CMYK Proofing NYC – Professional Commercial Proofs

Erin Shirreff exhibition catalog

Proofing

Just as we are obsessive about color accurate fine art prints, we produce verified CMYK contract proofs to exacting, measurable standards. We extend the same level of personalized, expert service, and attention to detail for commercial printing and book clients who need color managed proofs produced within critical print tolerances.

Having a verified proof of an image, design, or layout before it goes to press is a crucial step and can help provide information before an expensive print run. This way, there are no surprises and colors are reproduced as expected. We can perform CMYK proofing to either GRACoL or FOGRA standards.

Please note: These verified proofs are accurate to the standards of commercial CMYK offset printing and used before going to press. These are not the same as the proofs we make for our fine art prints which have an RGB workflow.

Our proofs can be used as the final step before going to press, or we can help edit files, and bring them to a production-ready state. We can perform RGB to CMYK conversions, adjust files, and do specific retouching to clean up and optimize images as needed for any project. We can do additional rounds for each proof to determine the progress and reach the final press-ready versions.

CMYK Proofing, what is it?

The CMYK color model is a four-color printing process that uses (C)yan, (M)agenta, (Y)ellow, and blac(K) ink to produce a full range of colors. This is the industry standard for virtually all forms of commercial and offset printing. Making changes on press is difficult, time consuming, and very expensive, so this information is critical to a job's run.

Getting your images perfectly optimized before going to press is the best practice for optimal results. Having a verified contract proof that is made to the same standards as the press and simulates the press conditions accurately is a critical step to ensure you will have a successful and predictable print run.

RGB to CMYK
conversion

Virtually all images begin in the RGB color space, especially images from digital cameras and scanners. These devices create RGB data, which has a wider gamut of colors than the CMYK color space (and inks). As a result, the CMYK conversion will often result in an image that has lost some color and contrast. Using Adobe Photoshop and other software, files can then be adjusted and optimized to counter these changes and maximize the CMYK color gamut, so files will reproduce as well as possible.

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Soft Proofs

The converted file can be viewed on a calibrated high quality monitor using an ICC color profile in order to "soft proof" and view the press conditions on screen. However, this cannot be done on the average display monitor and the soft proof is not as simple to share with others who may not have a calibrated monitor or suitable software. In addition, the way in which a screen dims and dulls in order to emulate paper as a soft proof can be confusing.

While the simulation is informative and accurate, watching your file lose contrast and look muddy can create confusion. Moreover, monitors and paper are incredibly different by nature. Soft proofing is helpful step while previewing and working on file adjustments, but it will not give the same sense of control or be as useful as a contract proof.

While soft proofing is quite accurate if done properly, the soft proof colors cannot be verified or "proven" to be accurate. In order to "prove" that colors are accurate, a printed or "hard proof" must be made with an industry standard color bar which can be read and measured, objectively verifying the accuracy.

Richard Corman, Keith Haring, 1985

Hard Proofs

A "hard proof" or contract proof is a printed copy that accurately represents the files in the CMYK color space with printing conditions while also taking into account the brightness of the paper. A media wedge of specific colors is printed at the bottom to be measured to strict tolerances. If the resulting measurements of these values on the media wedge are within these preset tolerances, the proof passes and is "verified". The resulting proof is a technically accurate representation of the way the image will print on press.

With careful planning and execution, proper rendering intent, and ICC profiles, a CMYK color proof can help ensure that the final print product meets all expectations.

Verified CMYK Proofing

Our team of experts uses the latest training, methods, software, and technology powered by EFI Fiery RIP. Our process carefully produces proofs with colors that are measured within strict tolerances, and are only verified if it passes the measurement step. Your press run should be predictable and without surprise.

We can also help edit, convert, and optimize images for a book or print campaign in order to give the same sense of control we provide for our fine art clients. Our team at Brooklyn Editions will ensure verified, accurate communication between your creative vision and a commercial printer with consistent results every time.

CMYK Proofing process

At Brooklyn Editions, color accuracy in printing is a fundamental element in everything we do. We can help ensure that your images and other printed materials are accurately represented.

Just as we help clients with involved individualized service and a collaborative approach for fine art prints, we can provide support for clients printing art books and media campaigns to make sure the files reproduce perfectly and according to their vision.

Custom services in every step of CMYK Reproduction

Our proofing process can be customized for each client including specific rendering intents, custom CMYK conversions, or exclusive simulations of various print conditions, to ensure our proofing services provide guaranteed color accuracy.

CMYK Proofing