Likely Causes

1. Wrong ICC / pass count: Profile doesn’t match film/ink.

2. Double color management: Both RIP and driver correcting.

3. Outdated linearization: Ink laydown drift from aging.

4. Ambient light mismatch: Metamerism misread.

Quick Checks

• Load the correct ICC & preset.
• Disable one CM pipeline (driver or RIP).
• Re-linearize and re-ink-limit.
• Judge under D50 or consistent booth.
• Reprint a smaller A/B swatch to isolate the variable you changed.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Install correct ICC (film/ink/pass) — Targets intended gamut/neutral.

2. Ensure single CM path — Eliminates competing transforms.

3. Run linearization/ink limits — Resets laydown to spec.

4. Adopt a viewing standard — Reduces metameric error.

5. Neutral target verification — Confirms gray balance.

6. Change only one variable and document — Prevents confounding effects and speeds root-cause finding.