Important Technological Aspects to Consider in Accurate Color Reproduction in Books
Important Technological Aspects to Consider in Accurate Color Reproduction in Books
With the recent advancement in printing technology, it is easy to take color reproduction and accuracy for granted. It seems like a bunch of clicks in a piece of software to get the right colors. But the right color reproduction requires much more than that. It takes careful and diligent efforts to achieve colors in line with the designer’s vision. In today’s printing world, every printing outfit, large or small, strives to have accurate color reproduction in their printing assignments. Most of print pieces today are designed using various specialized software applications. If you are wondering how to achieve predictable color results, you must know the fundamentals color reproduction in the commercial printing industry.
“A print is a work of art that is made by transferring an image from an inked surface to a sheet of paper and that exists as one of the multiple impressions, which together constitute an edition.” -Sarah J. S. Suzuki
The above quote indicates the art that lies behind the print. If you plan to design your print projects using digital software applications, it is vital to learn the color management processes involved and the various technological aspects.
Using True Color Monitors
No matter whether you are a photo editor or a printer, you cannot ignore the role of a high-quality monitor. A decent monitor is required for viewing as well as editing images and layouts. When it comes to book printing, a great amount of color correction of images may be required. That is why you need to rely on a commercial printer that uses the best monitors in its pre-press labs. High quality monitors that support widest color spaces should be used. The monitors should also be suitable for displaying calibrated truest possible colors. This ensures consistent color accuracy in print.
Accurate CMYK Colorspace
Keeping in mind that the conversion of RGB images requires accuracy with colors, the press should use the best color program. To achieve the best color conversion, the pre-press should make sure that they use the correct CMYK color-space. It allows them to look at how the CMYK equivalent of every image will appear, right on their monitors. The pre-press team should specify the accurate color settings to get an appropriate display of the RGB image after its conversion to CMYK color gamut. Due to this great feature of CMYK color-space, one gets an accurate idea of how the selected colors will look like once they are printed. This is very critical.
PDF Conversion with GMG Color Server
There are many good reasons to convert PDF with GMG color server before imposition. It enables you to convert images according to the paper type. Besides, you also get the flexibility of using the same image for varying purposes if required later. You can also simulate the appearance of colors in a layout on a variety of papers using RGB images. If you do not convert PDF before imposition, you might unwittingly alter the color-related features that were pre-defined in your file before conversion. That is why, it is pertinent to convert PDF using the appropriate GMG color server.
Calibrated Presses and CTP
Timely and frequent calibration of print machinery plays a crucial role in accurate color reproduction. Therefore, calibration of presses as well as CTP should be performed on regular basis. As a result, when the press needs to work on the colors and contrast, they get optimum results. The press facility should be equipped with calibrated monitors and printing machines to ensure fast production with optimal color accuracy.
Final Stage Testing
Once we find the color is accurate on paper, we take the color reproduction in book printing further. It involves all the above-mentioned stages where color accuracy and consistency is checked. At the final stage, CMYK build testing is done on common papers as per the client’s choice. Once testing is done and the client specifications matching is complete, the prototype or test run is presented to the publisher for approval. This sophisticated testing process undertaken by reputable printers ensures optimal accuracy and desired outcome.
Getting super-accurate colors is easy when you meet the above technological aspects. If you decide to choose a printing press on the factors shared, you are very likely to get the desired output.