Softproofing - in particular for press/newspaper/gloss recycle paper

[tived]

Hi guys,

I am in need of sending some images to a press, but previously the skin tones came out a dull and gray and it lost a lot of punch and color saturation. Skin tones started to block up as well.

What is the best approach to go about this.

I am working on a calibrated screen at 6500k 2.2 gamma 100-120cd/m2, at the press they are working on a screen that is calibrated at 5000k

the paper stock that is used, i think is only 40-45% new paper.

The guys at the press says they have done what they could to bring the image into spec, their proof didn't look all that crash hot when I looked at it on my screen?

Where is it all going wrong and where can i make it better, to improve the quality of the images, given that they are not going to change the paper stock for me :-)

Also, the fact that we are working on screens that are calibrated differently in terms of 6500 vs 5000, I am sure that 5000 is more close to what the paper stock would look like on glossy newspaper/magazine stock

any input would be great

Henrik

[tived]

No  one ?

what you all roll your own or you just don't send any work out to newspaper publication. Or just don't have this issue :-) com'on someone help me out here :-)

thanks

Henrik

[Ernst Dinkla]

No  one ?

what you all roll your own or you just don't send any work out to newspaper publication. Or just don't have this issue :-) com'on someone help me out here :-)

thanks

Henrik

On thin ice here:

There's a GMG profile (CMYK-device though) to download somewhere that gives an impression what the softproof on Newspaper of the GMG RIP is like. GMG also has Newspaper rolls for proofing and a RIP that is used for Newspaper proofing. On Z3100s etc. I had to make a newspaper dummy for a student some time ago and used both the GMG Newspaper quality proofing paper and leftover rolls from a newspaper plant. Done that with the normal Z3100 driver though. The softproof of the GMG profile seemed quite saturated in color to me if compared to newspapers I know. The inkjet prints on both newspaper qualities were even less saturated. In my case there was no need to proof on the inkjet printer but to deliver a mainly monochrome dummy. Profiling paper that grey is already a complicated task. You may have hit one of the jobs that requires a dedicated RIP. It has little to do with the Kelvin grade of monitors though you may also hit the LCD's limits where higher output is compensated by using 6500K. A CRT on low intensity may cope better with the grey newspaper as no level of viewing light output will make that paper white or the color on it brighter.

As sketched it isn't an answer by someone who does that kind of jobs daily.



met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

New: Dinkla Canvas Wrap Actions for Photoshop
http://www.pigment-print.com/dinklacanvaswraps/index.html

[tived]

Thanks Ernst,

I much appreciate your reply.

I think my problem here is that I don't have all the details or have not asked all the right questions yet. In order for me to prepare images for such a beast. So I will have to come back to this as soon as I have better quality information. I feel it may be a very uphill battle.

I do however like your suggestion of perhaps proofing on the Z3100 or I have an Epson 4000 as well, to work out if I am getting close enough.

i'll be back :-)

Henrik

[tived]

On thin ice here:

There's a GMG profile (CMYK-device though) to download somewhere that gives an impression what the softproof on Newspaper of the GMG RIP is like. GMG also has Newspaper rolls for proofing and a RIP that is used for Newspaper proofing. On Z3100s etc. I had to make a newspaper dummy for a student some time ago and used both the GMG Newspaper quality proofing paper and leftover rolls from a newspaper plant. Done that with the normal Z3100 driver though. The softproof of the GMG profile seemed quite saturated in color to me if compared to newspapers I know. The inkjet prints on both newspaper qualities were even less saturated. In my case there was no need to proof on the inkjet printer but to deliver a mainly monochrome dummy. Profiling paper that grey is already a complicated task. You may have hit one of the jobs that requires a dedicated RIP. It has little to do with the Kelvin grade of monitors though you may also hit the LCD's limits where higher output is compensated by using 6500K. A CRT on low intensity may cope better with the grey newspaper as no level of viewing light output will make that paper white or the color on it brighter.

As sketched it isn't an answer by someone who does that kind of jobs daily.



met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

New: Dinkla Canvas Wrap Actions for Photoshop
http://www.pigment-print.com/dinklacanvaswraps/index.html

Hi again Ernst,

Reason why I mentioned the monitors was that, we photographer use 6500k as a standard and in pre-press/print they use 5000k, so when they exchange digital proofs they would look very different. Just a thought

thanks

Henrik

[Czornyj]

What CMYK profile are you using? Is it printed in EU or US?