Color Management Secrets. Mark Rugen, MUTOH

Transcription

1 Color Management Secrets Mark Rugen, MUTOH Color management seems like such a secret to many. In fact it is just a set of basic steps and a little practice. 1

2 Why Color Management Predictability Soft Proofing Repeatability Prints the same all the time Workflow Saves time, lessens waste Why Color Management? There are basically three benefits in using color management properly. 1. Predictability 1. Using color management allows you to predict with good accuracy the outcome on your printer without the need to actually print a hard copy. A good monitor profile and custom ICC profile for your media can be sued to soft proof your job prior to printing. 2. Repeatability 1. Color management also allows for a printed job to be printed again with the same results. It can even be used to allow the print to be printed on different printer model with the same or very similar results. 3. Workflow 1. Finally, color management can result in greater production and less waste. If used correctly, you get a better workflow. 2

3 Predictability Soft Proofing Predictability Think about printing a specific color. Color management can assist in hitting that color through testing on a calibrated and color management monitor through a process called soft proofing. Soft proofing will allow you to view a color on your monitor in the same way it should print. Therefore, it is a method of previewing and predicting how a color will print before actually send a job. This can assist in editing that color for desired results. We will in this seminar, build a custom monitor profiles as well as download one and use the provided generic monito profile in Flexi. We will also examine all three using a profile inspector to see how they differ. 3

4 Repeatability Now and Then! Repeatability One very good advantage of color management is that it affords the ability to repeat a print and expect the same results at any time after the first print. IF the hardware is in the same condition and you set the color management options the same for a print, then that print should output the same results every time. In fact, using color management, you should be able to print a job on any printer with predictable, consistent results. 4

5 Workflow Time Saver Reliability Less Waste Growth Workflow Perhaps one of the best advantages of a color management system is an improved workflow. Users can expect to save time because hard proofing and reprints are not needed as often. This also means less wasted media as well as correct ink usage, less ink in many cases. With more production time available, a company can grow the business taking on more jobs or even investing in other print equipment for other applications. 5

6 Conversion from CMYK U.S. Web Coated to srgb with Color Management. Conversion from CMYK U.S. Web Coated to srgb without Color Management. Color Management vs. None Here is one example of using color management. Most of the time, color management results in more natural colors in a photographic style print. 6

7 Color Management vs. None In this example, the image is split down the middle to show the effects of color management. Again, note the more natural colors in the fruit. This also show the effect of a generic profile versus a custom built profile. 7

8 Color Management vs. None Just one last example of the effectiveness of using a profile. 8

9 Benefits of Color Management This chart shows some of the benefits of using color management. 9

10 Monitor Profiles Generic Downloads Custom Our first job in establishing a good color management workflow is to see the effects of monitor profiles. We need to learn why it is needed as well as how our selection of this critical part of color management effect the outcome. The monitor is the last stop before sending a job to a printer, so it needs to tell the truth when soft proofing, or previewing before print. Generic Profiles We will show how to use the generic monitor profile provided in Flexi. Several files will be opened and previewed then printed to show print versus soft proof comparisons. We will show the use of these same profile in Adobe product as well to prove color management is the same no matter the program. Downloaded Profiles We will show where to find a monitor profile, how to download and then use it in Flexi. Custom Profiles We will build a monitor profile using several hardware options and show its 10

11 effectiveness. 10

12 Generic Monitor Profile Provided in Flexi Generic Monitor Profile Flexi users receive a monitor profile built using a LCD monitor. While this profile is NOT a profile for the users LCD monitor, it is at least build on a similar device. Users of Flexi can use this profile if they do not wish to build or find one online for their model f monitor. It is better than nothing or a wrong choice. Let s use this profile in Flexi, then print some images. Then let s compare the images to the soft proof. 11

13 Download Monitor Profiles Downloading a Monitor Profile We will show students where to find some monitor profiles. We will download a profile for our system and then use it to soft proof. We will then print an image and compare the print to the soft proof. If a user can find a profile for a specific model of monitor then it could be better than the generic profile provided. 12

