Color and printing

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Color and printing
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Color gamut

• Important to remember when
• Working on a computer
• Using process color reproduction
• Selecting spot color

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Visible light Computer monitor gamut Pantone Proce
ss color gamut
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Spot color

• Reproduce images in a single, specific color such
  as
• Graphic elements
• B/W photos or line art

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Spot color

• Using specified color number
• Create spot color from process color guide

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Pantone Matching System

• Aka Flat color
• Pre-mixed ink
• Recipe for mixing inks
• Guaranteed accuracy

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Created spot color

• Create spot color by overlapping 2 or more
  process inks
• Use a process color guide
• Pros cons

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Process color printing

• AKA 4-color or full color
• Color images printed by overlapping dots of CMYK

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Process separation

• Color original is filtered into 4 colors on a
  process camera or scanner
• Camera
• Scanner negatives or written on plate

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Color separation

• One for each plate that prints a process ink

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Color correction

• Color separators
• Responsible for moirés
• Main job is to compensate for ink impurity

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Make big money

• CAT color aptitude test

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Registration

• Aligning colors for correct placement

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(No Transcript)
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Color proofs
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Purpose

• Check color for accuracy
• Proofread
• Trims bleeds

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Color bar
Density check on solid colors match printers
specs
Dot gain Coarse at a glance Fine read w/
densitometer
Neutral gray colors proofed correctly
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Pre-press proofs

• Blueline (dylux)
• Color key (acetate overlays)
• Laminate

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Blueline

• All negatives exposed to 1 piece of
  light-sensitive paper
• Everything displayed in one color
• Cheapest

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Color Key

• Each negative exposed to a different
  light-sensitive, color-treated acetate sheet
• CMYK
• PMS
• All overlays combined show final image

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Laminate

• Each negative exposed to thin, light-sensitive
  laminate.
• Exposed image colored
• More expensive

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Digital proofs

• Output directly from disk
• Accurate color
• Use ONLY if your job goes directly from computer
  to plate

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Press proof

• Checked on press while its running (press check)
• Also running a proof off on the press (VERY
  expensive)