Colour Webinar Series3 Key Steps to Getting the Right Color

Lou PrestiaSr. Product Line Manager, Fiery Division

Yael CaspiChannel Marketing Manager, Fiery

Agenda

• Why does colour management matter?

• Colour Basics 101

• The 3 Key Steps to Getting the ColourYou Want

1. Application vs. DFE (RIP) colour settings

2. Calibration

3. Profiling

Why Is It Important to Understand and Manage Colour?

• Customer retention

–Educate the customer

–Understand limitations

• Save time

• Save money

Colour Basics 101

RGB Colour– Device Dependent

Why Can’t I Print with RGB?

• The problem with RGB colour model is that for print, the colours must be opaque

PaperRedBlue

CMY(K) Colour – Device Dependent

Printing Colours with CMYK

• CMY are transparent colourants that act as filters, selectively blocking RGB, respectively

PaperMagenta

Cyan

Device Dependent Issues

CIE L*a*b* – Device Independent

Measuring Device Independent Colour

Spectrophotometer

Definition of Colour Gamut

• The total reproducible range of colours on a device

– Almost right!

• The total reproducible range of colours on a device expressed in device independent colour space

Definition of Colour Management

• Gamut mapping with the intent of preserving object appearance

• What is an ICC profile?

– A look up table (LUT) that defines the mapping of device dependent to device independent colour space for a given device

OutputProfile.icc

Colour Gamuts

RGB

OffsetPressCMYK

Visual Spectrum

DigitalPressCMYK

ICC colour processing workflow

CMYK Input

RGB Input

CMYKOutput Profile

Profile Connection Space

Colour Management for Spot Colours

John’s

PurpleNancy’s

Orange

PANTONE

Emerald

17-5641

Spot Colours at the DFE Server

Spot Colour

DFE Look Up Tables

HKS

Toyo

DIC

PANTONE L: 44.08a: 67.69 b: 37.09

Fiery Output Profile

Printed OutputC: 4%

M: 97.5%Y: 73.5%K: 0%

Additional Resources

ABCs of Color Guide

http://www.efi.com/marketing/fiery-servers-and-software/downloads/abc-guides/

3 Key Steps to Getting the Colour Right

3 Key Steps

1. Application vs. DFE (RIP) colour settings

2. Calibration

3. Profiling

Application vs. DFE (RIP) Colour Settings

Anatomy of a Document

• Designed for Press

• Designed for Digital Printer

Match Settings

Make sure the print server matches Design software application settings

Application’s Settings

DFESettings

Additional Information

Color Settings Whitepaper

Adobe Creative Suite Printing Guide

Calibration

Calibration

• Maintains consistent tone reproduction

• Provides consistency from day to day

• Compensates for environmental fluctuations

• Keeps colour in a known and repeatable state

What Does Calibration Do?

10 90 100200 8030 40 50 60 70

Calibration Summary

• Establishes even gradation across the tonal scale

• Examples

– 75% patch: lose detail in shadows

– 7-10% patch: lose details in highlights

Calibration Example

Before After

What Else Affects Calibration?

• Media type

• Press technology and speed

• Print settings

• Environmental variables

When To Calibrate?

• After the engine is warmed up • Before a large job• Media changes

Spectrophotometers

• EFI ES-6000

– Network-connected scanning spectrophotometer

– Eliminates manual scanning of color targets

– Can be shared by multiple network users

• EFI ES-2000

– Handheld spectrophotometer

– Accurate spot color measurements

Calibration Demo

Where Are We Now ?

Ca

lib

rate

dConsistent, but not

Accurate ColourU

n-C

ali

bra

ted

Neither consistent nor Accurate Colour

Profiling

Colour Profiles (Output)

• Defines gamut of print system

• DFEs include factory default profiles

• Best practice: create custom profiles

Output Profile Creation

• Need two sets of values1. Device values (CMYK)

2. Device independent values (L*a*b*) from spectrophotometer

Output Profile Creation

• Use profiling software to create ICC output profile from measurements

Profiling Demo

Selecting the Output Profile

• Select Output Profile

Where Are We Now ?

What We’ve Learned

• Why does colour management matter?

• Colour Basics 101

• The 3 Key Steps

1. Application vs DFE (RIP) colour settings

2. Calibration

3. Profiling

eLearning Bundle

• Free 3-course bundle for all registrants1. Optimizing Color and Consistency with your Fiery Server

2. Spot Color Accuracy with your Fiery Server

3. Introduction to Fiery Color Profiler Suite

• How does it work? Look for email with details

Must sign up and begin courses by September 30, 2016

• Go to https://training.efi.com/#/signup

• User name:

• Password:

Color Webinar Series

1. Today

3 Key Steps to Getting the Right Colour

2. July 29

The ABCs of Producing the Best Match for Spot Colours

Fiery Resources

• resources.efi.com/fiery

– Quick online assistance

– Software downloads

– Training resources

– More...

Fiery Forums

FieryForums.efi.com

Q&A

Thank You!