I was wondering what format you are using when you export to a Roland Verscamm printer.
RGB or CYKM
Ever once in a while I run into the problem of creating something using a color that includes either a red or blue that the printer won't print correctly.
When creating graphics are you only working with RGB colors?
The whole issue of color management is very interesting and also difficult to understand.
I am using an Oracal vinyl and have used the settings they suggest.
Thanks Jimmy
Jimmy Hill said:RGB or CYKM
* They (the experts) say that it may be possible to print more colors if you send RGB to the printer, but I have not been able to prove it during my tests.
The trouble with working in CMYK is that CMYK isn't any kind of a standard. Inkjet printers use a multitude of ink formulas and Roland's "yellow" is quite likely a different "yellow" than Mimaki's or HP's or others.
CorelDraw's CMYK palette is Corel's best guess at the correct "mix" for any particular CMYK printer.
RGB is a standard and any RIP/printer driver that I know of expects an RGB file. My understanding of how a RIP works is that it brings in the RGB file and maps that to LAB. That LAB info is then analyzed and the proper CMYK ink levels for the particular printer in question are set and then it's ready to head through the printer. Sending CMYK to the RIP results in a redundant conversion and that's not desirable.
It's important to have your wide format printer properly "linearized" with a spectrophotometer. Only then will you be able to output consistent and predictable prints.
Please feel free to chime in you think my colour theory is off or incorrect. I'm a relative noob at colour output but I've found that printing out the colour charts and trying to match colours that way is time consuming, inefficient, and unpredictable compared to a well planned ICC compliant workflow through a properly linearized printer.
Just to note: I come at this from a signmaker's perspective and know little of the printing industry.
Dan
Ronny Axelsson said:I always design in CMYK but sometimes I leave RGB bitmaps as RGB * (just lazy or forget) and the difference is in most cases not noticeable.
I think one advantage to RGB is the ability to choose a wide range of output mediums from gloss to matte, and the inking adjusts to the materials at output time. another advantage could be smaller working files since there are 3 channels in a bitmap, not 4.
BUT Ronny, see one of the paragraphs from the CM guide that supports the way we work: