GCU Forum - Color question?

Pamela_135500

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Color question?
Apr 21^st, 2009, 1:21pm

Hi All, Hoping someone can help

I have a question about colors and gamut.....and I still find it hard to figure what gamut is in spite of looking it up frequently. If it is relevant, when I open a new file I have it set for color mode RGB.
So what are out of gamut colors?
I want to know if colors that show up as 'out of gamut' will actually print in their vibrant tones at the GCU printer (since they use RGB) or should I continue to choose only colors that are in gamut. Sometimes I want that bright pink and settle for the dull 'in gamut' version. Does out of gamut mean that it would not convert to CMYK if the printer was using that and that I don't have to worry about the colors I choose because our printer uses RGB? Hope this makes sense Huh

Any help would be appreciated.

Pamela

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Naty_133468 Full Member artist Posts: 161	Re: Color question? Reply #1 - Apr 21^st, 2009, 2:35pm From what I understand if they are out of gamut they won't print correctly in any printer!
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Nilla_136687

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Re: Color question?
Reply #2 - Apr 21^st, 2009, 3:20pm

Here are lots of good discussions on the subject, although you may have already read them Roll Eyes

http://www.creativepro.com/search/node/Out+of+Gamut

We are told that the printer of GCU say they need RGB documents so they must not be printing a 4 color press, and since they often print one card at a time, this supports my speculation. I believe it is a good idea to keep using the settiings they need to have to match their system, and the cards I have gotten from their printers are very nice.

Hope this helps a little, but I think only Mindy or anyone else connected directly to the printers would know for sure.

Peace be with You,
Nilla

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Pamela_135500 Gold Member artist Posts: 1945	Re: Color question? Reply #3 - Apr 22^nd, 2009, 5:51pm Just wanted to say thanks Naty and Nilla for your help. Nilla I haven't had much time today to read what you sent but it looks like it should be very helpful. I think for now I shall stay with those in gamut colors Naty! Thanks to both of you. pamela
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Ernestine_131365

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Re: Color question?
Reply #4 - Apr 22^nd, 2009, 9:42pm

Here's some info about the "color sync" calibration I've set up (on Mac) for the images I create for GCU cards: http://www.balsamlanestudio.com/callibration_sync.pdf (you may have to download the PDF to get all 4 pages-just the first shows up on most browsers) Anyway, I've always had great color results on the printed cards that I've received.
This info may mean nothing to PC users.
I use this profile for my Epson inkjet printer when printing proofs of GCU cards so I can get as close an approximation of the GCU printed colors as I can. But one think I have learned is: "start with RGB and save as RGB." Also, don't save your final image for upload as jpeg until you are FINISHED editing it. (Keep it raw, in photoshop, tiff, vectors or even png). Every re-save of a jpeg results in some loss of definition.

'e'

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Pamela_135500

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Posts: 1945

Re: Color question?
Reply #5 - Apr 23^rd, 2009, 8:29am

Thanks Ernestine for the colorsync info and your expertise, I went over it all and it is much appreciated. I have been down this road before but never quite 'got it'!. I think I am getting closer to understanding, it takes me a while

.

I have calibrated my monitor recently, and actually do get decently accurate prints from my Canon Pixma printer. The cards I have seen from GCU have been good, one photo was a little washed out but nothing anyone else would notice.
This question with colors came up because I have been designing some cards for 'tweens'. They love bright colors but if I stay in the 'in gamut' range that bright green or shocking pink becomes duller. I am assuming that the out of gamut colors are usable for web use but not accurately able to be reproduced in print. Do you know if that is the case? For now I am staying within the 'gamut' range, dull as they may seem!
I will order a sample or two when I am finished.

Pamela

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Ernestine_131365

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Re: Color question?
Reply #6 - Apr 23^rd, 2009, 1:58pm

I'm on my "old" browser now, but let's see if this "takes." For those bright light pinks and pale bright blues try extra saturation andd "lightness" and just a bit more brightness and bit (just a bit) more contrast. If you are using photoshop, go into "color balance" and exagerate magenta (not red) or cyan (not blue). It's really sort of a trial and error thingm but if your moitor is calibrated to what will print, you can see a better version of what will print.

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Pamela_135500 Gold Member artist Posts: 1945	Re: Color question? Reply #7 - Apr 23^rd, 2009, 2:07pm Thanks so much Ernestine! I do appreciate your sharing your knowledge on this, I shall play around with the colors again per your message and see what I can create. Pamela
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