FAQ

General Questions

Is there an integrated help function available in GMG ColorServer?

No, but you can access our GMG OpenColor Help Center on the internet directly from the GMG ColorServer Client. To do so, please click on the question mark icon at the top right. This will open the Help Center start page in your default browser.

Does the GMG ColorServer Client have to be running for my data to be processed?

No, your data will be processed even if the GMG ColorServer Client is not running.

Why are my hotfolders displayed as inactive after deleting the temp / working files.

After deleting, the corresponding resources must first be synchronized again. This happens automatically and may take a little more time. As soon as the synchronization is finished, your hotfolders will automatically become reactivated and are ready for data processing.

How do I activate the Ink Saving Report?

You can find instructions and further information on the Ink Saving Report under the following link: Ink Saving Report

What is the definition of "multicolor"?

In a multicolor workflow, the standard CMYK ink set is extended with additional colors, thus enhancing the color space. Especially the 7-ink combination CMYK + OGV, i.e. the additional use of orange, green, and violet, can be very beneficial. With these seven inks, you can cover a very wide range of spot colors without changing inks on the press.

Although multicolor workflows are particularly appreciated in commercial and art printing, they offer clear advantages in other areas as well:

  • The enhanced color space, also called ECG from Enhanced Color Gamut, enables print products more true-to-original.
  • Your pictures will be richer in contrast due to increased luminosity and saturation.
  • Separated spot colors are better reproduced, so that you can also display extreme product colors with colorimetric accuracy.
  • You save time and money, because no process color needs to be changed and no ink unit needs to be cleaned when spot colors are requested.

There are also multicolor workflows with less or more than 7 inks.

Download & Installation

Where can I find the latest GMG ColorServer version?

You can find the current version in our download center under https://gmgcolor.com/support/download/product/colorserver/.

Can I run GMG ColorServer in a virtual environment?

Yes, you can. For the installation, our recommendations are the same as for physical environments. However, you will need an additional USB over Ethernet solution so that you can control the dongle and measuring devices over the network. Via the dongle, your license for GMG ColorServer is checked. The integration of the measuring devices is necessary for measuring linearization and calibration files for GMG SmartProfiler as well as profiling via GMG ProfileEditor. USB over Ethernet solutions are available from various third-party suppliers.

Where can I find the GMG ColorServer manual?

During the installation, the user guide is saved as a PDF file in your GMG ColorServer folder automatically. You can also download the manual as well as further documentation from our tutorial page under the following link: Tutorials

How can I uninstall GMG ColorServer completely?

By following the steps below, you can remove GMG ColorServer and all its components. This also includes configuration files such as hotfolders, workflows, and GMG SmartProfilerfiles. If you would like to install and use GMG ColorServer later again, we recommend you to create an environment backup before uninstalling.
  1. Exit the Client completely.
  2. Stop GMG ColorServer. To do this, right-click the GMG Service Controller icon in the Windows taskbar and select Stop.
    While the services are stopped, the circle of the GMG Service Controller icon will turn orange. Please wait until the circle turns red, indicating that the server has stopped completely.
  3. Quit GMG Service Controller. To do this, right-click the GMG Service Controller icon in the Windows taskbar and select Quit.
  4. Quit GMG Hotfolder Service Monitor. To do this, right-click the GMG Hotfolder Service Monitor icon in the Windows taskbar and select Quit.
  5. Launch the installer of your currently installed GMG ColorServer version.
  6. Choose Remove.
  7. In your file manager, open the directory C:\Programme (x86)\GMG.
  8. Delete the folder GMG ColorServer5.
  9. In your file manager, open the directory C:\Benutzer\Öffentlich\GMG.
  10. Delete the folder ColorServer.

The Uninstall is now successfully finished.

Licenses

Does my dongle always have to be connected?

Yes, because all your license information is stored on the dongle. Never remove the dongle while your system is running, or operations may fail.

Can I connect multiple dongles to my PC?

