PowerPoint Color

SS
Posted By
Sharon_Shero
Jul 8, 2004
Views
770
Replies
16
Status
Closed
I have several clients that have a need for custom presentations in MS PowerPoint, so I’ve been developing graphics in Photoshop CS and to a lesser extent, in Illustrator CS. There are elements within PowerPoint that I want to match colors to this artwork, but when I use the same RGB, I end up with different color results, both on screen and in printing. Is there a solution other than manually changing the PowerPoint color until it visually matches up?
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AM
Aaron_Martone
Jul 8, 2004
You’re more than likely working in different COLOR MODELS. Goto EDIT (?) > COLOR SETTINGS, and take a look at all the color models you have. You should take some time to color calibrate your screen and look into the pros and cons of each color model.

Personally, I use Adobe 1998 the most, but there are instances when you need to change the color model.

Also know too that the majority of computers out there do not have color corrected monitors, so what looks like red to you on your screen may end up orange on another person’s.

This holds true for many COLOR MODES such as RGB, however if you were developing in, say, CMYK, then the colors may look differently ON SCREEN (which always shows via RGB, cause that’s how monitors work), but when they print up, they should look closer to the same. (There ARE different inks out there with different purities.)
MM
Mac_McDougald
Jul 8, 2004
I just made some squares in PowerPoint, set custom RGB colors for the fills (let hue/sat/lum in PowerPoint fall where it wanted), then made 640×640 image in Photoshop, filled with same RGB.

Then copy/pasted from PS into PP side by side.
Identical on screen, identical printing.
One of them is even neutral gray, and they are also identical. If a color diff were going to show, would probably be here.

I didn’t try saving the files from Photoshop, but I image this would work fine also, UNLESS you save as JPEG. JPEG will change color values with its lossy algorithm so maybe that’s what you are trying? TIFF ought to work, but out of time to test right now.

This test with PS7, PP2000, HP 895 inkjet.
left image is the vector made in PP, right one the raster made in PS.

If you want the PP file:
ftp://doogle.com/pub

Name of file is ColorTest.ppt, 80k.

Mac
B
BobLevine
Jul 8, 2004
Actually, I use JPGs all the time from PS to PP with no problems at all.

Bob
SS
Sharon_Shero
Jul 8, 2004
Aaron, Thanks.
I actually work in Adobe 1998 RGB and have color-corrected my screen (just with Adobe Gamma). The screen isn’t that big of a deal — I can always deal with that, but printing is indeed problematic.
B
BobLevine
Jul 8, 2004
Yes, I am, quite successfully, I might add.

I know that doesn’t help the OP, because I can’t suggest a thing. It simply works for me.

Bob
MM
Mac_McDougald
Jul 8, 2004
But you’re not trying to exactly match an existing PowerPoint color are you?

M
MM
Mac_McDougald
Jul 8, 2004
Had a few min more to play..

Did same file, saved the PS images at JPEG, medium 5 quality, this time rather than copy/paste. Ever so slight a difference now when printed. Plenty close enough for gummit work, though 🙂
Obviously, quality setting of the JPEG is going
to affect this…

TIFF shows/prints right on, saved/inserted.

My guess is that OP is not really matching exact RGB values of the PP colors?

Mac
SS
Sharon_Shero
Jul 8, 2004
No, I’m starting with an image created in PS and then using the RGB from the color picker going into PowerPoint, dropping the image in and then adding an element, say a box, and changing it’s RGB to the same as what I picked in PS….
MM
Mac_McDougald
Jul 8, 2004
Again, are you saving the image in PS as JPEG and dropping into PP?

JPEG will change the color.

In my quick example, my 200R/0/0 becomes 203/1/1 with medium quality JPEG save, etc.

Meaning, check your image AFTER saving in PS to see if you have color balance you started with. You need to close it and reopen it with Info palette check.

Mac
SS
Sharon_Shero
Jul 8, 2004
I was saving as a JPEG; andjust savied as a TIFF and it’s much closer, almost acceptable! Would having a tech re-calibrate my printer be the solution?

I’m going to check to see what happens with your test.
B
BobLevine
Jul 8, 2004
My guess is that OP is not really matching exact RGB values of the PP colors?

My guess also. Like I said, my colors are spot on.

Bob
AM
Aaron_Martone
Jul 8, 2004
If I understand this correctly, When you develop work in RGB, and print in CMKY, saving to JPEG (known as a LOSSY COMPRESSION method), CAN change colors and cause artifactiing, even at the LOWEST compression.

The new JPEG (JPG2000) is a LOSSLESS (like PNG) format, that should preserve your colors better. I usually prefer PNG for most formats (raster) that are not to be published, since it supports 54 bit colors, 8bit transparency and has fantastic compression/file size.

Mayhaps these will work better for your conversions? Less color altercation maybe?
MM
Mac_McDougald
Jul 9, 2004
JPEG conversion changes color balance regardless of printing factor.

JPEG2000 is still so poorly supported it’s pretty much worthless.

What is a 54bit PNG?
PNG is 8 or 24 bit.

Mac
SS
Sharon_Shero
Jul 9, 2004
This is my first time in this forum and although the majority of your acronyms were easily decipherable, I didn’t get OP. Will someone translate?
B
BobLevine
Jul 9, 2004
Original Poster.

Bob
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Sharon_Shero
Jul 9, 2004
So I wasn’t so paranoid after all… it was me you were commenting on!!

We’ll see. I’m at one my client’s today to have their copier/printer units calibrated calibrated by the mfr’s tech.

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