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Question

Maximum Ink Coverage?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
August 24, 2018
4 replies
5798 views

Hi everyone,

I work in the print industry and our flexo press has a maximum ink coverage of 300%. This means all printed images have to be checked and adjusted for the CMYK not to exceed 300% (Solid CMYK = 400%).

I was wondering if there is a feature in Photoshop which can show the areas in a cmyk image which exceed 300%? I was thinking something like the Gamut Warning feature which is used in the RGB colour space to show unprintable colours?

It would be great if Photoshop has this feature and it could be adjustable in its percentage. (Different percentages for different presses/print processes).

Does this feature exist in Photoshop? Or should it be added in to the next upgrade for the print industry?

best regards, Ian

This topic has been closed for replies.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

If you work in RGB you can avoid this completely; maximum coverage is limited by the CMYK profile to which you convert (if you convert at all).

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

You could just open the images in Acrobat whose Output Preview features a TAC indicator.

In Photoshop itself one can use Adjustment Layers to emulate a TAC indicator with some rounding losses, which can be automated with a Script, see

Re: maximum total ink

Please post Photoshop Feature Requests over at

Photoshop Family Customer Community

I

iBradsAuthor

Known Participant

I'm very nervous about using scripts!

If I had many files to fix I would probably check it out.

I may give it a go.

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

Adjusting ink weight is best performed using appropriate ICC profiles or ICC DeviceLink profiles – however if you are just looking for a visual warning:

http://www.curvemeister.com/downloads/cmyk_tac/index.htm

http://www.curvemeister.com/downloads/cmyk_tac/cmyk_total_ink_limits.atn

http://www.curvemeister.com/downloads/cmyk_tac/dl.php?image=Curvemeister_TIL_Target.tif

I

iBradsAuthor

Known Participant

We need to fix the image within the Studio as we send out our artwork to 3rd parties for them to reproduce.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

By the way, a Feature Requests on the issue seems to already exist, you may want to add your vote:

Photoshop: CMYK ink density gamut warning | Photoshop Family Customer Community

Eugenio.NYC

Participating Frequently

Hi there, do you use the gamut warning and the info panel with total ink?

Regards

E

I

iBradsAuthor

Known Participant

I do use the total ink on the INFO pallette, but it's the most saturated area on the image I am trying to find.

Currently the image would be placed in an Illustrator artwork file.

This file is then saved as a pdf with our workflow profile.

The pdf is opened in NEO for minimum and maximum dot checking. (0.7% minimum dot and 300% maximum coverage).

With the tools within NEO I can find the most saturated areas by using a 'gumut' warning filter which can be set at any percentage.

I have to take a 'screen grab' from NEO and place this on a layer within the photoshop image. This will help me identify the most saturated areas to place my Colour Sampler Tool marks.

I'm have to go round 4 programs for this process!!!!

If there was a Ink Coverage Gamut Warning option (like the RGB one) I would be able to fix the image all within Photoshop.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

I do use the total ink on the INFO pallette, but it's the most saturated area on the image I am trying to find.

You might be misusing either the term »saturated« or »maximum coverage«.

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