printing art

[x.vector]

hej peeps ...

i recently printed a flyer, made in photoshop.

on my pc the colours are very nice but on the printed version
it looks like **** !!!!!

the printed flyer is so ugly ... what do i need to do to maintain
the "real" colours i used when i print the flyer ??

In photoshop i used RGB- colour mode .. should this be changed
for printing stuff ??

please help 'cause this is really bothering me

thnx in advance


Odin

[m_andrews808]

it could be a lot of things, are you using good paper?

[eyeinfinitude]

RGB is used mainly for web applications. For print you should be using CMYK for the best results. Also make sure the resolution is atleast 300 dpi as well.

[x.vector]

thnx EG ...

yes the paper was good quality .. i went to a special print shop
to print the flyers ...

so 300 dpi and CMYK should do it .. :)

lat0rrrr

[eyeinfinitude]

If you're having this done at a professional print shop then they should know what specifications are needed to print the flyer. You shouldn't even have to worry about all this, just give them the file and they'll make the correct adjustments. :P

[ribcage]

Some print shops don't have their equipment calibrated for both CMYK & RGB so
before you create your next piece of art ask some questions because once you request resizing or any corrections to be made you may be charged extra by the shops onsite digital artist . Also some colors will still print hotter or cooler even after switching modes from RGB to CMYK for example an "aqua blue" may print
near "purple" .
Ask about:
1. File Format- PSD,JPG,PDF( pdf is friendlier for resizing for some shops)
2.DPI -if you need to print larger than original you need more .300 is great but 150 will work fine, 600 is max some will allow.
3.RGB ( usually for video) or CMYK( usually for print)

[x.vector]

thnx Ribcage .. good info

and EG ... the file was printed at good printshop but they still managed to create an ugly flyer
check here (http://www.tomaatnet.nl/~xvector/flyer.gif) out of my file ...

so i think i should definately be worried bout this stuff :D



Odin

[Cello]

Did you print your file to your own printer for comparison? Obviously if your CMYK blue = blue and their CMYK blue = purple (or whatever) then they have a problem. However, if you can't print it they way you like it yourself, then you have to adjust the colours accordingly.

Remember the primary difference between colours on paper and on screen. Paper relies on reflecting light and displaying the colours accordingly. Screen has a light source behind the image so projects the colours.

The main difference therefore is intensity of colour.

[x.vector]

well .. i contacted the dtp-dude at the shop and asked him if
the print would be better if i used CMYK-colour ...

he said it wouldn't make a big difference and that the printed
flyer will never look the same as on my pc because they use
different equipement (or some like that :)

furthermore he said the only way to get it right on paper is to
go to a professional press/print company (which will cost a fortune i think)

so i will check my local yellow pages to see if i can find some
professional press/print companies and check/compare their
prices ...


thnx again for all the replies ...

Odin

[ribcage]

by the way , ask for a proof before they do a complete run of your flyers.
just to double check colors

[x.vector]

will do :D