Panasonic Color Laser Printer Kx P8420 Operating Instructions

							131 Color Calibration
To compare current setting with the color density samples:
1Compare the current color density settings on the Color 
Calibration Page with the color density samples on the 
Color Calibration Card to see if they match.
Place the Color Calibration Page on at least 2 sheets of clean white 
paper in a well-lighted area.
•If they match, then you do not need to adjust the color density 
and you may proceed with any operation you wish to perform.
•If they do not match, proceed to “To perform Bias Adjustment:” on 
page 132.
2Determine which block on the Color Calibration Page 
most closely matches the density of the cyan sample on 
the Color Calibration Card.
Repeat step 2 for each color.
Color calibration card
Color calibration page 
						

							132
To per form Bias Adjustment: 
						

							133 Color Calibration
4) Press the Continue/Forward or Cancel/Left button 
to darken/lighten the cyan color.
To make the color density setting of the Color Calibration Page 
darker or lighter by 1 level, increase or decrease a value of the 
CYAN density by 3 by pressing the Continue/Forward or Cancel/
Left button.
For example when the CYAN density is 0:
•If you wish to make the density setting darker by 1 level:
—Select 3 by pressing the Continue/Forward button 3 times.
•If you wish to make the density setting lighter by 1 level:
—Select –3 by pressing the Cancel/Left button 3 times.
5) Press the Enter button.
MAGENTA is displayed in the LCD panel.
6) Repeat steps 3) through 5) for each color 
(MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK).
•
To skip a color, press the Continue/Forward button.
•To return to a previous color, press the Cancel/Left button.
•Before going to step 2, make sure the following is displayed. 
Calibration Test Print is displayed in the LCD panel.
2Press the Enter button to reprint the Color Calibration 
Page.
•
The line enclosure reflects the changes made to the settings.
•If you are not satisfied with the current color density settings, 
repeat the steps above.
NOTES:
•Changes made using Bias Adjustment are retained until the printer is 
recalibrated.
•The color density setting affects the average life of toner.
•Save the Color Calibration Card for future calibrations. 
						

							134 Color Calibration
VisualCal, 30% match calibration
VisualCalTM is a calibration method that allows you to calibrate your printer 
to an ideal color output standard.
The calibration calculations performed by the controller software are based 
on a series of values entered through the front panel. The values used in 
the calculations are determined by evaluating toner densities and color 
combinations produced on two specially designed calibration pages printed 
from the front panel.
The first VisualCal page, Limits, 30% Match, provides the basis for 
calculating the most acceptable luminosity (brightness) of the toners. This 
page contains rows of CMYK dots in a graduated range of toner densities.
The variables needed to recalculate the density of the colored toners are 
determined by identifying the leftmost dots that can be fully distinguished 
against their fields in each row, and sequentially entering their 
corresponding numeric values via the front panel. The variable needed to 
recalculate the luminosity of the toners is determined in a slightly different 
way- the user is required to identify the black dot which best matches a 30% 
dot gain field. When all values have been entered, the printer’s toner 
density and luminosity settings are recalculated.
The second VisualCal page, Gray Balance, provides the basis for 
calculating a neutral gray balance, that is, a CMY gray that as closely as 
possible matches a pure K (BlacK) gray produced by the printer’s engine. 
This page consists of rows of CMY gray patches on a field of gray produced 
solely from black. The variables needed to calculate the printer’s most 
neutral gray balance are determined by identifying the CMY patch that best 
matches this field, and entering its row and column location on the front 
panel. When the values have been entered, the printer’s gray balance is 
recalculated.
NOTES:
•Print the Gray Balance page before the Limits calculations are made, so 
the gray field on which the CMY patches appear (on the Limits page) 
reflect the new density and luminosity calibration settings.
•VisualCal/Color Adjustment
1.You cannot perform VisualCal or Color Adjustment if the printer 
displays error or warning messages. If you encounter error messages, 
be sure to troubleshoot them in advance.
2.If you unintentionally enter an incorrect value during VisualCal 
calibration, you may see poor color output. 
						

