PRODPP122 – Manage colour reproduction in digital pre-press
Overview
As digital workflows have developed, the complexities of colour reproduction have increased significantly for the pre-press technician. An image that looks fine on a display monitor may look nothing like it when printed on a printing machine.
There are many reasons why colour shifts occur. Understanding digital colour workflows and managing them to achieve the correct output is now at the heart of the pre-press technician's job.
This standard is about having control over the digital pre-press workflow to ensure that colours are properly represented to the customer from the outset, and that the colours when printed are predictable and meet the customer's expectations or are within acceptable commercial parameters for that piece of work.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Maintain digital pre press equipment in calibration
calibrate display monitors in the workflow to produce accurate colour reproduction
calibrate all output devices to meet requirements, including image setter/CTP setter and proofer(s)
calibrate any scanners in the workflow to meet requirements
store any device profiles created during calibration of monitors, scanners and printers in the correct location in accordance with organisational requirements
check at regular intervals that all calibrated devices are still within calibration
adjust profiles or equipment parameters to bring devices back into calibration, allowing for various substrates
complete records of calibration checks in accordance with organisational requirements
Configure pre press software within the workflow
assess the settings for each colour management feature in each software application against job requirements
check that any software colour management features that may alter the colour values are configured in accordance with organisational procedures
establish the typical dot gain and configure the application software or workflow to make allowance for this
save software settings once configuration is complete in accordance with organisational procedures
communicate with colleagues in accordance with organisational procedures
use appropriate reference material to check that hardware and software colour management configuration produces reliable colour reproduction on press and on 'high resolution' proofing device(s)
Use colour profiles correctly
select the correct destination profiles for outputting to specific devices
check that the correct source profiles are embedded in image files, assigning new profiles in accordance with organisational requirements
communicate the consequences when embedded source profiles are not correct or are missing in accordance with organisational procedures
assign profiles to files after conversion to new colour modes in accordance with organisational procedures
set all application software in the workflow to use source and destination profiles in accordance with organisational requirements
Knowledge and understanding
You need to know and understand
the hazards and risks in your own job, their assessment and the action to take to deal with them
manufacturer's health and safety requirements relevant to your job
computer system security and virus protection
how to communicate with colleagues, customers and suppliers
workplace objectives, priorities, standards and procedures
the range of work carried out in the workplace
the set-up of digital imaging equipment and software
the operation of digital imaging equipment and software
colour theory and additive and subtractive systems such as RGB, CMYK colour gamuts
colour management and how to set up, maintain and use image profiles
how colour profiles, dot gain compensation or simulation, colour mode conversion or total ink content calculations can alter colour values in digital images
the principles of digital colour workflow, how it is configured and where colour mode changes and colour profiles are used
causes of colour shift and how to resolve them
the range of methods, equipment, material and software appropriate to the imaging requirements
the assembly and set-up of image editing and output systems
embedded information
file management procedures
file types and which files formats can carry embedded profiles
the nature and use of record-keeping systems
the main features of quality assurance and quality control systems
techniques for controlling quality, including inspection, testing, sampling, use of input and output controls
equipment for controlling quality in pre-press
techniques for solving complex problems
how cleaning, lubrication and maintenance can affect operation
the maintenance plans for machines which you operate
the principal types of proof and their role in the printing process
PRODPP122 – Manage colour reproduction in digital pre-press
Overview
As digital workflows have developed, the complexities of colour reproduction have increased significantly for the pre-press technician. An image that looks fine on a display monitor may look nothing like it when printed on a printing machine.
There are many reasons why colour shifts occur. Understanding digital colour workflows and managing them to achieve the correct output is now at the heart of the pre-press technician's job.
This standard is about having control over the digital pre-press workflow to ensure that colours are properly represented to the customer from the outset, and that the colours when printed are predictable and meet the customer's expectations or are within acceptable commercial parameters for that piece of work.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Maintain digital pre press equipment in calibration
Configure pre press software within the workflow
Use colour profiles correctly
Knowledge and understanding
You need to know and understand
Keywords: digital, print, pre-press, colour reproduction