Professional print production requires proper CMYK color management. This article covers practical techniques and industry-standard workflows.

Color Profile Management

The Importance of ICC Profiles

Use appropriate ICC profiles for effective color management:

• GRACoL2006: North American commercial printing standard
• FOGRA39: European printing standard
• Japan Color 2011 Coated: Japanese standard for coated paper

Profile Setup Process

1. Photoshop/Illustrator Settings

   • Edit > Color Settings
   • Select appropriate regional standard
   • Enable profile embedding

2. InDesign Configuration

   • Enable color management
   • Specify correct print profile

Gamut Warnings and Soft Proofing

Handling Out-of-Gamut Colors

Addressing problematic colors when converting from RGB to CMYK:

Common problematic colors:
- Vibrant orange (RGB: 255, 165, 0)
- Electric blue (RGB: 0, 191, 255)
- Fluorescent green (RGB: 57, 255, 20)

Practical Color Adjustments

Out-of-gamut color correction techniques:

1. Reduce saturation: Decrease S values by 10-20%
2. Adjust brightness: Moderate L value modifications
3. Color substitution: Replace with printable alternatives

Layout and Color Scheme Tips

Text and Background Contrast

Recommended values for readable print materials:

Effective Color Palettes

Corporate brand color utilization:

1// Primary colors
2$primary-cmyk: cmyk(85%, 50%, 0%, 0%);    // Corporate blue
3$secondary-cmyk: cmyk(0%, 75%, 100%, 0%); // Accent orange
4
5// Supporting colors
6$neutral-dark: cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 80%);     // Dark gray
7$neutral-light: cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 20%);    // Light gray

Printing Production Techniques

Trap (Overprint) Usage

Settings for thin text and lines:

• Black (K=100%) text: Enable overprint
• Color text: Adjust based on situation
• Lines under 0.25pt: Requires special attention

Halftone Screening and Moiré Prevention

Screen angle optimization:

Standard screen angles:
C: 105°
M: 75°
Y: 90°
K: 45°

Line frequency: 175lpi (high-quality printing)
               150lpi (standard printing)

Quality Control Checkpoints

Pre-Press Final Review

1. Color Profile Verification

   • Embedded profile presence
   • Correct profile selection

2. Resolution Check

   • Images: 300-350dpi
   • Line art: 600-1200dpi

3. Overprint Validation

   • Unintentional overprints
   • White knockout verification

Proof Review Points

Color reproduction evaluation:

• Brand color accuracy
• Gradient smoothness
• Text sharpness
• Overall color balance

Summary

High-quality CMYK print production requires both technical understanding and practical experience. Establish proper color management workflows and pursue continuous quality improvement.

Next, we'll explore design techniques using special inks and finishing processes.