grayscale vs cool gray

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  • indian_pole

    i have a dark monotone background image with whiteout text on top. I prefer the look of the cool grey 11 (darks 100%, lights 65%) vs pure black (darks 90%, lights 65%)

    not printing spots here so obviously i'm taking it from 1 channel to 4... has anyone got any experience of this? don't want it to print muddy

    i'm not handling the print (client is) - so can't test it properly.

  • hans_glib2

    blimey i thought i knew print inside out but i have to confess i have no idea what you're on about

    • and if the client is handling the print you're fucked.hans_glib
  • indian_pole0

    e.g. left - using 4 colour process breakdown of cool gray 11

    right - just black

  • hans_glib0

    ah ok

    it depends on your definition of 'muddy'

    using a 4 colour black will give a much richer, deeper result than a monotone, but some people prefer the 'cleanliness' / simplicity of a monotone.

    they're wrong...

    ...unless of course if the printer misregisters the 4 colour black in which case it'll look horrible, but these days that's unlikely to happen. much more likely is that the printers will skimp on the ink to avoid any danger of ink smudge/run, which could negate some of the effect of the cmyk black, which is why you need to liaise with the printer direct.

  • ArchitectofFate0

    dude you're on thin ice.
    If you wanna' be sure the print is good print a colorproof at a pro-photo-printer-office-deluxe that you're satisfied with. (if they're any good they know the best way for THEIR EQUIPMENT to convert 1+0 to 4c) give said print to the client and tell him to use it as proof then sign off responsibility bill that shit and cross your fingers ;D

    • then again... is it offset or digital?ArchitectofFate
    • yep. tell them to get a proper proof or you'll take no responsibility for the end resulthans_glib
  • MrT0

    I always like greyscale images printed CMYK but they somtimes fill in a bit in the midtones. Depends on printer and method (offset, digital etc). Get a printed proof if you can.

    The white text could be a problem if it's small. If it's a 10pt serif you're asking for trouble.

    Client handling print though ... as hans says ^^^.
    Good luck with that. They'll fuck it up then come back to you.

  • BaskerviIle0

    You say you prefer the look of Cool Grey 11 vs Pure Black, but you also say that you can't test print. So how do you know you prefer Cool Grey? Are you judging purely on looking at your screen?

    If so, remember the first rule of print deign screen ≠ print.
    Never trust your screen. Always test print. Aside from the colour breakdown/process etc you also have to factor in the stock you're printing on. That will also affect the colour, how sharp things are etc

    I would also say that there are processes between single colour and 4-colour. You could print a duotone of black and Cool Grey or a tritone etc. Generally (depending on the printer) printing 2 or 3 plates is cheaper than making 4 plates.

    • This. Go duo or tritone and you'll end up with less "mud". Maybe cheaper in the long run (if offset) and definitely cleaner.sausages