Gradient Issues

[Ailev]

Hi all

I am creating a gradient for a cover of a book which is to be printed.
I created the gradient in Indesign but the was banning you could see lines it was not a smooth transition.

I have created in in photoshop and still the same problem. I tried using different filter techniques but that didn't work. I tried using the blur (gaussion and motion) and tried to smudge but still I can see lines (banning).

Do any of you know how to avoid this problem and get rid of the horizantal banning that some gradients produce?

I thought that doing it in photoshop would but there is still that problem, I made a file which was 16 bit instead of 8 and that seemed to help but will that 16 bit be retained when I save it as PSD or EPS and import it into Indesign and create a PDF?

I have attached an example of what I mean, don't know if you will be able to see what I mean because its only a low res version but it may help you to notice horizantal lines (banning) which makes the gradient look not smooth...

Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Ailev]

Attachment

[Ailev]

Hope this attachment works.

[PrintDriver]

Can't see your attachment.
It's called banding though. With a D.

It truly depends on the colors you are using. White to blue or green to yellow are usually the worst.

What is the length of the gradient?
Are you using a blend? How many steps?

Did you try adding some Noise filter in Photoshop?

Have you talked to the printer? What's showing up on your screen may not translate into print.

[Ailev]

Hi

well haven't used noise will try that. Basically its just gradient. I tried to attach the file but for some reason its not working.

I found that when I converted the gradient from RGB to CMYK colours the banding would increase.

Sorry about the late reply! I live in Australia SO when you guys are all up and about we are in BED! :)

OH! I just worked out why the file was not working...it seems its because it was in CMYK...I didn't realise that would be a problem

[The_Black_Knight]

I found that when I converted the gradient from RGB to CMYK colours the banding would increase.OH! I just worked out why the file was not working...it seems its because it was in CMYK...I didn't realise that would be a problemYou do realize that if this is being printed, it's going to have to become CMYK at some point, don't you? Just because you have fixed the banding on your screen by converting back to RGB doesn't mean that the problem is somehow magically solved. Make sure you get a good proof before you print this, or you might be unpleasantly surprised with the results.

[PrintDriver]

The forum doesn't like cmyk images uploaded.

As for your banding getting worse on 'converting' to CMYK did you simply change mode or did you convert to profile?

You may want to discuss with your printer the best way to accomplish this grade without issue. We can give you ideas on how to minimize the possibility but usually banding is a printer variable that they have to deal with in some way and they would know best.

[jimking]

I had a problem with banding on a Photoshop gradient a few years ago that looked very similar in color and it was a pain. It was the cyan that was giving us a fit. What I did to fix it was to convert to "lab color" and added a small amount of blur and noise and converted back to cmyk.

[The_Black_Knight]

The forum doesn't like cmyk images uploaded.Oops. My misunderstanding. Ailev was only referring to the image being loaded on the forum. I need more sleep. Carry on...

[zabbo]

As for your banding getting worse on 'converting' to CMYK did you simply change mode or did you convert to profile?


I'm curious what the difference is! Can you expand on this? :)

[activeseven]

Just curious, but what monitor are you using? Do you still get the banding when you print the gradient on your local printer?