BLOG

PICTURES AND COLOR MANAGEMENT IN BOOK DESIGN

Thanks to modern digital printing technology, the placement options for pixels are unlimited. A comprehensive background, images and headings placed out to the border, large images placed beyond the center of the book, and lists along the edge of the page are possible with digital printing.

SUITABLE TYPES OF PAPER

You can choose from the following paper types: white 80 and 90 g, cream-colored 80 and 90 g (80 g is only possible for publishers), matt 120 g paper and 200 g high gloss paper. If your book contains color pages, we recommend that you choose white paper. This ensures that the color of the images does not differ due to the color of the paper. The 120 g and 200 g paper grades are of high quality and are especially suitable for picture books. Note that minor deviations in the colors cannot be avoided with digital printing.

GENERAL RULES FOR GRAPHIC ELEMENTS

RESOLUTION: For an ideal print result, the resolution of the images should be at least 300 dpi. 

GRAY SURFACES: If the pages contain gray areas, you should choose a grayscale that contains at least 10% black color (not lighter). If the pages contain pie-charts or similar images, it is recommended that the gradation of the grayscale is at least 10%, so that the different sectors are clearly separated from each other.

PADDING: If the images are placed to the edge of the page, a five millimeter border should be created on each edge and side. A page with the size 12 x 19 cm will then have the size 13 x 20 cm. The trimmed edge will be cut off during production, but it has a purpose: Even if the book’s contents were moved slightly during binding, no white, unprinted border is left at the edge of the page. This cutting edge can be produced without major problems with professional layout programs, but if text editing software such as Word is used, the size of the pages must be determined and installed already in advance. The crop marks should not be visible in the document.

COLOR SEPARATION: When using a professional layout program, such as InDesign, color separation should not be used.

TRANSPARENCY: Use no transparency but only one level. If you upload files with transparency, all levels will be compiled automatically. This is a complicated process and can change your files. Therefore, you must create a file with one level. You ensure that the files look exactly as you want and thus avoid unwanted print results.

COLOR MANAGEMENT: Digital images are produced using either a scanner or a digital camera and the color setting is always RGB. Let the images remain in RGB format, do not change to CMYK format. However, if your images are already in CMYK format, do not change them to RGB.

COLOR PROFILE INFORMATION: RGB: When uploading files in RGB format without a specific color profile, the default setting is sRGB, as it is used for most image files.

CMYK: The default setting for CMYK files is ISOcoated_V2 (Fogra39) and we print the books with this color profile depending on the settings of the respective printing machine. With the help of DeviceLink conversion, we ensure that the digital print result is as close to an offset print result as possible.

TIP: First, process the images in a graphics program (such as Adobe Photoshop) and determine the final format, size, dpi degree and color format. Transfer the images to the layout program only after you have processed them.

SPECIAL COLORS: It is possible to simulate special colors in combination with process colors (CMYK). However, since many special colors are outside the CMYK workspace, it is recommended that this option be used only to a limited extent.

SIMULATION OF SPECIAL COLORS: To simulate special colors, you can use color palettes, where all existing Pantone or HKS colors are defined based on CMYK colors.

PANTONE AND HKS COLORS: If you upload PDF files with “genuine” Pantone or HKS colors (not simulated), these colors are printed as similar to the original colors as possible, in CMYK using color maps installed in our printing machines.

Thanks for reading, Sandy Kohen

LETS MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER

RESOURCES FOR AUTHORS AND WRITERS [FREE]

Everybody is there so you should be too

Own your audience and create rapport

Great way to reach your target niche

Great design is invisible and convincing

This article contains sponsored links.

Post A Comment

Copyright © 2021 gogetsmarter.com