Color gurus...what does this mean?

[Iluvmycam]

I am getting some stickers made of my photos. This is what the printer sent me...

"...we print CMYK process so make sure you convert it from RGB to CMYK so you can see the true colors."

OK, I know what RGB and CMYK means.

I sent him a high res color JPEG image. Is the JPEG going to work fine for his print job? I am not worried about 100% color match. Just shadow and contrast are my main concerns. Color just has to be close.

If converting does do a better job. How does one convert a JPEG or TIFF from RGB to CMYK?

Thanks

[bill t.]

My experience with postcards and flyers has always been that jpegs give the most predictable result.  Print houses field lots of them, and the constant feedback keeps them in the ballpark.  For newspaper articles I have submitted both jpegs and CMYK conversions, and the jpegs without exception have looked better in print.  If possible pick images without saturated or dark blues, keep important detail in the mid tonal range, emphasize large scale shapes if possible, and go easy on the saturation overall.

[digitaldog]

There isn't one RGB or one CMYK but thousands and so far, the shop hasn't indicated anything that would instruct you as to the specific flavor of CMYK!

http://www.ppmag.com/reviews/200703_rodneycm.pdf

[Iluvmycam]

My experience with postcards and flyers has always been that jpegs give the most predictable result.  Print houses field lots of them, and the constant feedback keeps them in the ballpark.  For newspaper articles I have submitted both jpegs and CMYK conversions, and the jpegs without exception have looked better in print.  If possible pick images without saturated or dark blues, keep important detail in the mid tonal range, emphasize large scale shapes if possible, and go easy on the saturation overall.

I'm using a grunge HDR image for the sticker. Really bright oranges.

[mstevensphoto]

in photoshop choose edit-convert to profile

up at the top you'll see US web coated SWOP - that'll give you a pretty good idea. vibrant oranges may require a 5th ink or a pantone match.

save your file to include the color profile, or send them an adobe98 file and let them convert.

JPG and TIFF are acronyms that have nothing to do with the color space, they're the compression of the file. you can have a CMYK jpg or an RGB jpg.