Starting out...

[motormount]

High all!

Although i'm reading a lot about color management and up to a point i think i understand how a color managed workflow should be set up,practically i'm completely novice.

That is because where i'm working the workflow was configured-calibration,profiling,etc- by ''the experts'' before i joined the company and since then nobody touches anything due to lack of both equipment and know-how!

To make matters worse,the company which provides technical support to our printshop
is in very bad relationship with the management and the last two years nobody has ever came to re-evaluate them-!!!

So i decided to set up something at home for educational reasons-since there is no way practising color management in a place like this-

I'm planning on bying an eye one spectro,download a rip demo for my mac and buy a printer to start testing!

I 'd like to get some advice based on your experience if i can get some results on a fairly cheap model-a 100euro epson for instance-,
and a downloadable demo rip for a dual 1.8 g5!

I'd like to remind you that the whole think is on educational ground,i'm not expecting to match the printer to our press or get fogra certification with it!

Thanx in advance,

Antonis.

 

[TerryWyse]

You're on the right track Antonis. I would recommend getting the most basic EyeOne Pro package (or get a used one via eBay or some other means) and then purchase or download a demo of the ColorBurst RIP software. ColorBurst comes bundled with excellent profiling software, essentially a slightly de-tuned version of MonacoPROFILER, and the RIP itself includes enough controls to teach you the basics of ink limiting, linearization and a solid color management workflow, as far as printing goes. (be aware that the bundled profiling software does not function in the demo for obvious reasons). I would also download the free XRite ColorPort Utility software to try your hand at making custom profiling charts. Lastly, get yourself a copy of the book Real World Color Management by Bruce Fraser, Fred Bunting and Chris Murphy. It might be a bit dated by now as far as it's software-specific chapters but all of the concepts in the book still apply.

Regards,
Terry

 

[motormount]

Thanx for your answer Terry!
-I should have bought RWCM along time ago,never too late though-

ps:Is that a triple you are riding?

 

[prepresscolor]

Starting out.....

Starting out.....

well, you are undertaking quite a task. Yes you seem to be headed in the right direction and with Terry's assistance or the assistance of others you may get there. I would warn you though, it is not an easy road. The process of color managing a workflow has many twists and turns. This is why people like Terry and i exist. I have trained people in color management only to have them call me a year or two down the road because, "if you don't use it you loose it". If you spend hours learning the ins and outs of color management for presses, inkjet printers, ink on paper theory, dot gain, color management printing software and the rest, if you ae not working with these things on a regular basis, the knowledge seems to get "shelved' in our minds and we must re-teach ourselves.
Educate yourself so you know what the professional color management people are talking about but, re-think trusting a pro to come in and work with you. There are good people in every region of the country so it should not be too hard to find someone you and your company can work with nd trust. Most color management pros have had well over 15 years in this business so, they have something that will take you 15 years to get, experience.

 

[motormount]

I agree with you prepresscolor.

I constantly have to ''re-teach'' my self,that's because all i know on the subject comes from web discussions,software manuals and half-answers from the techs.

Hiring an expert is the best solution,but as said above if you don't practice it you loose it.


Thanx again!