color photoshop-illustrator

hi, how's everyone? i am working on a project which requires photographing picture frames. i load the digital images to photoshop. then,i adjust color balance, levels, convert cmyk and anything else to achieve the correct color. however, i have to re-adjust and reduce the levels alot b/c when i place them into illustrator (as aflat photoshop file,not linked)they are very dark and sometimes reddish in color. back to photoshop, now i just keep altering color and levels until they appear correct when placed in illustrator. please tell me if this process is correct, i want to be sure everythingwill be fine when sent to the printer.
also any tips on pre-press would be appreciated. http://graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/weep.gif

No don't match color by what is on your screen you have to match color by CMYK values. Even if they don't look the same match them using CMYK. Then test it out by printing a color peice. If you go by what your monitor looks like your in for a looooooooong ride.

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/banner-design.jpg
'Adventure, Excitement, A Jedi craves not these things.'
'Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force are they.'

so far, i have been printing on a reg. laser jet and everything looks like it should. i was just concerned should the project eventually go to printing co.
i am printing from illustrator and the pages print as they should and the color of the frames is correct. so, if the pages i print out look o.k. will the color be altered if they go to press? thanks for your help

Yes the color is always going to be diffrent and if your printing from a lazer it will be really diffrent. Lazer printers are actually plastic pellets melted onto the paper. Thats why the print outs are always hot. Ink jet is much better for proofing cause it's ink just like a real press.

Color matching is a whole problem when it comes to printing. Thats why Pantone is so successful cause they are the only ones that have developed a system that is acurate from press to press.

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/banner-design.jpg
'Adventure, Excitement, A Jedi craves not these things.'
'Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force are they.'

is there any reason for the color difference btn. photoshop and illustrator? i used the cmyk info window and the percentages of each color matched in each program, so i am assuming i should not worry so much about the screen colors just compare the print out. overall, should i just convert my file to cmyk, then test print (preferably ink jet) and go from there on whether to change the image? thanks for you help, i don't have a ton of experience in pre-press, i have had one project sent and everything was fine, but it was small. this is a big job and the colors must be nearly exact so i am a little stressed over it, which i tend to do alot:) thanks again, erin

[Jason Fraker]

One question that comes to my mind is why exactly are you printing from Illustrator? Illustrator's main function in life is to be used in created artwork that will be placed into page layout programs like Quark or InDesign or (shudder) Page Maker. As far as a difference in color between PS and Illustrator, I'd trust Photoshop's colors as opposed to Illustrator isn't as robust at displaying pixel based images as PS is. I don't know the scientific answer to this question, but it's what my gut tells me.

-Jason
<><

99% of what passes for music these days, SILENCE is more compelling1

Erin don't worry. Your matching all the color so that should be fine. Once the color percentages are matched in CMYK they should print out the right way. Always get a matchprint from your printer this will let you know how it's going to look at the end.

So what the big job your running?

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/banner-design.jpg
'Adventure, Excitement, A Jedi craves not these things.'
'Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force are they.'