RGB-CMYK color issues!-need help!

[daf34]

Hi-I'm a graphic design student working on my first freelance project and I'm having some issues with a difficult client, particularly in the area of color.

I'm not sure if there's a really obvious solution to my problem that I'm not seeing and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction:

My client is really set on a certain crayon bright blue for all of the printed output. The color, of course, looks fine on screen in RGB format, but as soon as I change it to CMYK, it becomes a completely different, duller blue, and I have not been able to match the color even close to what she wants, no matter what I try. I have tried to explain to my client that she may not get the exact blue she wants as a result, but she insists that she has seen the bright blue in print before, so it must exist. I suggested that flourescent inks could be used to punch up the color, but is there any way to get this blue w/out having to purchase special inks?

I'd appreciate any insight anyone could give me on this!

[D-Frag]

one post per subject please.

as to answer your question, your probably sol, i make sure all my clientel understands you cant hit certain colors on presses. the only way to hit those really high RGB color gamuts is to run whatever it is on a digital inkjet press, like wide format is done. but yeah, if its going to press, your pretty much screwed. bust out a PMS book and see if you can find the closest match, maybe have the printer do some saturation on it, thats about the best advice i can give you

[urstwile]

This is why it's always good to show your client actual samples of what colors are possible.

I agree with D-Frag, you're probably out of luck in the CMYK world, but you might get better results with other processes, like Hexachrome, or certain spot colors. These will (depending on how many other colors you're printing in the rest of the piece) add to the cost.

[RJSfreedi]

The Best i can suggest U is that u purchase one of those color books (CMYK not PANTONE) printed on and for Offset tech. Show this book to her & tell her to choose the color she wants, this will do two things, one, U & her both will get the exact idea that what U'll get while printing, second, she will definately (this is my personal experience) relly on U for showing her this proffesionally acclaimed:p & will understand the tech aspects really fast :)

[SpugNothuson]

We had a similar problem here. A designer (that's her self given title) would bring me a Publisher document and complain when the colours didn't look like hers. We got around this in the end by having her accompany her job to our workplace and choose her colours out of a CMYK pantone book.

[panzer]

CMYK not PANTONE?

nothing wrong with pantones sometimes you get a close match with pantone swatch book

[SpugNothuson]

Quite a few Pantones can be matched closely through CMYK but certain colour ranges aren't achievable. Expecially those colours which could be described as "Vibrant". Blues and Greens are a nightmare in CMYK from Pantone.

[budafist]

*Sometimes* you get a clost match with a CMYK. Othertimes you get something COMPLETELY different. If you must use a Pantone - in case you want to one day go offset, make you check what the colour looks like when printed in CMYK.

When printing digital, I often print out a page (with the same stock and machine I will use for the final output) of about 30 different "blue" swatches. Then I go through them with the client and pick a blue.

[PrintDriver]

You can get a Process book (CMYK) but it is only a suggestion of what the colors will look like in print. The trick is to wrap your mind around the concept that you may not be able to use the PMS number that you intend, you need to pick another number that matches the color you want to output. It's called swapping. You should talk to your printer about color before you do this though. Everything has an effect on how 4-color process colors will print; the paper, the coating if any, the texture, the varnish, etc.

[colorsplashstudio]

I purchaed the bridge book. It shows you side by side the Pantone color in RGB and right next to it the Pantone color in CMYK. Have her choose from the CMYK side, but then she will know you know what you are talking about because it shows how the colors look different when converted. Good luck!

[PrintDriver]

It suggests how the colors will look when converted.
Paper choice has a habit of really messing that up.
Also be sure to talk to your print vendor about how they want those Bridge colors applied. I freakin HATE the fact the color palettes you download from Pantone uses PMS numbers but the formulas are set in Process. The only way you can tell those numbers from regular Pantone numbers is the little PC after em.
Rant rant rant.
<That book and those Bridge numbers are absolutely USELESS in digital Wide Format printing-thus the reason for my hate.>

[rainbow2bryte]

could you 'eye-drop' the color from whatever you're setting this up in and try to get a close conversion to CMYK?
IF you can/ are going to use spot color, have the client pick one out.
Perhaps the printer would be happy to let you use their swatch books and you can choose together.

[Drazan]

BIG TIP: Always build your file to what you are going to end up printing.

Find out if the end result is going to be printed in CMYK or Pantone or RGB (rare). Then build your file in that set of colors.

I don't know what program you are using, but In Adobe color pallets the triangle with the exclamation point shows up when the color is out of gamut for the process you are using. I'd suggest learning more on color gamut and how CMYK vs Pantone relates.

BIG TIP #2: Never go by the colors on your monitor for a final print. Your monitor is subject to bad calibration which could offset your colors by as much as 15% to 20% or more.

BIG TIP #3: Never show a customer a raw, in process work that has inappropriate color, as you will end up repeatedly in the position you are now. If things like color really matter to a customer then see if you can do a proof print and not on a tri color desktop printer. Use a cmyk printer (yes there are desk top cmyk printers) or have the customer agree to a proof run from the printer. This will allow the customer to see the true result and not the monitor colors.

Since you are a student does your instructor have pantone books or some help with the color conversion. Learning this now will help you greatly in setting up files in the future, not to mention saving yourself from a lot of headaches.

Also you are not the only one struggling with color, even those who've been in the industry a while will have that odd job crop up where the client insists on "that" shade of "that" color.

=)
Jade

[jessicam]

Also you are not the only one struggling with color, even those who've been in the industry a while will have that odd job crop up where the client insists on "that" shade of "that" color.


I just finished a logo for a guy who wanted a particular blue. Either the color of his Nintendo DS or the color of the lid of a particular brand of bottled water. I just kept trying random blues until he was happy. What else can you do?

[j1983m]

explain the difference between cmyk and rgb and if the client still isnt happy meet up with them and take along the pantone swatch. get them to pick a reference in that! and stick with a spot colour - it will be more vibrant than process.