How to tell if a CMYK build printed as requested

[gordo]

Can you explain how it is both true that they are not change but they are not the same?

The numbers for the tone values that you specify in your original files are not changed.
When the file is RIPped in the workflow the tone values will likely be changed to create the needed tone values on the printing plates needed to create the correct tone reproduction on press.
The tones in the final presswork are the result of the tones on the plate being distorted when inked and squashed on the paper plus the affect of dot gain. As a rule, presses and plates are not set up to print linear - i.e. to print a 50% tone on the sheet when a 50% tone is specified in the author's file.

Gordo

 

[gordo]

I'm very new at this. I've seen people peering through loupes, but I have no idea what they are hoping to learn. If you could fill me, I would appreciate it.

This is what they're looking at: The Print Guide: What the press operator is scrutinizing

Gordo

 

[HarveyDunn]

Thanks, and apologies, I know I've asked you this before, but: what it the definition of "tone" in this context. That seems to be one of those words that has about a hundred different definitions.

 

[gordo]

Thanks, and apologies, I know I've asked you this before, but: what it the definition of "tone" in this context. That seems to be one of those words that has about a hundred different definitions.

When you specify a color to be 30% cyan you are asking for a 30% tone of cyan. It will be imaged using a "halftone" screen.
I don't think there's a different term used in the print world for that.
So you have things like tone reproduction curves, tone value increase, etc.

Gordo

 

[rich apollo]

It is not an entirely theoretical question: the last job I did had some light "colored greys" in it. By which I mean colors that were above L80 in value, and dull in color, but not completely neutral - pale pinks and oranges and yellows. They really didn't look very good. I was told that is just what I should expect when using a small amount of black in a light color - it makes the color look dirty.

The bigger question is if those colors looked like the proof that you signed off on.

 

[HarveyDunn]

They were similar in hue, value and chroma, but there was an unevenness - a dirtiness - in the printed colors that was there in the proof. I was told that is because the proof comes from an ink jet printer and it does not mimic the dot structure of the final piece.