							135 Color Calibration
The following procedure outlines how to calibrate the printer using 
VisualCal.
To perform VisualCal calibration:
1From Ready or Ready(Sleep), press the Menu button 
and then press the Continue/Forward button 
repeatedly to advance to the Visual Calibration menu. 
Press the Enter button.
2When the screen displays Endpoint Page on the first 
line and Print on the second line, press the Enter 
button.
Wait for the VisualCal Limits and 30% Match page to be printed. 
You will use this page to reset the printer’s toner density and 
luminosity settings.
Calibrating the 
printer using 
VisualCal
VisualCal
Limits and 30% Match
The limits you select are used by the printer
to adjust highlights, shadows, and contrasts to
compensate for normal print engine fluctuations.
TM
For each now, pick a circle and enter its number 
on the control panel.
For startpoints and endpoints:Locate the leftmost circle you can distinguish 
from its background.
For best visibility, view the page at an angle
under normal lighting conditions. Position
the page over several sheets of white 
paper.           
Values should fall between 1 and 8.
If you cannot see any circle in a given row,
enter 9.
If you see circles in every column, enter 0.
If your answers are out of range, VisualCal 
regenerates a test pattern closer to your
specific printer response.
If values are still out of range, reset the printer
default color values. If that does not help, your
printer may require maintenance.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:HOW TO USE THIS PAGE: PURPOSE:
0123456
Print: 1
For 30% match (bottom row):Locate the circle that best matches the surrounding 
gray tone.
Holding the page at arms length, or even further
away, makes it easier to choose the best match.
789
0123 45 6789
Black
Start:
Black
End:
Cyan
Start:
Cyan
End:
Magenta
Start:
Magenta
End:
Yellow
Start:
Yellow
End:
30%
Match:
VisualCal Limits and 30% Match page 
						

							136 Color Calibration
3When the screen displays Black Low, begin the 
process of specifying Low and High values for each of 
the four toner colors, and a value for the 30% Match.
Follow the instructions provided on the Limits and 30% Match page.
For startpoints and endpoints:
—Locate the leftmost circle you can distinguish from its background. 
For best visibility, view the page at an angle under normal lighting 
conditions. Position the page over several sheets of white paper. 
For 30% match (bottom row):
—Locate the circle that best matches the surrounding gray tone. 
Holding the page at arm’s length, or even further away, makes it 
easier to choose the best match. 
Note that the term Low displayed on the front panel corresponds to 
the term Start on the Limits and 30% Match page; for example, to 
enter the Black Low value, check the Black Start row on the Limits 
and 30% Match page.
Use the Cancel/Left button or the Continue/Forward button to 
access lower or higher values (numbers). Accept a value by 
pressing the Enter button.
0123 45 6789
0123 45 6789
Black
Start:
Black
End:
30%
Match:
Low value : 3
High value : 6
Best match value : 7 Example 
VisualCal Limits and 30% Match page 
						

							137 Color Calibration
NOTE:
•Zero (0) and 9 are unacceptable values for color calibration. If 
any of the entered values for any colors are 0 or 9, the Limits and 
30% Match page is reprinted automatically. Reenter values for all 
color rows starting with Black Start (Black Low).
When you have finished entering all values, the Gray Balance Page 
menu appears.
4To print the Gray Balance page, press the Enter 
button.
The Gray Balance page is printed and Best Patch (row) appears.
VisualCal
Gray Balance
The gray patch you select is used by the printer 
to balance all colors.
TM
Locate the color patch that best matches 
the gray that surrounds all the patches.
For the selected patch, enter a single row 
and then a single column on the control 
panel.
Enter 0 for row value when finished.
Select a patch in the All column 
(far right) to change only the lightness 
or darkness.             
The background gray is printed with pure black 
toner only. All the other patched are printed with 
CMY toners.
The color and gray values on this page are 
affected by the Limits and 30% Match 
calibration, which should be performed first.
If this page is reprinted, the previously chosen 
value becomes the new Current Gray Balance 
value.
On an ideal, perfectly calibrated printer, 
the Current Gray Balance strip matches 
the surrounding gay color. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:HOW TO USE THIS PAGE: PURPOSE:
CURRENT GRAY BALANCE CALIBRATION OF YOUR PRINTERTry to match this gray-4
-3
-2
-1
0
+1
+2
+3
+4R Y G C B M All
Print:1
VisualCal Gray Balance page 
						

