Uncoated Stock – Unsaturated Photos?

[follicle]

For a recent project, I decided to get a publication printed on an uncoated 80 lb. text stock instead of its lightweight gloss stock that the publication usually uses. I've been thinking about changing stocks for quite some time, and an uncoated stock seemed promising. An uncoated finish would fit the content of the publication, yet still have the capability of displaying vibrant photographs.

When I got the proof back on our printer's matte proof paper, everything looked great. The photographs within the publication were vibrant and colorful.

However, when I received the finished product, the photos seemed to be quite unsaturated. I compared the print run to photos in other magazines that printed on a similar uncoated stock, and found that the photos contained in my publication were rather dull. With the switch from a gloss stock to an uncoated stock, I did expect a little loss of saturation, but not this much!

Did I do something wrong? When printing on uncoated stocks, are there any extra steps the designer should take to insure that the photos come out vibrant and colorful? It just looks so dull to me.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[budafist]

Were your photos RGB instead of CMYK?

We have problems with RGB images. Our proofing printer prints them lovely, but they can't be replicated that brightly on the press. It's a PITA.

[Screedy]

I dont think you did anything wrong.

Gloss always has emphasised colour. Matt reduces it...

If you want a nice effect from matt stock then gloss varnish just the images... that way you get a lovely dull feeling with nice vibrant colour photos.

Unfortunately that is stock for you.

xx

Si

link removed Graphic Design, Web Design, Printing and all manner of other furry creatures in Sydney... love to you all my pets.

[Screedy]

One other thing... Proofs are often not done on the actual paper that litho jobs might be printed on.

The proofer might be just using the easiest to hand stock for your proof.

Alternatively if it being printed digitally ... it is possible that the final rip used brings the percentages of the colours that could well be over saturated depending on your colour settings in CMYK photoshop that will allow you to have 400% colour if you allow it too...

The RGB thing is also possible ... but you would have seen it in the proof.

si

link removed Graphics, Graphic Design, Photo Graphics, Graphics for Web... Kind of the word graphic and other furry animals.

[budafist]

We never print proofs on the same stock as the final output.

Why? Because our inkjet printer takes special stock - we can print on matt, gloss or satin, but we generally proof on a semi-gloss as standard. Our clients are warned of the colour changes that can occur since it is a totally different printing process. We do try and match the proof though and the printer/account manager makes the call if it is too far off. If it's off, they will call the client to check with them.

[Screedy]

As I always say...

Nothing beats experience.

Hopefully next time you'll get closer to what you expect.

Simon

link removed King of all I see

[doubting_thomas]

When I got the proof back on our printer's matte proof paper, everything looked great. The photographs within the publication were vibrant and colorful.

However, when I received the finished product, the photos seemed to be quite unsaturated...
If the pics were spot colors or duo-tones I'd feel for them, but otherwise
if they can't match the finished product to the proof why are bothering
with a proof? They should eat the job and reprint it for you so that it
matched the proof, or they should have you sign off on an printable
proof. That's no way to run business, IMO.

["Technical" Terry]

...when I received the finished product, the photos seemed to be quite unsaturated.

Did you ask the printer what their opinion was? They are much closer to the project. We are just guessing. Their response could lead us in the correct direction and actually give advise that might benefit.

[PrintDriver]

I kinda agree with Doubting Thomas. Why do a proof if you can't match the colors?

[julyski]

No doubt this is something that your printer will have to explain why this happened.

As mentioned ealier... if the images are really bad looking (in a flat way), it is most likely due to your images being RGB. Their RIP (I'm guessing Harlequin) will probably proof RGB images well, but when it RIPs the seperations for plate output, it doesn't do a very good CMYK conversion. If this is the case, it should have been caught and relayed back to you long before any proofs were output.

[budafist]

No doubt this is something that your printer will have to explain why this happened.

As mentioned ealier... if the images are really bad looking (in a flat way), it is most likely due to your images being RGB. Their RIP (I'm guessing Harlequin) will probably proof RGB images well, but when it RIPs the seperations for plate output, it doesn't do a very good CMYK conversion. If this is the case, it should have been caught and relayed back to you long before any proofs were output.

It happens.