Where to find assistance with choosing color values for print project

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
January 18, 2022
3 replies
344 views

Question: Basic question, and all my searches lead me too deep into the weeds for my purposes. I'd like to know where I can find help (for pay or for free) in choosing proper color values for a print (CMYK) project. Normally I'd consult with the printer.

Project: CD sleeve that is 95% done except for this color challenge. Plan to get a press check but time is tight so I only want to do it once.

Context: I'm an experienced print designer but have rather low color-theory skills. (I usually work in B&W book design and when I need color can usually get away with finding CMYK values on a Pantone color wheel). The CD printer (Disk Makers) is not set up to consult with clients -- they provide full design services or expect print-ready art.

Parameters: The printer's color profile (Edit/Convert to profile) is GRACoL2006_Coated1v2.icc. I'm working in CC InDesign. The background color is a forest green (C34/M0/Y81/K71 or close). Current text values are 0/50/100/0 (gold at 11 pt) and 0/91/100/0 (orange at 28 pt). Typeface is Mr. Eaves Mod OT Reg. I'm on a MacBook Pro, OS 10.14.6.

Goal: Find a color service, tool, or mentor who can tell me how to get best CMYK values (i.e., high enough contrast) to achieve good legibility and pop with these text colors against this (or close) forest green background, if that is even possible.

Thanks in advance for your tips or leads.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

And for legibility don't forget to check the Proof Colors with the Color Blindness profiles.

Your orange color text will not be readable for people with the Protanopia type.

Bob_Hallam

Legend

Good information to help us help you! To start you can make sure you use the printers profile in your color settings for your document. As in create your document after you have changed your settings

Then under the View menus select overprint preview and also proof set up choosing your GraCol profile. If you have a color calibrated monitor, there is a good chance you can choose the colors you like because they will be represented correctly on screen.

ICC programmer and developer, Photographer, artist and color management expert, Print standards and process expert.

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

The only way is to get an ICC output profile for the actual print process. That's what the profile describes.

See:

http://digitaldog.net/files/CMYKPart1.pdf

http://digitaldog.net/files/CMYKPart2.pdf

And beware of those who supply profiles but only allow them to be used for soft proofing, not actual conversions. That's bogus. Beware of those that tell you without proof, "Our print process conforms to (fill in the blank)" but doesn't again allow you to convert using that process. That too is bogus.

There are indeed printers who actually conform to standard and profiled processes and if so, you can use that profile and process.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

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