No, because for technical reasons it is not possible to read and apply licenses from more than one dongle at the same time. If required, a new dongle with a different combination of licenses can be obtained from our sales channel partners for a fee.

Where can I view my complete license status?

With your dongle connected, you can access the license overview in GMG ColorServer Configurator under License > License > Update License. There you can not only find the license names, but also the individual expiration date for each license. If a license is marked with the status Expired under Valid to, it has expired. In this case, please contact one of our sales channel partners to purchase a new license.

What can I do if my license has expired?

If this happens, please contact one of our sales channel partners. They will clarify all the necessary details with you and ensure that you receive your new license as quickly as possible.

How can I add a new license for GMG ColorServer?

If your system is connected to the internet and has a cloud-enabled version of Application Service installed, new licenses as well as license changes are automatically transferred from the GMG Cloud to the dongle. This usually happens within one hour after we have activated your license.

  1. Is the dongle plugged in? Your system needs to be powered on and the dongle must be connected so that license changes can be saved to it.
  2. Is your system connected to the internet? Your system must be online so that the license can be delivered.
  3. Do you use a firewall in your network? Please make sure that all necessary ports are enabled so that GMG ColorServer can communicate with our cloud. If in doubt, please contact your network administrator so that he can configure the firewall as required.

  4. Does your system already run a cloud-enabled Application Service version? This is the case if at least one of the following product versions is installed:

    • GMG ColorServer 5.3 (or higher)
    • GMG ColorProof 5.13 (or higher)
    • GMG OpenColor 2.4 (or higher)

    Only from these versions on, the integrated Application Service is able to communicate with the GMG cloud and can receive your licenses from there. This is not the case for all older versions.

    It is sufficient to have at least one of these applications installed, because for example, the Application Service of GMG ColorProof can receive new licenses for GMG ColorServer and GMG OpenColor, and vice versa.

Are there already any GMG applications installed on your system? If yes, please end them as well as their Application Service completely before installing a new version as follows:

  1. Close all GMG applications.
  2. Restart your computer.

  3. Do you use GMG ColorServer on the same system? If yes, please make sure after the restart that the server has really been stopped.
    To do so, launch GMG Service Controller and check the Service Monitor icon in your Windows task bar.

    The server is still running, please stop it as follows:

    1. Right-click the icon and select Stop.

      Shortly after, the icon with an orange circle will inform you that the server is shutting down.

    2. Please wait until the icon with a red circle is displayed.

    The server is stopped, you can proceed to the next step.

  4. Launch the Windows Task Manager.
  5. Open the tab Details.
  6. Under Name, right-click the entry appservice.exe and choose End task.

After you have received the order confirmation, the license will be sent to your system within one hour. Here's how you can check if the transfer was successful:

  1. Launch GMG ColorServer Configurator.
  2. In the License tab, click License > Update License to open the license overview.

  3. Is your license listed there? If not, please click the Refresh button to update the license overview.

  4. Has the refresh been successful? If not, please restart GMG ColorServer and check the status in the license overview again.

  5. Did the restart help? If not, please check if the version number of the installed Application Service is displayed at the bottom of the license overview.

    You cannot see a version number there? Then no cloud-enabled Application Service is installed. Please remember that the Application Service can only communicate with the cloud from GMG ColorServer 5.3, GMG ColorProof 5.13, and GMG OpenColor 2.4. Cloud licensing does not work with earlier versions.
  6. Is there an error message shown in the license dialog? Here you can find troubleshooting solutions for possible error messages in GMG ColorServer.

  7. Did none of these steps help you fix the issue? Please contact us, we will be happy to support you personally. Please provide the following information with your request:

    • the dongle's serial number
    • the installed Application Service version
    • a screenshot of the error message, if one was displayed

Yes, when ordering, please let our sales channel partner know that you would like to receive your license via email. You will then be sent an .lic license file, which you can import in GMG ColorServer as follows:

  1. Launch GMG ColorServer Configurator.
  2. In the License tab, click License > Update License to open the license overview.

