Color Management. in Print & Internet Workflows. Rita Amladi. Presented by: Trainer & Consultant Orion Arts & Communications

Transcription

1 Color Management in Print & Internet Workflows Presented by: Rita Amladi Trainer & Consultant Orion Arts & Communications

2 Submitting questions to the speaker Submit a question at anytime by using the ask a question section on the lower left-hand side of your console. Questions about content will be answered during a 10-minute Q&A session at the end of the webcast. Technical difficulties? Click the need help? button Use the ask a question interface Housekeeping

3 Color management overview Agenda Color in Adobe Creative Suite 3 Soft-proof your artwork accurately Adobe PDF in print workflows Q & A Agenda

4 Benefits Flexible workflows You can finally trust your monitor! Time and cost savings Color overview

5 Color overview

6 What does Color Management do? It all boils down to two things: Defines color meaning for otherwise ambiguous RGB/CMYK values Preserves color appearance upon conversion (RGB RGB; RGB CMYK; CMYK RGB, etc.) Color overview

7 Color management does not Perform color correction (edit images to improve color appearance) Calibrate devices Color overview

8 Critical Terminology Workflow The order and nature of tasks that are performed in the course of your projects Color Gamut The range of color a device can produce or display Working space A device-independent color space for editing images Color overview

9 Comparing Working Spaces Adobe RGB srgb LCD Monitor Adobe RGB (R 0 G 255 B 0) Adobe RGB Phaser 6300 Web Coated (SWOP) Web Uncoated (SWOP) srgb (R 0 G 255 B 0) rgb plots cmyk plots Color overview

10 RGB Working Spaces Why use an RGB Working space? Gamut is usually larger than most device color gamuts Mathematically defined; perceptually uniform Grey-balanced Which one should you choose? Photo + Print work: Web art: srgb color space Adobe RGB color space Color overview

11 Checklist Profiles are king! Get high-quality, accurate profiles for all devices in your workflow Monitors Scanners Printers (inkjets, laser printers) Proofer/press Digital camera Color overview

12 Valid printer profiles Reflect ink+ paper combination Canned printer profiles are a good start Custom printer profiles are the best! Where are profiles installed? Mac: /Library/ColorSync/Profiles Win98, Win98SE, WinMe: C:\Windows\System\Color Windows 2000, XP: C:\WinNT\System32\Spool\Drivers\Color Win NT: C:\WinNT\System32\Color Color overview

13 Acquiring custom printer profiles CMYK/press output Ask your print provider for a press profile If unavailable, ask for the proofer profile Studio printers/proofers Build them yourself Order custom printer profiles remotely Hire a color management consultant Color overview

14 RGB or CMYK? Ask your print provider these questions: Which standards do you accept? (PDF/X-1a? Tagged RGB? CMYK saved with SWOP Coated profile?) Do you provide profiles for your press or proofer? Closed Loop (All CMYK Workflow) Stay in CMYK! Color overview

15 Setting up Color Management in Adobe CS3 Color Management is turned on by default across CS3 components Synchronize all color settings via Adobe Bridge Now including Acrobat 8 Professional All CS3 components feature same controls: Color output PDF creation Color in Adobe CS3

16 Synchronize color in Adobe Bridge Ensures that color appearance is maintained in all Adobe applications (display and printing) Choose Edit > Suite Color Settings Select Setting and click Apply. Color in Adobe CS3

17 Color Options in Photoshop CS3 Color Settings establish: RGB Working space CMYK Working space Color Mgmt Policies Color in Adobe CS3

18 Color Options in Photoshop CS3 Ensure all images are tagged with a profile Show Document Profile in File Info bar in Document window. When opening untagged files: Determine the source colorspace Assign profile Color in Adobe CS3

19 Color Options in Photoshop CS3 Profile Mismatch Warning Use embedded profile Convert to working space When saving files: Embed profiles Save PSD, TIFF, PDF, JPEG & EPS Color in Adobe CS3

20 Color Options in Illustrator CS3 Choosing Document Color Mode Sets document color space Placing a CMYK image Color numbers are preserved by default Placing a tagged RGB image Preserves profile Placing an untagged RGB image Document RGB working space used to represent colors Color in Adobe CS3

21 Color Options in Illustrator CS3 Saving Files Save with embedded profile Save as AI, PDF formats EPS does NOT embed profile! Color in Adobe CS3

