When it comes to print production and digital imaging we have two options. The first is to not take responsibility for the colour and to assume that prepress or the printer will look after it for you. In the past that was considered an appropriate way to handle colour. But with the streamlining of production … Read more →
GRACoL 2013 In 2006 GRACoL created the first reference printing condition for commercial printing in North America. To keep up with changes the GRACoL committee has introduced an updated version called GRACoL 2013 which is almost identical to the 2006 specification. A few minor changes have been made but they are barely visible to anyone … Read more →
In the world of colour and colour reproduction the trend is moving towards printing to specifications or standards. This is no surprise to a lot of people but what is less evident is the need to quantify and verify your colour reproduction. As we move towards printing to specific colour specifications it makes the job … Read more →
Contract proofing has come a long way. We have moved from analog systems to inkjet printers and the majority of today’s software RIPs have matured to a point where it’s a much simpler wizard-based process to create a new paper calibration and profile. Canon has entered the arena with a new printer called the iPF6450 … Read more →
I find it very interesting when technology changes the way we do things. In this case it has to do with one of my favorite topics – colour. Colour is moving from individual computers to a shared cloud-based system. This change allows everyone in the production chain access to colour but more importantly it allows … Read more →
There are two kinds of proofs/prints: one that matches the high-gamut RGB file and one that matches the actual final printing process. Both are correct and both serve a purpose. For example, as a photographer you want to prove you accurately captured the scene and an RGB print is a reference for the shot. An … Read more →
I have always been a fan of a product that solves a problem, but what if people don’t even know they have a problem. Then I guess it’s my duty to tell them the bad news and explain how to solve it. Ok, I know that sounds a bit pompous, but let me explain before … Read more →
There are many variables to consider in the area of proofing and, unfortunately, much of it gets forgotten in the busy world of printing. Let’s look at the options and the areas of concern.
If you are one of the millions of people that think converting to CMYK simply means going to Image / Mode / CMYK and viola you have a CMYK image ready for press, you may want to think again. The reality is that there are numerous flavours of CMYK, from Web to Sheetfed and coated to uncoated. Simply choosing the default may not be your best choice. The goal is to target your image using the correct flavour of CMYK. But what are the specific printing conditions or flavours? Lets break them down.
We all know the Holy Grail for every printer is to print jobs quickly and efficiently, to match the proof, to use as little ink as possible and to have a minimal amount of wastage, but unfortunately that isn’t always the case. Proofs don’t always match, jobs get pulled off press and clients are asked to wait and are given more bad coffee.
An idea is born and the journey of a pixel begins. A single pixel will take on many forms until it finds its final resting place. Lets follow this pixel throughout its journey and watch the colour transformations it takes along the way.
Our pixel emerges from a dream as light is captured onto the camera’s sensor: R6, G84, B244 is born. For those of you who don’t speak RGB, it’s a beautiful, out-of-this-gamut blue. It’s one of those colours designers dream of and printers long for. This little pixel life has just begun, but it still has a long way to go.
The holy grail of printing is a visual match from proof-to-press. In a perfect world, the content creator should be able to produce an internal proof that is within 5% of the final print run. This all sounds like a goal only our grandchildren will achieve, but the reality is that with the introduction of … Read more →