6 CM Workflows

Colour Management – New Delhi July 2006

Colour managed workflows

Paul Lindström, Malmö Universityand Digital Dots


Where to use CM?– Directly in the digital camera

– In the scanner application

– When softproofing to monitor

– Manually, eg in Photoshop, image by image

– In layout software (softproof), or in collabora-tive softproofing systems. Also in Actobat.

. . . continued


Where to use CM? continued

– Before RIPing; ”automatic repro” combined with DAM system

– Before RIPing; in the OPI-server

– Before RIPing; when creating PDFs

– In RIP; when proofing and for imagesetter/CTP

– In the press control system; using eg minispots, the ICC-profiles can be updated to better fit press type and condition (paper, ink, blanket ware, dot gain et cetera)


In the digital camera– Directly in camera, when doing signal proces-

sing. Automatic white balancing. Conversion to working space of choice, usually sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998

– In studio cameras; create ICC-profil for certain lighting. Need advanced software

– When working with Camera RAW (16 bit TIFF); eg in Apple Aperture eller Adobe Lightroom


In scanner software– Need ICC-profile for both reflectives and transpa-

rencies

– Convert to working space of choise, eg Adobe RGB, ColorMatch or ECI RGB

– Embed the working colour space into the images (not the scanner or monitor profile)!


On screen– The monitor profile is always activated in the

color system part of the OS. Check now and then that you really have the correct profile active!

– Calibrate the monitor regulary, at least once per month, or if changes has been made to or around the monitor


Manually in Photoshop– Color convert all images to chosen output ICC-

profile (depending on printing method and paper type). Save images as copies!

– Always keep originals as RGB or Camera RAW (16 bit raw data RGB). Once conversion from RGB to CMYK is made this can’t be reversed – some colours are lost forever!


In layout software– With colour management switched on the

layout and design software tries to simulate the printed page depending on which ICC-pro-file that is activated

– This is the base for all softproofing. For accu-rate colours use quality monitors.

– Collaborative softproofing systems should pre-view documents colour accurate. Acrobat can also be used for softproofing.


Before the RIP (I)– When using a DAM system and automatic

convesion and adjustment to images should be used

– If an OPI-server is used this should be able to perform colour management automati-cally


Before the RIP (II)– When creating PDF-files, eg through Acro-

bat Distiller

– On the way to the RIP; processing through eg Gretag Macbeth iQeue

– In special software for editing PDF-files, like One Vision ”Solvero”, Screen ”Polisher” (plugin to Acrobat), Binuscan ”PDF Image+”, Alwan Color ”CMYK-optimizer” et cetera


In RIP– In RIP at the proofer

– In the RIP system (In RIP color separation), the front end to the imagesetter or CTP

– If you want to set up a pure ”RGB work-flow” you need to know exactly how the RIP handles the colour conversion. But a RGB-workflow offer great flexibility, and late changes regarding paper or print methods.


On press– Some modifications can be made in the

press control system

– General ICC-profiler may be updaterd based on press data

– It’s time consuming to print special IT8-test charts (or similar). Through Minispots rele-vant colour data can be retrieved from the daily print produktion.


To summarizeIt’s important to communicate colour related

information between the prepress and press departments. Tear down any thick ”walls”!

Train and educate the customers/designers.

And realize:

Colourmanagementis1%colour, and99%management


. . . THE END

Questions?

And once again, a special thankyou to

6 CM Workflows

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