|
|
When preparing artwork . . .
Our art department can accept files from virtually all professional publishing and
graphics software. However, we cannot accept any electronic art that has been
created using these programs: Word, Perfect, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Word,
or Power Point. If you have artwork that was created using one of these
programs, please contact us to discuss an alternative solution. GIFs are not
Acceptable. All artwork must either be saved as grayscale, bitmap(RGB) or
cmyk and at a minimum of 200 dpi when possible. Please send the files in the
format they were created in.
We can accept a wide verity of file formats (AI, EPS, PDF, TIFF, JPG, FS, PS,
PSP, CDR, CMX, WMF, PD, PSD, DWG) please remember to convert all text
to curves.
We can accept:-CD-Rom / DVD and most thumb/flash drives
|
|
|
|
|
Important Information About RGB and CMYK
Many graphics software programs give you the choice to work in either RGB or
CMYK. These are called "color spaces". Scanners and digital cameras,
Photoshop create images using combinations of just three colors: Red, Green
and Blue (called "RGB"). These are the primary colors of light, which computers
use to display images on your screen. Printing presses print full color pictures
using a different set of colors, the primary colors of pigment: Cyan (blue),
Magenta (red), Yellow and Black (called "CMYK"). This is "4-color process" or
"full-color" printing that comprises the majority of magazines and marketing
materials you see every day. At some stage your RGB file must be translated to
CMYK in order to print it on a printing press.
It's Best If You do the RGB-to-CMYK Conversion of Your Images
You will have more control over the appearance of your printed piece if you
convert all of the images from RGB to CMYK before sending them to us. When
we receive RGB images, we do a standard-value conversion to CMYK, which
may not be perfectly to your liking. We want you to be happy, so please, take
the time to prepare your file properly. We cannot be responsible for sub-par
results if you furnish your images in RGB. Even though monitors always use
RGB to display colors, the colors you see on your monitor will more closely
match the final printed piece if you are viewing them in the CMYK color space.
Be aware that it is possible to see colors in RGB that you can't make with CMYK.
They are said to be "out of the CMYK color gamut". What happens is that the
RGB-to-CMYK translator just gets as close as possible to the appearance of the
original and that's as good as it can be. It's something that everyone in the
industry puts up with. So it's best to select any colors you use for fonts or other
design elements in your layout using CMYK definitions instead of RGB. That
way, you will have a better idea of how they will appear in your printed piece.
Here's a common example: many programs translate the 100% Blue in RGB into
a somewhat purple-looking color in CMYK. We recommend a CMYK value of
100-65-0-0 to get a nice clean blue. Working in the CMYK color space allows
you to select the CMYK recipe, or "screen build", that gives the
results you require.
When you create artwork for a document, You start in Photoshop. You
work in RGB because of the filters and the look you want to achieve. However,
your Indesign document and Illustrator assets are all in CMYK. So, you go
back to the Photoshop file and change the image mode to CMYK. Now the
problem is, it looks completely different and awful. The blacks are not black
and the effects are all muted. I guess this is because the monitor is
RGB that is why I see it like that.
I'm going to assume you haven't set Photoshop to use Adobe RGB
(1998). Check 'Edit - Color Settings' and verify you're using Adobe RGB for
print work. By default Photoshop uses sRGB IEC61966-2.1 -
Reflects the characterics of the average PC monitor.
This standard space is endorsed by many hardware and software
manufactures, and is becoming the default color space for many scanners,
low-end printers, and software applications. Ideal space for Web work, but not
recommended for prepress work (because of its limited color gamut).
Adobe RGB (1998) - Provides a fairly large gamut (range) of RGB colors
and is well-suited for documents that will be converted to CMYK. Use this
space if you need to do print production work with a broad range of color.
Either way you have to eventually convert color to CMYK for press. This
can drastically restrict and mute certain colors which fall outside the limitations
of CMYK. (blue triangle in diagram)
Digital art that is comprised of spot colors (e.g., special colors: any
colors that are not CMYK process colors), generally require conversion
to the CMYK color space to enable file use. Because color gamut's for
spot color libraries, such as those associated with the PANTONE
MATCHING SYSTEM, usually extend beyond the ranges of the CMYK
color gamut, some spot colors may not be represented effectively
using CMYK process inks.
It can sometimes be difficult to visualize the reason for color shift in
color space conversion. The best way to see the color differences
between the CMYK and RGB color spaces is to look at a color gamut
comparison chart. The chart above plots the visible color spectrum as
the large "horse shoe" area, and within this is a plot of the CMYK
colors, and the RGB colors. You can see that in some areas the RGB
color space is "outside" that of the CMYK space. It is these colors that
will be affected by a conversion from RGB to CMYK
|
Something Designers Should Know
|
| |
|
