Max K

[dimitri]

Question: what is the recommended max K for ICC profile creation?

I'm checking that all the 'standard' profiles in Europe or the US, SWOP, FOGRA or GRACoL, with heavy or medium GCR settings, have a maximum black at either 98% or 100%. I would assume that this is the 'correct' setting in creating and applying profiles.

However, there is an argument that we would want to have a lower Max K, 92% or 95%, so that we leave some room for the press to raise the K density if needed without decreasing the contrast of the entire reporduction scale.

I remember reading a post that had some reasoning on why 100K is fine these days, versus old film workflow times. Unfortunately, I cannot find it. I'm thinking that this shouldn't be an issue since the contrast is determined by the profile already and any workflow curves.

Any thoughts on this topic?

Thank you,
-D

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

In film workflow there is one more copy step: Film to plate.
Today we don't have that step and also images are digitally preprocessed to preserve detail in shadows, very few images have 100% black in them unless they are to fade to a black background, in wich case you would want the black of the image to be as black as the black in the background.
For the same reason IMO it is important to handle white as white and not force 2-3% tone in highlights.

 

[dimitri]

Thank you Lukas!