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Re: Asian printing (was: rgb to cmyk conversions)
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Re: Asian printing (was: rgb to cmyk conversions)


  • Subject: Re: Asian printing (was: rgb to cmyk conversions)
  • From: Busher Jr Richard C <email@hidden>
  • Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 16:52:05 -0800

A few simple observations based on personal knowledge, if I may.

The reasons why anyone in the US prints in Asia, or in Europe, are cost and value. Quite simply, printing costs less in Asia and throughout much of Europe, although European prices are not as low as they once were, compared to the dollar. The printing quality can be excellent in both regions, and the combination of low cost and high quality equals value.

Speaking specifically of Asia, where I have some experience, there are two main drawbacks to working there as opposed to working in the US or Canada.

The first drawback is time. Sending files to them and receiving proofs from them takes longer, adding to the time line of the project. On top of that, shipping the finished product can add as much as a month to delivery time. There is also the language barrier and that factors into the time equation. They may speak English but they don't usually think American. There is also the time and expense to travel there for a press check.

The second drawback is color management if you are supplying color files. There are an increasing number of printers in Asia who know something about color management, but not many based on my somewhat limited research. Some will be able to handle rgb to cmyk conversions, but not many. I would recommend sending cmyk, but that assumes that you know how to create cmyk, a totally separate issue. If at all possible you must communicate directly with the prepress department of the printing company to establish a workflow. Keep in mind my comment regarding thought vs. language above.

The third issue is profiles. Can the printer supply you with profiles for their presses or proofing system? Can you make profiles from targets run through their proofing system? Are you aware that a profile intended for a #1 coated sheet is not the same a a profile for a #2 uncoated sheet? That a monochromatic image should have a stronger black plate than a colorful image? That one printer might be able to handle a TAC of 380% and another might not be able to handle that much ink?

If you want "quality" these are all issues of importance. I know that all photographers are obsessed with the quality question since I am one (although I have morphed into a prepress provider) and most of my clients are photographers.

Most Asian printers use "wet" proofs, or "press" proofs, and feel that these are superior to digital proofs. The fact is that wet proofs are notoriously unpredictable, inconsistent and unreliable, in my experience. Sending cmyk files for proofing can result in a constant circle of "tail chasing" color corrections if you don't own a spectro or densitometer, and don't know what their "targets" are for density and dot gain. You must insist that color bars are included on all proofs (large enough for your spectro to read...e.g. the color bars on a press sheet are too small for the eye-one to read), that enable you to read dmax and dot gain. If the densities and dot gain are "out of spec" then what you see is most definitely not what you will get if you print to spec, i.e. print to predefined densities and dot gain on the actual press run. You will then be forced to make compromises on press to match the proofs, not something you want to do.

In my real word experience I have accepted proofs that were out of spec. But I knew from measurements that they were out of spec and knew that the files were OK and should print fine. I also knew that I would die of old age before I would get a set of wet proofs that were within specs. Without that knowledge I would have made unwarranted changes. For example, an image that is too magenta but for which the controls indicate a higher than normal magenta dmax and/or magenta dot gain might be accepted. An image that appeared flat but had a black dmax of 1.7 instead of the anticipated 1.9 might be accepted. In my experience I have been forced to use "Kentucky windage" and densitometry in order to get on press. If I insisted on perfect proofs I would never have gotten on press. Digital proofs are much more reliable, in my experience. However you must still inspect each and every proof for consistency. Once you have established numbers for dmax and dot gain you should aim for + or - 2% repeatability, something that is a reasonable expectation with digital proofs but unlikely with wet proofs.

In summation, if you are comfortable and confident providing prepress for a book to be printed in the US then you should have the skills necessary to print in Asia. Just be prepared for a much longer process. If you don't have prepress experience then I would caution you against working in Asia for your first project.

Cheers,

Dick Busher
Cosgrove Editions
Prepress and Print Production
email@hidden
888-507-7375

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