Re: LAB to a printer vs. RGB or CMYK?
Re: LAB to a printer vs. RGB or CMYK?
- Subject: Re: LAB to a printer vs. RGB or CMYK?
- From: Marco Ugolini <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:19:55 -0800
In a message dated 1/20/06 12:57 PM, t labarbera wrote:
> Does anyone think it would be a good idea to send LAB files for print
> production rather than what I take as the norm of some flavor of RGB (perhaps
> with an embedded profile) or CMYK.
Yes...if you like to live very dangerously. ;-)
In all seriousness, no, don't do it. Besides having no idea what to do with
it in most cases, they will think you are peculiar.
> Given my limited personal experience with color print production and from
> reading this list, an RGB file with an appropriate embedded profile to be
> converted by the production house seems to be more the norm ("better"). Is
> that accurate?
Yes. Very much so.
> Might it depend on if you are in the US or Europe or Asia????
A file delivered to a prepress house in Europe in, say, AdobeRGB format with
the profile embedded needs only an adequately-trained operator to translate
it into the proper format for localized printing. So you should make sure
that they know exactly how to deal with your file before you trust them to
do the right thing with it.
Of course, it helps if some sort of certified proof is given to the prepress
people along with the file to show them the final appearance expected when
the file is output on press. That would hold them to some sort of
established standard, instead of shooting in the dark, so to speak.
> Or might it depend on whether the originator and/or the shop is color managed?
That part of the job (converting the AdobeRGB file to a CMYK format
appropriate to the localized output) is best left to properly-trained
operators at the prepress house. The task is more problematic if the shop
has little experience, or none, with color-managed practices. In that case
my best advice is to find one that does, if at all possible.
Also, if you know exactly which CMYK color profile describes the press
conditions in that particular location, in that case you could perform the
CMYK conversion yourself, and then hand off the already-converted file. But
that requires very good communication with the other end, and confidence
that the file will be handled with the utmost care and the appropriate
procedures.
In any case, clear and open communication is of the utmost importance.
Best regards.
--------------
Marco Ugolini
Mill Valley, CA
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