I need to submit some work in CMYK. This is possible with version 6 but what i can’t work out is, is it possible to specify the percentages? I am told the elements should be: 60% cyan 40% magenta 40% yellow 100% black total value should not exceed 240%
Hi, I know how to convert to CMYK but the colours have to be those I specified in the original post. So, I’d like to know how to set the CMYK colours to those percentages? Do you know how to?
Oh dear! This is not sounding as easy as I had hoped! Basically, I am submitting a wrap around bookcover. I have the printers instructions which is what I posted in my original post.
I created the image originally in Elements 2 in RGB. I then discovered that it was impossible to covert to the required CMYK and so got PS 6 which does convert to CMYK. The instructions say that for best results CMYK need to be at the specifications already posted.
My bookcover image is full colour (photgraph on the front, and title and author, back cover is reddy pink with white writing describing the book).
Perhaps if I don’t use the recommendations by the pritners it will still work out ok? Perhaps the difference in colour is very small?
However, restricting the Dmax to 240 and getting that precise mix in the darkest black (there IS a black in the design right?), is not so easy to do in a full color image.
The best advice I can give you is to ask the printer in question if you can give them RGB and let them convert it via their own methods.
If you really need to do it yourself, the simplest thing you can do is go into color settings and choose "custom CMYK" by working spaces (I think that is there in PS6?), change total ink limit to 240%, then convert to CMYK. That will get you close.
chrisjbirchall, "Photoshop6" #3, 3 Oct 2006 5:06 am </cgi-bin/webx?14/2>
For what it’s worth: As a photographer I soon learned that one man’s CMYK meat is another man’s CMYK poison.
Now I just avoid the hassle and state that I will only supply RGB files and let the printers do the conversion which siuts their own particular set-up.
The problem here is not CMYK or how to get there. Printers ALWAYS spec flat rich black colors that are to generated (usually) by a page layout program in terms that have been suggested here. 60C 40M 40Y 100K is a very common mix that does indeed add up to 240%, but it’s only for flat tints of rich black, not the black in a photographic image. The black in a photographic image will typically range from a total ink limit of 285 to 350 or more, depending on press, paper, etc. You need to get that information from the printer as well, and then construct your document accordingly – building flat rich blacks to spec and letting photographic blacks go where they need to be. To do this all in one Photoshop document is fairly easy, but you have to plan how to do it. If you are, as you suggest, green at this, it may be advisable to have someone assist you who has experience in this area. Good luck.
Type is virtually never printed rich black, as even the slightest misregistration would leave color fringing. Type is either printed as a spot or as a single process color, usually black. The rich black is almost always referring to graphic elements within the design that are generated from Xpress or InDesign (sometimes in PS) and are typically relatively broad areas of even toned black. You want to have enough ink to give a good rich black black, but not so much overall percentage that it starts to affect other parts of the job.
Wow! Ok, a lot to take in! One thing though, the printers… hmmm asking them is not much of an option. They provide a manual with all the specifications and refuse to give any other help. I know it sounds crazy. Unfortauntely, they are the only company in the UK who distribute books worldwide. So I can’t go and find some other printer who also disributes too!!
I definitely do have to convert to CMYK. Would the colours be totally out if I did not submit in those specified percentages? I mean, if it’s got you lot, the experts, confused surely every other customer will be too!! I’m beginning to think people must be submitting files and hoping for the best and in most cases they turn out ok (wow that really sounds a professional way of doing things! lol)
Oh also, are those specifications (sorry if I am being really dim here) actually those that create just one colour, i.e. this is how they want their black colour made? So it’s not an overall setting?
Am I making sense here? I feel like I’m talking nonsense!
I work under the impression that altering the M/C balance makes rich black either warmer or cooler. Yellow is so transparent as to be… pointless. But I guess it can’t hurt.
Often times there are other elements butting to the black. Having all four colors in the black helps to make the job self trapping because there are now guaranteed to have common color along the border.
i.e. this is how they want their black colour made?
Seemingly, and here I would think that would be the darkest black in the Photo (0R/0G/0B).
Anything less than 0R/0G/0B, would then logically have to be less than 60/40/40/100.
As I said before there is no way I know of to convert 0R/0G/0B in a photo directly to 60/40/40/100 via a simple mode change, but my instructions in #7 will come close. Then if you want, use selective color in black to fine tune the numbers.
PS: Yellow is definitely required for a neutral black. It could still be called "rich" without yellow, it just couldn’t be called neutral.
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