Is it better to create (in PS) a 16bit or 8bit custom color gradient to be placed into an Idesign file which will in the end be sent to print?

I am working on a packaging project utilizing custom gradients. I intended to create the gradients in PS, add some noise, and then place the final file into indesign / the template for the packaging dieline.

I don't think there will be a benefit to creating the gradients in Photoshop over using a gradient swatch in InDesign.

Before you go to a lot of trouble creating and placing gradients from PS, it could be worth getting your printer to proof a page with some comparisons. A CMYK gradient has to be converted into your OS’s monitor RGB profile for display, so you have to consider the possibility of banding artifacts being introduced by the conversion, which only affects the display and not the separated output.

Other questions to consider:

- How large of a package are you creating: small or large?

- What is the change of color from start to end in the gradient?

- What type of printing: digital or offset?

- What type of screening process does the printing device use: conventional or stochastic (random)?

- What kind of paper stock for printing?

I have not found a definitive/ quick answer advising on weather or not creating a gradient in 16bit is worth it over an 8bit when it comes down to what is better for print/ placing into indesign.

If by print you mean offset printing with halftone screens, then 16-bit will not make a difference. You will be up against the plate maker's resolution capability, and the lines per inch (LPI) of the halftone screen. Even the highest resolution plate makers (usually between 2500 to 4800 dpi) would not be able to render much more than 256 different sized halftone dots with a 150 to 200 LPI screen—certainly nothing close to 16-bit's 65,536.

Hi michelleg60672792 ,

you could maintain your 16 bit appearance of the image if you save to PDF/X-4 with PhotoShop if you do no downsampling and turn off one option that is on by default. Details here: Re: Saving a 16 bit PDF from InDesign

What's the color space of the gradient?

I'd perhaps recommend doing this with CMYK if you like to print with CMYK.

Note: Only a workflow with PDF saved from PhotoShop, placed to InDesign, exported to PDF/X-4 is able to maintain 16 bit whereas formats like PSD or TIFF will fail.

Here a sample gradient I did in CMYK 16 bit in PhotoShop, saved as PDF from PhotoShop, placed in InDesign and exported as PDF/X-4. Together with a PSD and TIFF that are saved with CMYK 16 bit, but are exported to 8 bit per channel from InDesign.

You cannot see it from the screenshot, but the cursor to inspect objects is over the placed PDF.

64 bit available ( 4 x 16 bit for CMYK channels ):

Below the cursor is over the placed PSD. No 64 bit available. Just 32 bit. ( 4 x 8 bit for CMYK channels ).

The same with the placed TIFF image.

All test files available from my Dropbox account here:

Dropbox - 16-bit-or-8-bit-gradients.zip - Simplify your life

Regards,
Uwe

An addendum: One can convert the 16bit gradient with the noise to 8bit (preferably as a 16bit layered Smart Object with Background Layer in an 8bit image with Background Layer) in Photoshop and still maintain the advantages when placing the 8bit image in Indesign.

Naturally 16bit gradients are superior. Just test it yourself.

In the pdf they will ultimately be converted to 8bit, though.