22 Safe CMYK Settings in Illustrator & InDesign Default policy for handling placed CMYK art Set to Preserve Numbers (Ignore Linked Profiles) Color in Adobe CS3

23 Color options in InDesign An InDesign document is assigned RGB & CMYK working spaces as document profiles These are assigned to new artwork you create Placed CMYK art uses the CMYK working space Placed untagged RGB images are assigned document s RGB working space When saving a file InDesign embeds document RGB & CMYK profiles; and the Preserve Numbers CMYK Policy Color in Adobe CS3

24 Soft-proofing in CS3 applications Soft-proofing refers to producing an image on the monitor that closely resembles output from a profiled output device Save $$! Preview printing on your studio printer, proofer, press, remote printer profile, etc. working space profile Soft-proofing

25 Soft-proofing in CS3 applications Provides a simulation of output does NOT convert colors to the output device s profile Needs accurate profiles for all devices! Choose View > Proof Setup > Custom Select Device to Simulate Select a Rendering Intent Simulate effect of paper stock and black density Soft-proofing

26 Converting Colors For color-managed conversions (RGB RGB; RGB CMYK, etc.) Choose Edit >Convert to Profile Select the Destination Profile Select an Intent Check Use Black Point Compensation Color in Adobe CS3

27 Printing Color-Managed Art Let application manage the color handling Select accurate, high-quality printer profile Choose correct media-type and resolution setting Disable all color management or color correction in printer driver Color in Adobe CS3

28 Creating Art for Internet Publishing Soft-proof using the srgb profile Preview contrast and color range in the srgb color space, and edit colors while soft-proofing Convert a Copy to the srgb color space Choose File > Save for Web & Devices Save file as JPEG, GIF, etc. Color in Adobe CS3

29 Print-ready PDF documents More and more print providers require a PDF document as final handoff All CS3 components share a common interface and protocol for creating PDFs directly All have presets to create high-quality PDFs based on industry best practices Easily create PDF/X files that are the standard for file exchange PDF in Print

30 Creating a PDF for Handoff In any CS3 component, choose File > Export/Save As Choose the Adobe PDF format Select an Adobe PDF Preset at the top (Smallest File size, High Quality Print, Press Quality, Custom) Or, select the PDF/X flavor specified by your printer (PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4) Choose Export/Save; the PDF document is prepared to spec ready for handoff! PDF in Print

31 PDF/X Flavors The PDF/X standard creates PDF files that are validated against high-end printing standards used world-wide, and made ready for blind-exchange. Ask your print provider if PDF/X is appropriate for your project Ask which flavor they recommend

32 Ideal lighting & viewing conditions Monitor Calibrate and profile your monitor regularly Use a monitor hood to cut glare Set desktop pattern to gray Lighting & Viewing Low ambient light works best Use daylight-balanced task lighting Use portable viewing booths Validate lighting with GATF RHEM Light Indicator strips

33 Tips for Success Provide accurate profiles for all devices in your workflow Set up software color controls correctly Set up realistic expectations Ask for help when you need it Keep up with the reading, participate in user forums Take baby steps in implementing color management

34 Useful Links ICC International Color Consortium. ICC (International Color Consortium). General overview, white papers FOGRA. European standards organization for Graphic reproduction White papers Color Workflows for Adobe Creative Suite 3 Color Glossary published by the ICC Resources

35 Building Custom Profiles Profiling Packages: X-Rite (Includes GretagMacbeth solutions) Hardware, software profiling solutions for all devices ColorVision. Profiling packages for displays and other devices Hire a Consultant: Rods and Cones, Inc. Color Management Group. Ecolortools. Chromix. Resources

36 Reading Real World Color Management. By Bruce Fraser et al Color Management for Photographers. By Andrew Rodney Understanding Color Management. By Abhay Sharma Resources

37 Lighting & Viewing Controlled Lighting Viewing booths - Just Normlicht. - GTI Graphic Technology, Inc. - Pantone. Solux task lamps. Inexpensive solution for task lighting PIA/GATF RHEM Light Indicator Strips Resources

38 PDF Resources White papers Adobe PDF in Creative Workflows cs3ip_pdfworkflows.pdf PDF/X Files and Adobe Creative Suite 3 cs3ip_pdfx.pdf The Perfect PDF. Best Practices for Preparing Adobe PDF Files Resources

39 Q + A

40 How to contact me Rita Amladi Orion Arts & Communications ph:

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