Digital Photography 101
Chapter 6: Image Editing Software
6.11: RBG and CMYK printing methods.
As we develop as a photographer it helps if we have a good knowledge
on how our photos will be printed.
RGB
RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue and uses three colours. The
printing machine will blend these colours to create the various
colours in our image. These printers may be Ink Jets or Lazer printers.
Some printer's require a pre blend of the three colours to introduce
six colours into the process. Our small print labs will be using
RGB printing machines.
CMYK
Much larger, faster machines are in large offset print shops such
as a newspaper and magazine press. These use the CMYK plates in
an offset printing method. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
and Key (Black). Four actual plates are made and then stamped on
to the paper thus transferring the four colours, which then blend
on the media. An offset printing press will quickly produce many
thousands of copies. Offset printing is much cheaper in large runs
then the more convenient RGB method mainly for smaller print runs.
So what is the file standard for each printing method?
Well, all the original file formats are OK for both with RGB methods
being the most tolerant to over compressed or poor quality files.
CMYK does not produce good results from poor quality files. Artifacts
around areas of contrasting pixels will be apparent. If you are
sending files for Offset printing then send them a high quality
JPEG file or a TIFF file. Some more advanced photographers may choose
to change the mode of the file to CMYK to save the client having
to do it and for more advanced manipulations. Probably not necessary.
Image - mode - CMYK colour
 
Wedding Photography Tutorial ebook
BUY
NOW
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
