CMKY and Printing at DVinfo.net

Jeff Miller · March 7th, 2006, 12:57 PM

This question can go a lot of ways... but, I'm wondering if I have a printer that supports CMKY, am I better off in Photoshop creating images in a CMKY colorspace, instead of RGB? Is there a "better" practice overall?

The confusing part is that monitors are RGB so you cannot see what you print. Also my EOS can take pictures optimized for Adobe RGB, but no CMKY. So I wonder if it's better to work in RGB after all and just hope it prints well?

Thanks gang!

Keith Loh · March 7th, 2006, 01:09 PM

Worry about that only if you are not the printer. As you are the printer, it is easy for you to print off a 'proof' as you can see how the output is immediately.

Look up color management in Photoshop and you will find many dozens of pages telling you how to ensure you get a good match from monitor to print. To me, however, the only sure method is to get a proof from the printer.

EDIT: Found this link which goes into this in detail:
http://photography.about.com/library.../aa031703c.htm

Jeff Miller · March 7th, 2006, 01:40 PM

Thanks Keith for the link, I have much more to learn about CMKY then I originally thought. :)

Keith Loh · March 7th, 2006, 01:45 PM

Well, you shouldn't make your job harder than it is. Unlike other forms of printing, photo printing is and should be very subjective. The color you see with your eye is different from the color your camera gets which is different from your monitor settings. Seeing as you are in control of the output as well as the input, you have a much easier time than someone who has to send out files.

Emre Safak · March 7th, 2006, 01:56 PM

If you are talking about an inkjet printer, they use RGB data, despite the fact that their inks are CMYK (plus their light versions etc.)

Jeff Miller · March 7th, 2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emre Safak

If you are talking about an inkjet printer, they use RGB data, despite the fact that their inks are CMYK (plus their light versions etc.)

Thanks Emre. I just heard the same from my photo teacher.
"People who work on real CMYK printers are totally different. That is a profession in itself."
I'll use RGB :)

March 7th, 2006, 12:57 PM	#1
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	CMKY and Printing This question can go a lot of ways... but, I'm wondering if I have a printer that supports CMKY, am I better off in Photoshop creating images in a CMKY colorspace, instead of RGB? Is there a "better" practice overall? The confusing part is that monitors are RGB so you cannot see what you print. Also my EOS can take pictures optimized for Adobe RGB, but no CMKY. So I wonder if it's better to work in RGB after all and just hope it prints well? Thanks gang! __________________ (insert long list of expensive stuff)

March 7th, 2006, 01:09 PM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Worry about that only if you are not the printer. As you are the printer, it is easy for you to print off a 'proof' as you can see how the output is immediately. Look up color management in Photoshop and you will find many dozens of pages telling you how to ensure you get a good match from monitor to print. To me, however, the only sure method is to get a proof from the printer. EDIT: Found this link which goes into this in detail: http://photography.about.com/library.../aa031703c.htm __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

March 7th, 2006, 01:40 PM	#3
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	Thanks Keith for the link, I have much more to learn about CMKY then I originally thought. :) __________________ (insert long list of expensive stuff)

March 7th, 2006, 01:45 PM	#4
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Well, you shouldn't make your job harder than it is. Unlike other forms of printing, photo printing is and should be very subjective. The color you see with your eye is different from the color your camera gets which is different from your monitor settings. Seeing as you are in control of the output as well as the input, you have a much easier time than someone who has to send out files. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

March 7th, 2006, 01:56 PM	#5
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	If you are talking about an inkjet printer, they use RGB data, despite the fact that their inks are CMYK (plus their light versions etc.)