I doubt anyone is really printing to the old SWOP specs, partly because the yellowish paper hasn’t been available for years. Today’s publication printing is done on whatever paper the mill supplies, which is typically about 93,0,0 Lab, (give or take whatever), compared to the original SWOP spec of 89,0,4 (ISO Type 3). If a TR001 file is printed on a TR003-calibrated press or proofer, the total “error" (caused by the brighter, more neutral paper and G7 calibration) amounts to an average delta-E(ab) of 1.78 (peak 4.23) on ALL 1617 patches of the IT8.7/4! This is far better than most proof-to-press matches. If you're fussy enough to care about these microscopic differences, you can either apply G7 correction to the original file using CMYK curves (in Photoshop or a RIP) or do a profile-to-profile conversion. Using curves alone reduces the average delta-E to 1.3 (peak 3.56) but preserves the original channel relationships, for example black-only drop shadows, and eliminates unwanted scum dots in solids. Using ICC profiles, you’ll probably get about the same delta-E errors, depending on rendering intent, CMM accuracy, etc., but you’ll also inherit channel anomalies like converting black-only to CMYK, improper solid builds, etc. So the good news is that, even though the default Photoshop CMYK profile SHOULD be up-dated to GRACoL or SWOP (2006 or 2013), the fact that Adobe’s default CMYK working space seems stuck in the dark ages isn’t quite as bad as it seems. ........................................................ Don Hutcheson, President HutchColor, LLC Washington, NJ USA don@hutchcolor.com M: 908-500-0341 ........................................................
Don wote:
I doubt anyone is really printing to the old SWOP specs
You would be surprised...
partly because the yellowish paper hasn’t been available for years.
I can show you plenty of #5 Groundwood stock with b* of 4, 89-90 Lightness, on which the bulk of magazine printing is done today. It's far from being a #3 world, Don. More than ever, the price differential between #5 and #3 grades creates a larger demand for #5 than for #3. If anything, the market is moving toward Supercal, which is seriously encroaching into #5 territory.
Today’s publication printing is done on whatever paper the mill supplies, which is typically about 93,0,0 Lab, (give or take whatever),
Your clients have deep pockets, Don. The bulk of publishers I see are ever more concerned about profit squeezing, on the one hand, advertisers are flocking to the web, and on the other hand, they are stuck with ever increasing paper prices. The magazines with the largest print runs are not printed on #3 grades, not in today adverse printing environment :(
So the good news is that, even though the default Photoshop CMYK profile SHOULD be up-dated to GRACoL or SWOP (2006 or 2013),
Yes, you should be particularly proud about this, Don. GRACoL is your baby after all.
the fact that Adobe’s default CMYK working space seems stuck in the dark ages isn’t quite as bad as it seems.
Adobe has always listened carefully to the needs of the graphic arts market. As I stated, Adobe is doing the print industry a disservice by not upgrading to current's IDEAlliance "best of the best", at a time that the print industry needs all the love it can get ;-) Best / Roger
I meant to write: The bulk of publishers I see are ever more concerned about profit squeezing, on the one hand, advertisers are flocking to the web, and on the other hand, *publishers* are stuck with ever increasing paper prices. Best / Roger
participants (2)
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Don Hutcheson
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Roger Breton