There are a couple ways…
1) Set your CMYK color profile to generate maximum black.
2) Copy/Paste your black and white photo information into the Black channel instead of into a layer. You’ll lose the ability to manipulate/move it individually, but in some rare instances, this is the best way to achieve the desired result…
hmmm… Making a new layer, going to the channels and selecting only black, pasting image. I’m just getting a blank field – though it does have the selection indicators (you know the marching ants outline) that matches the actual size of the image – just no image…. ?? Do I need to have something turned on or off?
You’ll need a background layer, and have it be active for this to work.
Tina,
Just tested, works fine.
Have you made sure that:
1) Working file is CMYK
2) File to be pasted is Grayscale (should still work with RGB and CMYK images)
3) Background layer is active
4) Channels palette is open
5) Black channel is only channel selected when pasting
Let me know.
My inital layer, when I start with a fresh file, is Layer 1. Do I just rename it?
Even with an active Background Layer, don’t I need to have a layer to actually paste the image on?
Tina,
My initial layer, when I start with a fresh file, is Layer 1. Do I just rename it?
When you create your new file, don’t start with a transparent background. Start with a white background. This will start you off with an actual "Background" layer, not a transparent layer (Layer 1). It’s this Background layer that will need to be active in order to paste your image directly into the black channel.
Even with an active Background Layer, don’t I need to have a layer to actually paste the image on?
Not if you’re pasting data directly into a channel. You’ll be losing the ability to further manipulate/move that image without destroying other existing image information assigned to the background layer… as I stated in an earlier post, it’s not always the best method of getting pure black information into a CMYK space, but sometimes it’s the only way. It all depends on the project.
Have you tried the other method, by creating a CMYK profile with black generation set to maximum?
I’ve tried another method in which I remove the image from its layer and then paste it back again on its own layer, this time with only the black channel selected, but there ends up being a white box on each of the other channels in the space where the image is. The white box from each channel tends to make the black image kind of milky looking. I’ll try to back generation set to Maximum. how do you do that?
You’re right – the background situation works – AND if I do a "Duplicate Layer" of it, I can then go on to place more B&W images.
So how do I do the black generation to maximum thing?
The question I have is why do you want to do this? Using all four inks will give you a nice rich black for your b/w graphics.
Bob
I think it might make the Black and White image muddy if it gets ink from all 4 plates.
Tina,
(here I’m again, from the Color Management Forum)
The CMYK conversion by Black Generation = Maximum
is simple. Sorry, I can´t explain each mouse click,
because I don´t have the English version at home.
Select in Color Settings your CMYK profile.
Select "Custom"
Select "Black Generation=Max"
The RGB–CMYK-K-only conversion is at present quite
anti-intuitive. A suggestion how this could be done
better is here:
Gernot Hoffmann "Simplified Grayscale CMYK conversion" 5/26/04 10:21pm </cgi-bin/webx?50>
Best regards –Gernot Hoffmann
Hello Gernot,
Your advise to come over here has served me well. Thanks! BLUDVLD has been a big help, too. I’ll see if I can get the Max setting the way your suggesting. I hope that won’t cause issues to my color images. And does anybody know if I answered Bob’s question above about not wanting a rich black situation accurately?
Tina,
Glad to help.
What you might run into with the max black generation settings is that your 4-color images likely won’t have rich blacks (meaning that the images will stand a greater chance of having pure black (0C, 0M 0Y, 100Kall depends how they’re built) instead of a build black (with percentages of other colors mixed to create black).
Sometimes that’s a benefit, sometimes it isn’t. It really all depends on the final effect you’re after. I have at times used the contrast of pure black against built blacks to create some very nice effects… I’m assuming that’s what you’re after.
I don’t think that having a rich black will muddy up your black and white photos, unless your printer is a complete boob. As long as registration is accurate, you should be fine with the results either way… unless, as I said before, you are going for a specific black-on-built black effect.
In any case, glad I could help. Love to hear how your final project turns out.
Tina,
of course, a correct rich black print looks better.
But there are two problems:
1. For offset printing it´s much more expensive.
Many brochures and books a printed by K-only.
2. For desktop printing the rich black mode will create
always a tint, unless the machine is calibrated by
heavy equipment (expensive software and instruments).
Laser printers are drifting very much.
On the other hand: laser printers tend to average
stripes in rich black mode. This improves the quality.
The tint depends on the the observer´s light.
This makes the printed result somewhat unpredictable.
K-only isn´t affected by the light. Looks always the same.
Best regards — Gernot Hoffmann
Gernot,
It’s already a four color project. The concern is whether the rich black will look good or if the b/w images should be printed with only black ink.
I the OP is making a whole lot of extra work trying to do this. The rich black should look fine.
Bob
Bob,
this was the original post:
"I’m working on a 4/c photo montage which will include both B&W and Color photos. When I place my b/w picture on its layer, the picture is of course spreading thruout the cmyk channels. I need for the B/W photos to stay on the black channel (correct)? How do I accomplish this?"
For me it sounds as if a K-only print was intended.
No problem, if one of us should have misunderstood the message.
Best regards –Gernot Hoffmann
For me it sounds as if a K-only print was intended.
Yes, but only for the b/w images. The only concern I can see is what the rich black will look like. The OP seems to be worried that it will be muddy looking. My experience is just the opposite. A nice rich look.
Bob
