Print
Lab FAQ
-
Digital
Darkroom Tips - Color
Management
We
use ICC profiles with all of our output devices to achieve accurate
and repeatable color. To get the most from our color management,
your file should be tagged with its workingspace profile. There
is no need to convert your file to our output profiles, since our
printing software does it for you.
I
used to use a Lightjet and had to "convert" my files
to the Lightjet profile. Do I need to convert to your profile?
No,
you do not need to convert your files when printing with us. Our
printing software automatically reads your workingspace profile,
then converts the data on-the-fly to the appropriate output profile,
before sending it to the output device. This lets you keep your files
in a wide-gamut workingspace, and easily repurpose them for other
applications. The software that powers most Lightjets is not capable
of doing this, which is why you had to "convert" your
files.
What if my file is not tagged with a workingspace?
We
recommend using RGB files for the best results. This conversion
will most likely cause a change in how the image looks, so it is
recommended that you convert to RGB yourself, so you can control
the process.
RGB
files that are not tagged with a working space will be printed
as if they were sRGB files.
CMYK
files will be converted to Ektaspace PS5 and printed as-is.
My digital camera lets me use sRGB or AdobeRGB. Which should I
choose?
Most people find that they make better prints when capturing into
AdobeRGB.
Do
B&W
photos still need to be tagged with an ICC profile?
Yes! Even if there are no colors in your photograph, a workingspace
profile will tell how to accurately render the greys in your
photograph.
Can
I print 16-bit files?
Most of our printers will accept 16-bit files. The exception is
our Chromira. The Chromira will only print 8-bit files. If you
are using the Chromira, you should convert your files to 8-bit
before uploading, since it will help your order print more quickly.
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2008 West Coast Imaging all
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