You can change the default values of the black settings to set the black colorant usage at the black point and black generation throughout the profile for your printer.

1. Click the Black settings tab.
2. Turn on Ink saving to reduce the amount of ink in the profile. Choose one of the Apply ink saving controls: Low, Medium, or High.

   The ink saving setting will visually affect the relevant black generation parameters and set them to values that are inline with the ink saving strategy. If you change any of the black settings manually after selecting an ink saving setting, the current ink saving setting may change from low, medium, or high.

   Note: The Ink saving feature is available if your printer supports it.
3. Set the following values for Black generation:
   • Black ink start - Controls when black ink is introduced on the white-to-black neutral axis (the L* axis) of the profile. You might adjust this value to adjust the stability of the gray balance or to reduce graininess in highlights when the black screen is grainy.
   • Black generation - Controls the rate at which black ink is added along the white-to-black neutral axis. A high value adds black at a high rate. A low value adds black at a slower rate.
   • Black width - Controls the rate at which the black ink on the neutral axis is added to increasingly chromatic (more saturated) colors. Low values of black width hold the neutral-axis black amounts close to the neutral axis of the profile, while high values of black width allow the neutral-axis black amounts to extend outward into the gamut.
   • Black ink curve preview (0-100%) - Shows the relationship between the input value and the actual output colorant value as a percentage.
4. Set the following values for Black point:

   The Black point controls are specified in Relative Colorimetric values.

   • Black point finder - When selected, the profile will automatically identify a black point. When the setting is not selected, specify the CMYK ink amounts to use for black.
   • Maximum black ink - Sets the upper limit for black ink used for the black point of the profile. You might reduce this value from 100% if that value produces undesirable effects, such as an unwanted difference between black and other colors. The default setting is a value appropriate for the type of printer being profiled. We recommend you start with the default.
   • Search radius (∆E ab): If Black point finder has been enabled, this control allows you to search the radius around the target a*b* for black point.
   • Target (a*) - This is the target a* of the black point.
   • Target (b*) - This is the target b* of the black point.
   • Black point preview - Shows the L*a*b* values for CMYK.
   • Rich black L*a*b* - The Rich black values are set according to the values defined in the Black point controls. Both Relative Colorimetric and Absolute Colorimetric values are shown for comparison purposes.
   • Pure black L*a*b* - Pure black represents the colorimetry of black ink only. Both Relative Colorimetric and Absolute Colorimetric values are shown for comparison purposes.
5. Set the following values for Black blending:
   • Yellow to composite black transition - Sets the delay of black added to yellow.

     Low - Use for smaller black drop size printer.

     Medium - Use for medium black drop size printer.

     High - Use for large black drop size printer.

   • Transition point - Sets the rate at which black ink is added to yellow. The adjustment ranges are from 0 (most delayed use of black) to 1 (start darkening with black directly). Typically setting the control to 1 will produce the maximum color gamut in a region but will introduce black ink at higher lightness colors. In some instances, the addition of black ink gives a grainy appearance in skin tones. For these cases move the adjustment to lower values to delay the use of black.
   • Black blending preview - Shows the color shift from solid yellow to composite black. Solid yellow is 100% Y.
6. Click Apply to save your selections, click Reset to reset to the default settings, or one of the other tabs.