Hey Guys,
A printer has given the instruction that the gray scale images for a radiology book I'm working on use CMYK and GCR Heavy. They've given specific instruction for Photoshop so we'll be using their method, in Photoshop, for the TIF files.
But, I've got 419 CorelDRAW files with gray scale images placed in them with labels done in type.
Is there a way to set a similar "GCR Heavy" profile in the CorelDRAW file so that when I export to EPS for use in InDesign all will be well? The only profile things I find in DRAW allow me select from the installed profiles on my computer.
It seems to work to copy the image to the clip board in DRAW, create a new file in Photoshop from the clipboard, set the profile, save a tif and re-import it in to DRAW. But that's a lot of work for 419 images, and I'm not real keen on whole copy and paste thing from DRAW to Photoshop.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ken
First and foremost your printer is an idiot! If your images are Grayscale there is no such thing as heavy GCR even in a CMYK environment.
So the first question is are the images Grayscale or CMYK?
Now to help with your issue. How are you exporting your files for printing?
Are you sending them a CDR file, a PDF file or an EPS file?
Sorry, the gray scales are printing as CMYK. As I mentioned in the original post we'll be exporting EPS for use in InDesign.
The printer's instructions are for "b/w" images to be 8 bit CMYK, converting with these settings in Photoshop, AND I just realized (sorry!) ALSO gave us an ICC profile file as well.
I'm still not clear on how the GCR works and was hoping for a "custom" (for lack of a better term) thing I could do in DRAW that was similar to this set up in Photoshop.
The ICC file they sent is named ISOcoated_v2_300_eci.icc so I'm assuming the 300 is the total coverage. But, I'm still not sure what to do in DRAW.
I'm assuming I can apply the ICC file they sent to my DRAW files (right?) and convert the images placed in DRAW to CMYK. But when I go to convert images in DRAW to CMYK I don't have an 8-bit CMYK option, only 32-bit. Am I just missing something?
Thanks again for responding.Ken
Ok I see what this dude is doing and they are so bizarre, it's so far behind the times it's hard to explain.
So the reality is that the printer is asking you to take Grayslake images that have no (gray component, CMY values) and to convert them to CMYK (which will give them improper grayscale, CMY values) but to use a method that removes the CMY values.
In layman terms it's like telling you to take your unloaded firearm, load it with the wrong ammunition, then telling you to unload the firearm again and sending you into combat.
This dudes a winner.
It may not be possible to get you to a place of best quality but let's try.
First, do you have the images as color RGB?
If so, set default application and document color management to match the RGB images and the printers CMYK profiles.
Convert the RGB images to CMYK, this will set the TIC, then to grayscale, then back to CMYK. This is stupid. CorelDRAW will not convert grayscale images during EPS export.
If all you have is grayscale images, then simply assign the printers profile to your document and export.
EPS is an uncolor managed workflow and Grayslake images have no CMY values and should not be converted to CMYK and they should no this.
ken@krugh.com said: Sorry, the gray scales are printing as CMYK. As I mentioned in the original post we'll be exporting EPS for use in InDesign. The printer's instructions are for "b/w" images to be 8 bit CMYK, converting with these settings in Photoshop, AND I just realized (sorry!) ALSO gave us an ICC profile file as well. I'm still not clear on how the GCR works and was hoping for a "custom" (for lack of a better term) thing I could do in DRAW that was similar to this set up in Photoshop. The ICC file they sent is named ISOcoated_v2_300_eci.icc so I'm assuming the 300 is the total coverage. But, I'm still not sure what to do in DRAW. I'm assuming I can apply the ICC file they sent to my DRAW files (right?) and convert the images placed in DRAW to CMYK. But when I go to convert images in DRAW to CMYK I don't have an 8-bit CMYK option, only 32-bit. Am I just missing something? Thanks again for responding.Ken
There's no such thing as a CGR for grayscales images. That's quite logical, since grayscale images only have one channel,and there's no way to produce "more" or "less" grays using other channels. If "the gray scales are printing as CMYK" that means the images will output s CMYK, then it's not longer grayscale.
ken@krugh.com said:The ICC file they sent is named ISOcoated_v2_300_eci.icc so I'm assuming the 300 is the total coverage. But, I'm still not sure what to do in DRAW.
Total ink coverage is not the same than GCR. According with this, what you want is to apply a color profile that limit the total ink amount. The ISOcoated_v2_300% is included with CorelDRAW, and it's the same than Photoshop. First of all, you must choose this color profile as the document CMYK profile. Go to Tools/color management/document settings and choose ISOcoated_v2_300% as CMYK color profile. Then. just select any RGB image and convert to CMYK, it will be converted according this color profile.