Lorey Posted January 26 Posted January 26 (edited) CONTEXT I want to send a business card and flyer I am creating to my local print shop. In their data sheet they mention CYMK as the preferred color mode, although they can also convert an RGB PDF. I have created my design (see attached screenshots), and it uses tiger strips on a gradient color of red to yellow, so there are some different color variations on the background margin. Though the main area is white. DOCUMENT SETUP / MAC LAPTOP I have already created my design in the RGB color space, and use the sRGB color profile. And the local printer shjop accepts that. So I could just send my PDF as is (inRGB and I assume they would convert it to CMYK. But especially because of the subtle color variants / gradient in the tiger-strip background, I am wondering if it is better to first change my business card template into CMYK 8 bit and then send that. The tiger-stripe background is an RGB JPEG But I am using an MacBook laptop which has a normal RGB monitor. So I am wondering this: QUESTIONS what is the view in see in Affinity Designer on my monitor when I use CMYK as my document color mode? Is it a simulated CMYK "converted" to RGB (as my monitor is a standard MacBook laptop) using the color profile I give? what is it better to send to the print shop, given this design. CMYK? if so, is what I see on my MacBook is roughly how it will look when printed? RGB? and just let them convert it, especially as the background is an RGB JPEG EXPORT SETTINGS IN EXPORT PERSONA Lastly, when I print using the export persona, I assume I should use the settings: PDF (press ready)? with 300 dpi? for either the CMYK or RGB PDF (that I will send to the copy shop) FURTHER NOTES I took my RGB project and switched its color mode to the one wanted ideally by the copy shop, CMYK color mode/ Fogra 39 profile. I notice when I see this in Affinity it looks exactly the same as the RGB project, so I guess this means despite using RGB or CMYK the software simulates the output? as it will print? as best it can on the device screen used in Affnity? Sorry if this is a newbie question, but I am. It is the first time I have done my own design and sent to a professional print shop. EDIT The PNGs I originally attached of the exported cards were screenshots from the actual PDF exports, so I don't know if that confused / affects things, so just in case its of interest, and to avoid confusion with the screenshots. I attach the actual exported PDFs: sRGB PDF PErsonal Export.pdf CMYK-8 PDF PErsonal Export.pdf Edited January 26 by Lorey Added CMYK color mode and actual exported PDFs Quote
thomaso Posted January 26 Posted January 26 43 minutes ago, Lorey said: I have already created my design in the RGB color space, and use the sRGB color profile. And the local printer shjop accepts that. (…) But especially because of the subtle color variants in the background, I am wondering if (…) But I am using an MacBook laptop which has a normal RGB monitor. (…) CMYK? if so, is what I see on my MacBook is roughly how it will look when printed? (…) I took my RGB project and switched its color mode to the one wanted ideally by the copy shop, CMYK color mode/ Fogra 39 profile. I notice when I see this in Affinity (am using the sofware and working with on the design) it looks exactly the same as the RGB project, Hi @Lorey, welcome to the Affinity forums! As you said, both RGB and CMYK layout documents can be perfectly used for printing. There is no right or wrong choice but each requires different workflows. It is not clear to me what layout document colour space the "TigerCardScreenshot.png" was shot in. When I open this PNG in Affinity + convert the document colour space to CMYK, I see a clear but subtle change in the colours, they appear slightly desaturated compared to their RGB appearance. If "it looks exactly the same" on your monitor, this may be related to your MacBook's display settings (the attached PNG says "Display" as its profile, which may be Apple's original or a custom profile). It is possible that your monitor shows no such difference – or it does show it, but you perceive the subtle difference as irrelevant or "exactly the same". In any case, the printed result will look "roughly" like the screen view, dark orange will be dark orange and warm yellow will be warm yellow. Individual perception of the terms "roughly" -> "subtle" -> "exactly the same" and also "slightly", "dark" and "warm" seems to play a role here. To avoid ambiguous terms, it is better to use numerical colour values instead. For more clarity in your situation, you can compare the values of yellow and orange using a colour picker tool in the layout document versus exported files, with a colour picker in Affinity or in Apple's "Digital Color Meter.app" or in Acrobat for instance. To avoid surprises in an RGB layout document that will be printed in CMYK, it is helpful to define colours in the Colour Panel's CMYK model. This ensures that only CMYK compatible colours are created in an RGB document as well. Additionally, if you enable the Lock in the Colours Panel, the panel will keep the sliders in one setting and ensure that only CMYK compatible colours are created and saved as swatches when needed. However, be aware that with Lock enabled, the panel will also report an actual RGB colour as a CMYK equivalent, which may cause confusion. Since you have converted the document to CMYK using the printer's Fogra profile and are happy with the screen view, there is nothing else you can do (apart from comparing the numerical values) to get the colours you see on the screen into the print. The final result of orange and yellow now depends on the printer's hardware/software and the paper colour. Some designers have the printer or service produce a "proof print" to preview the final result. This is often done on an inkjet printer on a neutral, special "proof paper", but can also be done by the printer on the final material and with the final printing process and inks (e.g. offset). Lorey 1 Quote macOS 10.14.6 | MacBookPro Retina 15" | Eizo 27" | Affinity V1
Lorey Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 (edited) Thank you @thomaso, I will need to go thru and process that, sounds like I have something to learn here about using Color but and I really appreciate the help. The PNGs I attached were screenshots from the actual PDF exports, so I don't know if that confused / affects things, so just in case its of interest, and to avoid confusion with the screenshots. I attach the actual exported PDFs: sRGB PDF PErsonal Export.pdf CMYK-8 PDF PErsonal Export.pdf Thanks for this excellent tip: Quote To avoid ambiguous terms, it is better to use numerical colour values instead. For more clarity in your situation, you can compare the values of yellow and orange using a colour picker tool in the layout document versus exported files, with a colour picker in Affinity or in Apple's "Digital Color Meter.app" or in Acrobat for instance. This also sounds great, and I am going to look into this: Quote To avoid surprises in an RGB layout document that will be printed in CMYK, it is helpful to define colours in the Colour Panel's CMYK model. This ensures that only CMYK compatible colours are created in an RGB document as well. Additionally, if you enable the Lock in the Colours Panel, the panel will keep the sliders in one setting and ensure that only CMYK compatible colours are created and saved as swatches when needed. However, be aware that with Lock enabled, the panel will also report an actual RGB colour as a CMYK equivalent, which may cause confusion. and I appreciate this tip, and will ask the print shop for this: Quote . Some designers have the printer or service produce a "proof print" to preview the final result. In short, thank you a lot. I guess this is stuff I would've learned in a proper design school, so I am picking this up and really appreciate the tips. CMYK-8 PDF PErsonal Export.pdf sRGB PDF PErsonal Export.pdf Edited January 26 by Lorey added exported PDFs Oufti 1 Quote
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