Posted by Rick Rys
This VIDEO tutorial will show you settings that will ensure print-ready PDF files for faster turnaround times and no output errors in prepress. Compression settings will ensure quick upload times to HiDefColor.com. This PDF workflow will also eliminate the need to convert any of your images to CMYK. No worries, these PDF settings for press will work just fine with images already converted to CMYK. Did you find this tip helpful? Please leave a comment below… Read...
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Here is a simple little trick that will create the best looking screen captures. Printing screen captures can be a very tedious process for a pressman. The process can be made much, much easier if the screen capture file is converted to CMYK using a maximum GCR (gray component replacement) setting. This Max GCR process will remove all the cyan, magenta and yellow from the image in the neutral tone areas resulting in the type being composed of just black ink. Other colored...
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Printing chocolate can be very demanding. The problem is a rich, appealing image of chocolate contains all four process colors and depending what profile is used, or converted to, there is a greater chance of not getting the results you’re looking for. An ICC color profile with a high percentage of GCR (gray component replacement) will produce the best results. Using GCR will lower the contaminate color (in the case of chocolate – cyan) and replace with a...
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We’ve all been there before – “The client wants to run this image”. Who knows where it came from, but it looks like hell. The easiest correction to any digital image is to establish a highlight and shadow setting for the image. A highlight area is the lightest portion of the image you wish to maintain detail. A “specular” highlight would refer to a reflection and have no detail (255,255,255). The shadow area is the darkest portion of the...
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The number one reason your print order can be delayed is do to errors in producing print-ready files. All commercial printers are searching for the holy grail of PDF files; PDF X-3 , PDF X-4. A PDF X file is ready to RIP (raster image processing). The RIP is the computer/software that reads, interprets and renders your images onto printing plates. If there are issues with submitted files, the RIP will error out and the print job will be stopped. That’s when you...
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When opening an image in Photoshop, you may be asked whether to keep an embedded profile, convert profile or ignore profile. The reason there is an embedded profile is because a photographer/designer had an intended appearance of what that image should look like. These embedded profiles should be honored. Another safe option would be to convert to your ‘working’ color space when opening an image to maintain consistency. Either option will produce the best...
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Never take these two functions for granted. They are entirely different processes and will break your chain of Color Management. A successful Color Management workflow will always consist of a Source and Destination profile. These profiles will “link” devices and maintain the most accurate translation of color from device to device. The profile connection between Source and Destination is the LAB color space. When you Assign an RGB profile, the numbers within...
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Many creatives may not realize that assigning a color profile can have a major impact on the quality of color reproduction. sRGB is a “virtual” color space designed for web publishing. Adobe RGB is another “virtual” color space intended for high-end color reproduction. The term “virtual” refers to a generalization of where a prospective monitor will display color. Some monitors will claim they can reproduce the whole Adobe RGB color...
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