  3. Click the Import... button.
    A file dialog opens.

  4. Select the new license file (*.lic) and confirm with Open.

  5. Click OK to apply your changes.

Your new license is added and will be shown together with its expiration date in the license overview.

Do I need a different license when running GMG ColorServer in a virtual environment?

No, you can use your dongle in a virtual environment as well. However, you will need an additional USB over Ethernet solution so that you can control the dongle over the network. USB over Ethernet solutions are available from various third party suppliers.

Network

Which ports and URLs are used by GMG ColorServer?

An overview of the ports and URLs used can be found on our website under the following link: Ports and URLs

Why does my GMG ColorServer Client not connect to the server?

If the client cannot connect, this is often due to missing licenses, an inactive service controller, or incorrect network settings.
  1. Is your dongle connected? The dongle always has to be connected while running GMG ColorServer.
  2. Do you have a valid license for the installed GMG ColorServer version? Without a valid license, no connection can be established. You can find further information on licenses in the section Licenses.
  3. Is the taskbar icon for the GMG ColorServer Service Monitor green? If not, your services are inactive. Right-click on the monitor icon and select Start to activate the services.
  4. Is the taskbar icon still orange or red? Please close the GMG ColorServer Monitor with Right-click > Shutdown completely and restart it.
  5. Are all ports entered correctly in the GMG ColorServer Configurator under Server Configuration and Worker Configuration? If not, please correct the setting.

    By default, the name localhost is entered under Web Service Address, the port 8111 under Web Service Port, and the port 5555 under Queue Port.
    These settings may individually differ from your network configuration. If in doubt, please contact your network administrator to ask for the correct network settings.

  6. Is your system protected by a firewall? If so, please make sure that the firewall allows connections to the ports mentioned above. If necessary, set up a special rule.

    This advice is also valid when using a MAC client.

Where can I adjust the host name after my computer name has changed?

You can change the host name in the GMG Hotfolder Service Configurator under Resources > Hotfolder Locations. Right-click on the appropriate hotfolder location and select Update Host.

Why is my queue empty even though the GMG ColorServer Controller says all components are running?

In this case, an empty queue indicates either a wrong network configuration in the Hotfolder Service Configurator or an inactive GMG Hotfolder Service Monitor.
  1. Start the GMG ColorServer Configurator.
  2. Open the tab Service Monitor.
  3. Navigate to the section Hotfolder.
  4. Is the checkbox next to Start Hotfolder as Service activated or deactivated?
    The further procedure depends on this setting.
  1. Start the GMG Hotfolder Service Configurator.
  2. In the upper right, click the gear icon and choose Settings….
    A new dialog opens.
  3. Is the address under Server Address entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct address.
  4. Is the port under Server Port entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct port.
  5. Is the port under Queue Port entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct port.
  6. Confirm by clicking OK.

    7. Now your files should be displayed correctly in the queue.

    By default, the name localhost is entered under Server Address, the port 8111 under Server Port, and the port 5555 under Queue Port.
    These settings may individually differ from your network configuration. If in doubt, please contact your network administrator to ask for the correct network settings.

  1. Please make sure that the GMG Hotfolder Service Monitor is active. If it is deactivated, please restart it.

    2. Now your files should be displayed correctly in the queue.

Why is the data in my queue not being processed?

If the files in your queue are not being processed, there is a problem with the worker settings. Please make sure that the network settings in the GMG ColorServer Configurator are correct.
  1. Start the GMG ColorServer Configurator.
  2. Open the tab Worker Configuration.
  3. Is the address under Address entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct address.
  4. Is the port under Web Service Port entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct port.
  5. Is the port under Queue Port entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct port.

Now your files should be processed correctly.

By default, the name localhost is entered under Address, the port 8111 under Web Service Port, and the port 5555 under Queue Port.
These settings may individually differ from your network configuration. If in doubt, please contact your network administrator to ask for the correct network settings.

Why does the client not show a server connection even though my data is being processed?

