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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:53:34 -0700
From: Busher Jr Richard C <email@hidden>
Subject: Re: PS CMYK Conversions
To: email@hidden
Message-ID: <email@hidden>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
In a message dated 8/15/08 8:50 AM, Mike Strickler wrote:
Maybe we should also discuss when, where and by whom this work
should
be done, and why so many printers are still asking for CMYK images
from their customers...
I have worked with a few small print shops that do not have the
experience to provide cmyk seps, nor the equipment to provide color
managed proofs or even "internally color managed" proofs. They must
have cmyk files and color managed proofs to get anything reasonable
as output.
And many print shops that do have those capabilities find that the
customers are not willing to pay for those services anymore. The
customers think they can do it themselves, for free! However, the
printers are often supplied with a mix of rgb tiffs, rgb jpgs, cmyk
files with or without tags and converted for who knows what output
device; plus proofs generated god knows how! And again, the customer
does not want to pay to fix it when it is pointed out that the files
are inappropriate.
Case in point: A client was recently referred to me by a mutual
friend. The client, a photographer/architect/artist had created a
suite of unique images, and all of the color in these images were out
of gamut for the Epson 78/9800 inkset on gloss coated papers. That
means, of course, that they were even more out of gamut for just
about any offset press output.
I produced a very nice print for the client (not perfect - the colors
are out of gamut remember) using my workflow: rgb edits > cmyk
conversion with custom cmyk profile for my Epson > cmyk edits > print
via ColorBurst RIP. Client is delighted.
The client nows wants to publish a book of these images, but "does
not have the budget" to pay me for prepress, even when I quoted the
"starving artist" price. The graphic designer has volunteered to do
the separations as part of the design package, and to provide proofs
for printing. I've spent several hours trying to explain how the
process should work, and the difficulties of dealing with out of
gamut images even with perfect profiles. I've explained that very few
graphic designers, to my knowledge, have the necessary prepress skill
sets to produce the desired results. However, my gut tells me is it
impossible for the client to retain me. The client will just have to
hope for the best. Of course, it is possible that the designer
possesses the skill sets to do a wonderful job. I suspect that there
are a few out there that do have those skills. After all, I've taught
myself some of these skills and have produced some very nice books,
and I have had no formal prepress training.
Final thoughts on this topic: Most print clients want the best, have
no idea of the process required to obtain the best, but think it
should be easy. They have been influenced by the evolution of digital
cameras, print-on-demand, the internet, etc. Everything should be as
easy as pushing a button, and it should be practically free. It is
becoming increasingly more difficult to make a go of it supplying a
quality product in this age of Walmart and amazon. Ask your local
bookstore!
Dick Busher
Cosgrove Editions
7042 20th Place NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206-524-6726
888-507-7375
email@hidden
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