de-DE/help/27e9a81a-fac7-457f-
896b-e0017a04a59f1031.mspx

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Mirage Job Archive
Mirage Job Archive 76

9 Mirage Job Archive

The Mirage Job Archive allows you to archive jobs which have already been printed
in order to print them again at a later time.
You can access the Mirage Job Archive via the menu path "File --> Job Archive".

9.1 Archived Jobs

Jobs that have already been printed can be opened in Print Job Management.
Archived jobs are displayed in chronological order. In the search bar below, you can
search for jobs by entering the file name. Click on a print job to select it. To the right
of the selected job, a preview and the parameters will be displayed. Below the
preview area, you will find the "Pixel-Exact Preview" function. Clicking on the button
will open this preview in a separate window.

Description & Spooled and first time printed


The name of the printed file and the date on which the file was first spooled and
printed are displayed next to a smaller image preview on the right.

Print Settings
The print settings provide the option of changing some settings before reprinting.

Printers
Only the same or a similarly designed printer can be selected to print an archived
job.

Paper
You can change the media type for the reprint. The media type that was used for the
first printout is pre-selected.

Quality
A different print resolution from the original archived job can be selected.

NOTE
Even if the exact same parameters are used for the reprint, there may be differences
to the original printout. These differences arise from the use of a different batch of the
media type, the ink having changed in the meantime, conditions in the room where the
printer is located (humidity, room temperature), etc. To achieve a reprint that is as
close to the originally printed image as possible, do not change any of the
parameters.

You can save the print job permanently by checking the appropriate box in the print
settings. Select the job to be saved permanently and then check this box.

NOTE
If there is less than 10 GB of storage space available for the spool directory (this is
usually the system disk) and a new job is printed, old jobs will be automatically

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Mirage Job Archive 77

deleted from the job archive until at least 10 GB is available, regardless of the
settings applicable to the job archive.

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Index 78

Guides 30

-"-
"Crop Image" Dialog 37
-H-
Height 27

-A-
Advanced 46
-I-
Archived Jobs 76 ICC 24
Automation 43 Image Size 27
Ink 48, 51

-B- Ink Density Adjustment


Installation 9
41

International Settings 44
Base Medium 51
Borderless 25
Borders 28 -J-
-C- Job Archive Application 76

Calibration Bars
Center Crop Marks
32
32
-L-
Center on Printable Area 30 Label 32
Centered 30 Language 44
Color 35 License 44
Color Density 51 Licensing 9, 10
Color Reproduction 24 Licensing with a TAN 10
Color Settings 46 Limiting simultaneous print jobs 44
Contact Sheets 16 Logo Overlay 38
Creating Profiles 70
Crop 37
Crop Marks 32 -M-
Cropped Image 21
Machine ID 44
Custom Media 51
Measurement Units 44
Cut Sheet 25, 30
Media Selection 19
Mirage Job Archive Application 76
-D- Mirage PRO Add-On
Mirage PROOF Add-On
70
63
Document Profile 39 Mirage Windows 16
Documents Window 16 Mirrored 28
Droplet 43
Drying Time 51
-O-
-E- Operating Systems 7

Edit Label 47
-P-
-G- Page Preview
Paper 25
21

Gray 35 Paper Feed Correction 51

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH


Index 79

Paper Suction 51
Paper Weight
Paper White 23
51
-W-
Placement 31
White Handling or Metallic Silver Handling (Special
Position 30 Color) 36
Print Color Mode 35 Width 27
Print Job Management 39 Workflow 43
Print Preview 23 www 28
Print Resolution 19
Printable Area 30
Printer Model 48, 51 -Y-
Printer Selection 19
Printers 7, 48 YouFrame 28
PRO Add-On 70 you-frame 28
Profile 24, 51
Profile Creation 35, 51
Profiles 70
Profiling 70
PROOF Add-On 63
Proofing 40
Proofing Procedure with Mirage 63

-R-
Registration Marks 32
Rendering Intent 35
Roll 25
Roll Cutting 25
Rotated 30
Rotation 29, 30

-S-
Save 43
Settings Groups 25
Sheet Size 27
Soft Proof 24
Source 25, 30
Stored Settings 43
Supported File Formats 7

-T-
TAN 10
Target 51

-U-
Unrotated 30
Upgrades 7

Mirage User Guide © 2009-2022 DINAX GmbH

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