In this case, the network configuration for the GMG ColorServer Client is wrong. Please make sure that the server address and the server port are set correctly.
  1. In the upper right of the client window, click the gear icon and choose Settings….
    The dialog General Settings opens.
  2. Is the server address under Network > Server Address entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct address.
  3. Is the port under Network > Server Port entered correctly? If not, please enter the correct port.

Now the connection should be displayed correctly.

By default, the name localhost is entered under Server Address and the port 8111 under Server Port.
These settings may individually differ from your network configuration. If in doubt, please contact your network administrator to ask for the correct network settings.

Backup & Restore

Should I create a backup of my installation?

We recommend you to backup regularly, as this will allow your system to be restored in case of emergency. If required, a backup can also be used for migrating your installation to another system.

How do I create a backup?

GMG ColorServer provides an integrated backup function. You can find it in the GMG ColorServer Configurator under Server Configuration> Backup and Restore.
  1. Start the GMG ColorServer Configurator.
  2. In the tab Server Configuration, scroll down to the section Backup and Restore and choose Backup.
    A file dialog opens.
  3. Choose a location for your backup and confirm by clicking OK.
    A pop-up opens and the backup process starts. The backup status is displayed as percent in a progress bar.

    During the backup the server is stopped on purpose. You will be notified of this by appropriate client messages and the indicator in the status bar. As soon as the backup process is complete, the server is automatically restarted and ready to work.

  4. After the backup, close the pop-up by clicking OK.
  5. Click OK to close the GMG ColorServer Configurator.

How do I restore my system from a backup?

You can find the function to restore your system from a backup file in the GMG ColorServer Configurator under Server Configuration > Backup and Restore.
  1. Start the GMG ColorServer Configurator.
  2. In the tab Server Configuration, scroll down to the section Backup and Restore and select Restore.
    A file dialog opens.
  3. Select your backup file and confirm by clicking OK.
    A pop-up opens and the restore process starts. The status is displayed as percent in a progress bar.

    During the restore the server is stopped on purpose. You will be notified of this by appropriate client messages and the indicator in the status bar. As soon as the restore process is complete, the server is automatically restarted and ready to work.

  4. After the restore, close the pop-up by clicking OK.
  5. Click OK to close the GMG ColorServer Configurator.

How can I clean up my system, e.g. in case of an error?

Every now and then, it can be useful to remove outdated and no longer needed files from the system.
  1. Exit the Client completely.
  2. Stop GMG ColorServer. To do this, right-click the GMG Service Controller icon in the Windows taskbar and select Stop.
    While the services are stopped, the circle of the GMG Service Controller icon will turn orange. Please wait until the circle turns red, indicating that the server has stopped completely.
  3. Quit GMG Service Controller. To do this, right-click the GMG Service Controller icon in the Windows taskbar and select Quit.
  4. Quit GMG Hotfolder Service Monitor. To do this, right-click the GMG Hotfolder Service Monitor icon in the Windows taskbar and select Quit.
  5. In your file manager, open the directory C:\Users\Public\GMG\ColorServer\Server.
  6. Delete the subfolder Working including its content.
  7. In your file manager, open the directory C:\Users\Public\GMG\ColorServer\Hotfolder Service.
  8. Delete the subfolder Working including its content here as well.
  9. Enter %localappdata% into your file manager's address bar and confirm by clicking Enter.
  10. Delete the subfolder Working including its content here as well.
  11. Launch GMG ColorServer again.

GMG ProfileEditor

Can I create a high-resolution ICC profile from an MX4 file?

No, but you can use GMG ProfileEditor to export the target values and actual values into a CGATS text file instead. This file can then be used in common ICC profiling solutions as a basis for the profile calculation.
  1. Open GMG ProfileEditor.
  2. From the program menu, choose File > Open….
    A file dialog opens.
  3. Navigate to your profile folder.
  4. Select the relevant profile and confirm by clicking Open.
    A new window opens.
  5. Open the tab 4d Color Space.
  6. From the higher-level program menu, choose Import / Export > Export Target Values > CGATS….
    A file dialog opens.
  7. Select the preferred storage location for the export file and confirm by clicking Save.

