Michael, all, michael-at-infocus-photography.co.uk (Michael Wilkinson)::30/7/04::12:22 am:: GMT+0100
>If all you can provide is a correctly managed digital file then they >have no alternative. true, but sadly they might just go elsewhere if that's all you offer. although there is, of course, no real reason why they should not accept the file. I see it like this: in the old days, scanner operators were some of the most highly skilled guys around, would anyone fancy the job of tweaking analogue controls on a scanner until a scanned IT8 came out right when printed on a press. Making plates each test run? Given the cost of firing up the press each time you test a setting, that's enough pressure to send anyone to an early grave. Apparently most of these guys retired a few years back [or are in the dole queue with the typesetters], leaving a situation that still works as their scanners are nicely set up to make CMYK that suits a press - BUT you can't put a CD on a scanner. So just how do they deal with that file? In some cases it seems that fear of the content of CD's makes operators ask for/ prefer film. With a CD and no reference everyone in the chain can have their own idea of image appearance. With a good accurate reference we're half way there. Now we just need someone with the skill, and the time allocated, to make that large gamut RGB work in CMYK. It's serious skill - and much underestimated by many. Some colours do not exist in normal print. > <snip> >There is no reason why anyone supplying digital files can not supply >at the same time an inkjet print showing how the files should look. >Assuming good colour management we can then in all good faith tell the >clients that their preferred printer is the bad guy,the guy that can >not convert good managed file to suit his (hers ,no sexist stuff on >this list ) preferred printer output There is truth in this comment, however: 1: Not every photographer producing inkjet prints cares (or even knows) about colour management (for either printer or screen). Thus many <guide> prints are way way off from representing, visually, the real digital file content. 2: Not every colour reproducable on an inkjet print will be able to be reproduced on a high speed press. Someone has to get this part right too. When clients talk to printers with a glossy Epson in hand the printer often has every reason to throw his hands in the air. Everyone blames everyone else. Next problem: what's the target this is what the FOGRA and the ECI have been working on with ISO for a few years. It seems they are doing pretty well and anyone interested should look at www.eci.org and go to http://www.eci.org/eci/de/060_downloads.php where they can get the 2004 ECI profiles <ECI_offest_2004.sit>. Interesting stuff. As against another Proofer based standard, like Chromalin, I find this initiative interesting since it allows pressmen to run their press to a FOGRA standard, then, those submiting files can use one of the ECI profiles and get a good [Photoshop] softproof and accurate gamut boundaries. It's what photographers need, we can all learn to throw the dart if we can see the dartboard. There is quite a groundswell of opinion in favour of standardisation in the US (among those I've heard speak anyway). Biggest complaint I heard from Pressmen at GATF in Arizona last year? Having to try make good print from images supplied with unrealistic proofs, i.e. proofs which did not truly represent file content. We, even now, have the ability to make a humble Epson inkjet into an ISO proofer with the right RIP, and - if required - the wherewithal for client to measure each proof and produce an ISO standard pass or fail label. see http://www.color-solutions.de/english/Datenblaetter_E/control_E/control_E.htm This is pretty much what Thomas and I were trying to do in our involvement with Pro-File. I'm really hoping that Bob's initiative to continue with Pic4press, Digital Ad lab etc. will end up in the same area. Let's all hope so. Regards, Neil Barstow :: Apple Solutions Expert :: colourmanagement.net Consulting in Imaging & Colour Management, custom profiling, training, seminars implementation :: WE RESELL :- Gretag+eyeOne :: basICColor Squid, Display etc. XRite. :: GTI viewing booths :: Epson :: Proofmaster RIP + ISO Proofing solutions www.colourmanagement.net/ :: www.apple.com/uk/creative/neilbarstow/ =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