							 
138 Color Calibration 
5 
Select the row number of the most acceptable patch. 
Use the   
Cancel/Left  
 button or the   
Continue/Forward  
 
button to select a value (+4 to –4). Accept a value by 
pressing the   
Enter   
button. (See the example below.) 
Best Patch (col) appears. 
6 
Select the column number(R, Y, G···) of the most 
acceptable patch. Use the   
Cancel/Left  
 button or the   
Continue/Forward  
 button to select the column. Accept 
a value by pressing the   
Enter   
button. (See the example 
below.) 
The new Gray Balance page is printed. Best Patch (row) menu 
appears. If the new gray balance setting is acceptable, press the 
Enter button. The Color Test menu appears. If it is not acceptable, 
repeat the steps 5 and 6.
CURRENT GRAY BALANCE CALIBRATION OF YOUR PRINTER
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
+1
+2
+3
+4R Y G C B M All
Most acceptable patch
Row : +4
Column : Y Example for selecting the most acceptable patch:
Row=+4  Column=Y  
						

							139 Color Calibration
7To print a Color Test that uses the original values and a 
Color Test that uses the new values, press the Enter 
button.
NOTE:
•You can skip printing Color Test page by selecting Skip.
Before applying the calibration changes compare the Color Test 
that uses the original calibration values against the Color Test that 
uses the new values. If you are satisfied with the printer’s 
calibration based on the new values, select Yes from the Apply 
Changes screen that appears, and press the Enter button to 
recalibrate the printer based on the previously entered values. If 
you are not satisfied with the printer’s calibration based on the new 
values, select No from the Apply Changes screen that appears. Or 
if you want to reset the calibration, select Default.
Panasonic KX-P8420ConfigurationPrinter Name: EFI
Resolution: 600 dpi x 600 dpi
Printer Language(s): PS3
MemoryInstalled Memory (RAM): 32MB
Disk: Not Installed
Network InformationApple Talk: Enabled
Ethernet TCP/IP: Enabled
Novell: Enabled
SMB: Disabled
Ethernet: Enabled
Printer copyright statement
Fiery Driven, the Fiery Driven logo, VisualCal, ColorWise, and NetWise are trademarks of Electronics for Imaging, Inc.    
Calibration: Before
Panasonic KX-P8420ConfigurationPrinter Name: EFI
Resolution: 600 dpi x 600 dpi
Printer Language(s): PS3
MemoryInstalled Memory (RAM): 32MB
Disk: Not Installed
Network InformationApple Talk: Enabled
Ethernet TCP/IP: Enabled
Novell: Enabled
SMB: Disabled
Ethernet: Enabled
Printer copyright statement
Fiery Driven, the Fiery Driven logo, VisualCal, ColorWise, and NetWise are trademarks of Electronics for Imaging, Inc.    
Calibration: After
Calibration: BeforeCalibration: After 
						

							140 Color Calibration
To reset VisualCal calibration:
1From Ready or Ready(Sleep), press the Menu button 
and then press the Continue/Forward button 
repeatedly to advance to the Visual Calibration menu. 
Press the Enter button.
2When the screen displays Endpoint Page on the first 
line and Print on the second line, press the Enter 
button.
Wait for the VisualCal Limits and 30% Match page to be printed.
3For the Black Low menu and Black High menu, press 
the Enter button each. For the subsequent menus: 
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, 30% Match, press the Enter 
button.
The Gray Balance Page menu appears.
4Use the Cancel/Left button or the Continue/Forward 
button to select Skip menu, and press the Enter button.
The Color Test menu appears.
5Use the Cancel/Left button or the Continue/Forward 
button to select Skip menu, and press Enter button.
The Apply Changes menu appears.
6Use the Cancel/Left button or the Continue/Forward 
button to select Default menu, and press Enter button.
The Ready menu appears.
Resetting the 
VisualCal 
calibration