14 Download Monitor Profiles Example of a page on this website. 13

15 Custom Monitor Profile Make your own Software ICC Hardware ICC Custom Monitor Profile In this session we will actually make a custom monitor profile and then use it for soft proofing and compare to a print. We will show students several devices that can be used to accomplish this task and will also use an X-RITE spectrophotometer to create a custom profile. This will introduce the student to the equipment that will be used later in the course to adjust and build a media profile. 14

16 Software (Visual) Based Monitor Profile Monitor Calibration Wizard In this short session we will show the student a couple of software programs that can be used to visually produce a monitor profile. We will also see that this is a rather poor methods of doing so. 15

17 Hardware Bases Monitor Profile X-Rite or others Now we will build a profile using hardware ( X-RITE, SPYDER, HUEY) and show the differences in the final product. We will also show how to use these profiles. 16

18 Media Profiling Modifying Creating Now let s discuss media profiles. In particular we want to take a look at a provided profile, then we will show how to modify that profile and finally we will make a new profile. 17

19 Modifying a Profile Linearization Re-linearizing Using an Existing ICC Profile Linearization Table doesn't contain any color correction, but contains enough data to create smooth gradients and prevent your inks from bleeding. Linearization is a process by which output values are corrected to match input values. For instance, a file contains a color that is 10% cyan, but when printed appears much darker than expected, closer to 25% cyan. Performing linearization will determine the correct output values so that when printed, 10% cyan more closely matches the 10% cyan in the file being printed. These are the main steps to Re-linearizing: 1.Profile setup - Determine general properties of the ICC Profile. 2.Linearization - Determine what the output levels of each color need to be in order to produce linear ink coverage at levels ranging from 0 to 100% coverage. 3.Gray balance - Determines the output levels of each color needed in order to produce a neutral gray for color and grayscale images. In this portion of the class, we will take an existing profile and re-linearize it to show the effect of customizing the ink limits. This can be done to improve overall color but also for getting better greys and gradients. 18

20 Creating a Custom ICC Profile How to make a new ICC profile Now we will take the time to create a custom profile for the printer and media provided for the class. Students will see the procedure, participate and then see the results when used for printing. We should now be able to print an image with the provided profiles, the re-linearized profile and the new custom profile and show the differences. 19

21 Color Management in Flexi Adding Profiles Soft Proofing Printing Now we will dive into using the color management system in Flexi for soft proofing and printing. We want the students to become familiar with this workflow so they can use it in the shop. 20

22 Adding Profiles Downloading from Web Adding in Production Manager Adding profiles to Flexi when downloaded. 21

23 Adding Profiles Downloading from Web Adding in Production Manager 22

24 Soft Proofing Soft proofing techniques in Flexi. Vectors, bitmaps, embedded profiles, pantones, CMYK and RGB issues will be discussed. 23

25 Printing in Flexi Setting up Production Manager to Match Flexi Finally, we show the proper areas to examine in the RIP and PRINT menu and in the Production Manager to attain color matching and good printing. 24

26 Using Other Design Programs Adobe Corel Others Color Management is the same for ANY design program, 25

27 Photoshop/Illustrator Example 26

28 Working With Bitmaps Low Resolution Images Color Management of Images We will show the class how to handle low resolution images and how to enlarge them with little loss of quality. We will also discuss a few good Adobe plugins that can help with enhancing images. 27

29 Working With Vectors Tracing Images Color Management/Color Matching We will go over the tracing features of Flexi as well as talk about how to customize vector color for closer color matching. 28

30 Color Matching RGB Colors Pantones Color Mapping We will show the students how to do custom color mapping in Flexi so they can better match Pantones and other spot colors. 29

31 RGB-CMYK-LAB-OTHER Color Matching Choice and Print This will be a general discussion of the various forms of presenting color in Flexi and how it effects output. 30

32 Gradients How to improve Now that we understand color management, we can figure out how to print better more uniform gradients. 31

33 Printer Maintenance Daily Weekly Monthly Yearly A qualified MUTOH staff member will take the class through some routine maintenance of a MUTOH printer. Nozzle Checks Print Head Cleaning Test Prints 32

34 Now What? Study Use Learn More! Now, a final exam for the students, just an oral test to make sure they remember what was taught. Final questions discussed. 33

35 Mark Rugen

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