Re: RGB vs CMYK & File Type

[Raphael Bustin <rafeb@channel1.com>]

On Wed, 11 Aug 1999, Tim Hines wrote:

> Without getting into the whole color management thing... I would like to 
> know if anyone has experimented with printing images from RGB vs CMYK. In
> other words, I have been scanning in RGB (because my scanner can not do
> otherwise except B/W) and printing from the same. However, as to be
> expected, it is difficult to get the brilliant colors on the screen to come
> through on the paper. Would there be any advantage or disadvantage (besides
> file size) to converting to CMYK in my image edinting program before
> printing?
> 
> Also, does the file type make a difference? Does it matter if my file is a
> BMP, TIF, PNG, EPS, etc. when printing from the image editor? (I use
> Macromedia x-Res, but that shouldn't make a difference, I suppose).
> 
> Thanks for your input


Tim, from personal experience, and from what
I've gathered on this list after many months...

One should not send CMYK files to an Epson
printer, using the Epson print driver.  Of
course, it's a CMYK printer, but the Epson
driver(s) basically want RGB.  The Epson
driver will happily "accept" a CMYK file,
but will do a very poor job of printing it.

The way to get CMYK files to an Epson printer
is via an appropriate RIP (raster image
processor) for your specific printer.  Or
(as others have suggested) wait a very short
while for Adobe's PressReady, assuming that
it has support for your printer.  (See
Adobe's web site for a list of printers that
it will support.)

I don't think the file-type matters.  Whatever
the file-type, it's up to your chosen image-
editing program to open that file, and then
send it on to the print driver or RIP.  The only
file-types that will make a difference are
those that involve compression (eg., JPG
and fractal-encoded FIF?)).


rafe b.

-
Please do not include an entire message in your response. Delete the excess.
http://www.leben.com/lists for list instructions.