#3DS RGB, CMYK help!
9 messages in this thread
I am having a problem with output quality from 3DS 3. I am saving my images as
.tif or .tga, at 2000 x 1500 resolution. The image viewed on screen after
rendering looks great. But when I send the file out to a service bureau for
output either on a Canon Laser copier 500 or a Phaser dye-sub printer the
images always appear dark. Also sometimes the colors are a bit off. Does this
problem have anything to to with the fact that 3DS files are RGB and the output
devices are CMYK? If so what can be done to correct these issues? Is it a
matter of importing the RGB image into a package like PhotoStyler and saving it
as an CMYK image?
Thanx
R
I have done very little print output, but I believe you're on the right track
wrt the color differences, this is common. The images being too dark is surely
a gamma-related problem. Have your service bureau spec the gamma they need
(probably 1.0). If you're rendering at the 1.8 default, then the output would
be too dark. Maybe someone else more qualified in print output can jump in on
this.
BILL
Do you think it is more a gamma problem or a RGB, CMYK problem?
Both, possibly. If the only color changes are in terms of darkening /
over-saturation, then it could be entirely gamma-related I guess.
BILL
Roland, It is most common to send RGB images to the Tek Phaser printers. I
realize that the color transfer rolls are usually CMY or CMYK, but converting
to CMYK in Photoshop will usually still result in a color shift at the printer.
I think that gamma is your most likely culprit.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
We have a DesignJet 650C which exhibited the same problems… at first,
the only thing I could do was to up the image gamma in the program I used to
print from, but that was sort of ridiculous. Then we received an upgrade kit
for the plotter which made that problem go away. But M.G. (I think) is on the
right track, contact the printer (manufacturer, if it's your printer) and find
out what type of gamma the images should utilize.
I have had the same problem pop up myself. What I would suggest is that you
bring it into photoshop or something similar and retouch the image by adjusting
the brightness and contrast till it is a printable image. What looks good on
the video monitor does not always print well. Experimention helps a lot. Good
luck…
DanDay
Roland,
my suggestion would be to render your scene at gamma 1.0 and light it
accordingly. This will require you to brighten up your overall scene lighting
to compensate. You should also set your monitor for 1.0 to do colour checking.
Thanx for the suggestions Martin, I'll give it a try and hope for the best.
R