Color Management and Newspapers |
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Color Management and Newspapers: Interim Findings Newspaper Association of AmericaThe Newspaper Association of America formed the NAA Newspaper Color Reproduction Quality Task Force to explore ways to achieve more consistent high-quality reproduction throughout the newspaper publishing industry. Among the working groups established by the task force is the Color Management Work Group, charged with investigating modern color management technology based on open systems utilizing device profiles and its potential usefulness for newspaper printing. This report relates some interim findings of the work group. Background Because equipment used in the color printing process – scanners, monitors, output devices, printers, printing presses, etc. – interpret colors differently, it is difficult to maintain original colors accurately throughout the process. In the past, expensive specialized computer systems were used in an effort to preserve accurate color reproduction. The components of such systems were designed to work together exclusively, and were tuned to interpret colors consistently from one step in the process to the next. Generally, these systems were considered "closed loop" systems because all the pieces worked only with one another. The introduction of personal computer technology and desktop publishing software made the color printing process considerably less expensive. But it also introduced the problem of varying components having to work together. Color production components are now available from many different sources, but they are far more difficult to "tune" to work together to produce consistent results. To solve this problem, two major developments have taken place. First, a standard method of describing colors was agreed upon. The International Color Consortium (ICC) has agreed upon a numbering scheme to describe all the colors in the spectrum. Second, software tools have been developed to translate colors into these standard "codes" for each device in the process. Thus, if the scanner sees red, it records the standard numbers for red. The monitor then reads the standard numbers for red and shows the proper red when it reproduces the image on the screen. The same holds true for all the devices in the process, including – theoretically – the printing press. If properly set and the combination of the given printing inks allow, the press should be able to reproduce the same red whenever those particular numbers are called for. The hardware and software tools that allow for this translation and interpretation of colors comprise color management technology. The goal of the technology is to reproduce accurate colors consistently, regardless of the source of input or destination of output. The ability to reproduce colors consistently from one newspaper to the next is extremely important to advertisers. Technologies that can achieve such consistency are of obvious interest to the publishing industry. Work Group Findings
Opinions have varied widely as research was undertaken and results discussed. However, the group has agreed on the following broad findings: 1. Color management alone won’t help. Color management is a total process, not simply a piece of software. Quality color reproduction is dependent on process controls, standards, and software working together. It is essential to identify process variables and stabilize them. Color management can work, but problems arise when something new is introduced, which is a frequent occurrence. If process control is not in place, color management will not help. For example, the press must be properly calibrated and able to reproduce SNAP standards (standard printing specifications developed for coldset printing) and the advertiser must provide ads based on those standards. The industry must agree to the SNAP standard and follow it in order to assure advertisers of consistent high-quality printing. 2. Implementation is complex and requires adequate knowledge. Color management implementation is complicated and requires time, commitment, energy, and dedication. It remains difficult for newspapers because of required resources, including press time, training, labor, hardware, and software. Lack of training remains a critical problem in providing consistent color quality. Employees must be provided with the opportunity to learn the process and gain requisite technical skills. 3. Color space transformations could cause problems. While it is possible for color management software to accurately transform colors from one color space to another, it is not certain if it is possible to change them back again. Based on where the conversion takes place in the production process, this could cause problems for archiving material, re-use of materials for different printing processes, and Internet publishing. 4. Consistency of results among color management systems has not yet been demonstrated. While color profiles may be exchanged among different color management programs, it is not proven that the different programs will produce the same results. In other words, it is not yet known if different programs will yield identical results from the same profile. 5. Color management has potential benefits for newspapers. Color management has the potential to allow people "upstream" from the presses to see what the product will look like before, rather than after, it comes off the press. More people will have more information about the finished product in advance. Advertisers might know earlier what to expect from the finished product, and could have more control over the results. The rigorous calibration required for color management can also help determine when individual components begin to drift. Conclusion Color management technology is entirely dependent on the ability of components in the process to repeat the same results regularly. Color management can assure that consistent results will be achieved as long as the machinery and processes remain the same. As soon as any of the equipment changes, or the material preparation procedures are varied, the expected results will no longer be achieved. Therefore, it is crucial for equipment to be calibrated the same way regularly, and for standard printing procedures to be followed rigorously. In addition, it must be recognized that color management is designed to achieve consistent results, not to improve the color reproduction process itself. Thus, color management is just as happy to reproduce poor color consistently as it is to reproduce good color consistently. What you begin with – good or bad – is what you will get time after time if color management practices are followed correctly. Color management is not the first step toward achieving high quality reproduction; it is the last step. Newspapers should implement color management only after they have succeeded in printing satisfactory results under conditions that can be regularly repeated. What’s Next?
For more information, contact: |
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Bernie Szachara, Chair |
Joan Phillips |
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