Now the CGATS file with the target values and actual values of your profile is stored to the selected location.

What To Do in Case of Error Messages?

Error message after update: "You do not have a license to run this application." / "Your application license has expired."

Please make sure that you own a valid license for the installed version. If you have done an upgrade instead of a service update, you need a new license in order to run GMG ColorServer. You can recognize an upgrade by the fact that the number in the first or second position of the version name has changed, e.g. from version 4.11.x to 5.0.x or from version 5.2.x to 5.3.x.

In this case, the error is caused by the Application Service not being updated. Please uninstall the Application Service from the list of installed applications, then reinstall it.

  1. On the left side of your Windows taskbar, click the Start button and choose Settings > Apps & Features.
  2. Depending on which version of GMG ColorServer you have installed, you will now find either AppServiceV1 or AppServiceV2 in the app list.
  3. Select the appropriate AppService and click Uninstall.
  4. In your file manager, open the GMG ColorServer directory.
  5. In the GMG ColorServer directory, enter AppService into the search bar and you will either see the file AppServiceV1.msi or AppServiceV2.msi.
  6. Double-click the file and the Application Service will be re-installed.

Error message: "Connection to the dongle cannot be established. Please plug-in the dongle."

If no connection can be established to your dongle, this can be due to the hardware as well as the software.

  1. Is the LED on your dongle lit?

    If no, your dongle is defective and needs to be replaced. Please contact us.

  2. Does your dongle work on another USB port?

    The USB port you used before is defective and needs to be repaired or replaced.

    Please make sure that the latest dongle driver version is installed. You can download it as CBU Setup from the manufacturer's website.

    If your dongle is not recognized despite having the latest driver, it may be defective and needs to be replaced. Please contact us.

  3. Has the dongle only stopped working after the last update?

    If yes, it seems that the License Application Service was not updated. Please uninstall it from the list of installed applications and re-install it.

    1. On the left side of your Windows taskbar, click the Start button and choose Settings > Apps & Features.
    2. Depending on which version of GMG ColorServer you have installed, you will now find either AppServiceV1 or AppServiceV2 in the app list.
    3. Select the appropriate AppService and click Uninstall.
    4. In your file manager, open the GMG ColorServer directory.
    5. In the GMG ColorServer directory, enter AppService into the search bar and you will either see the file AppServiceV1.msi or AppServiceV2.msi.
    6. Double-click the file and the Application Service will be re-installed.

Error message: „The installation of MS VC 2017 Redist (x64) appears to have failed. Do you want to continue the installation?“

This message is shown during the installation if a more recent of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable component is installed on your computer. You can ignore this message and continue the installation by clicking Yes.

Error message: „GMG ColorServer is running without a valid license.“ and “No License” in status bar

Please make sure that you have a valid license and that the dongle is connected. If you see this message despite having a license, the license check just takes a little longer, for example after a restarting the virtual environment. Click OK and wait until the check has been finished successfully.

Error message: “The Standard Head is not mounted." / “e3StandardHeadNotMounted" / “Error in the application"

These error messages refer to the measurement devices X-Rite i1 Pro3 and X-Rite i1 Plus3. They are displayed if the ambient light sensor was not locked before measuring. Also, they are shown if using a measurement table to which the wrong measurement device has been connected.

The ambient light sensor has to be locked before measuring. Please make sure that the arrow icon on the sensor head points to the closed lock icon and not to the open lock icon.

X-Rite i1 Pro3 in locked position

The picture shows the ambient light sensor of X-Rite i1 Pro3 in the locked position.

If you use a measurement table, please make sure that the correct measurement device is connected. The measurement device X-Rite i1 Pro 3 can only be used with the measurement table X-Rite i1 iO Pro, the measurement device X-Rite i1 Plus 3 can only be used with the measurement table X-Rite i1 iO Plus.