Guest Blogger
Digital Printing: 10 Color Management Terms To Know
Color Management for Digital Prints
Overview
Digital prints are an integral segment of the printmaking world. The process is becoming increasingly popular in the media and the workforce, as well as in the privacy of consumers’ homes. However, printmaking is a practice that involves more than transferring images to various surfaces. It also focuses on enhancement techniques, particularly color management. Learning how to balance colors in digital printing gives images an extra edge and boosts the aesthetic quality. Professionals who are able to manage this feature effectively typically know how to market their craft better which establishes them as artists in a competitive industry.
In contrast, those who aren’t familiar with color coordination methods in printmaking risk feeling considerable confusion and frustration. They also may get negative responses from the audience they’re trying to capture. To prevent entering the field on the wrong foot, many individuals choose to enroll in accredited graphic design colleges or institutions that offer a range of digital imaging courses. Alternatively, some are given a wealth of informal training that develops their understanding of how colors influence the quality of digital prints.
10 Color Management Terms Specifically For Digital Printing
Giclee prints are one of the leading inkjet print processes in the printmaking industry. The high-quality art form is especially popular among artists who showcase their work in prestigious art galleries, exhibitions, and museums because of their durability, and sophistication, as well as the ability to reproduced identical images multiple times. Most importantly, the eye-catching colors involved in this process are favorable.
1. RAW
This term defines all untouched images that are generated by cameras or scanners. The files are untouched at the beginning of the capture before any conversion or color enhancement is performed.
2. RGB
In digital printing, RGB stands for red, green, and blue. These 3 primary colors establish the basis for all digital capture processes. After files are set to RGB, they may converted to other preferable forms.
3. Black and White
All giclee inks are striking, light-fast and resistant to UV rays. Many individuals and galleries desire black and white prints in this process. These kinds of images are also referred to as grayscale or monochromatic files.
Individuals who are involved in generating prints are often encouraged to shoot images with their camera in a regular format, rather than black and white mode. Afterward, files may be converted to monochromatic images via specified black and white conversion software, such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or Nik Silver Efex Pro.
4. Toning
Many professionals tone digital images to improve the quality of color. Prints are often toned in specialized chemical trays to produce selenium or sepia hues.
5. Saturation
Saturation refers to the strength, or intensity, of a color in digital imaging. Powerful tones are higher in saturation than dull tones and is made of a considerably narrow wavelength range. Tones that are less saturated are the result of combining the wavelengths of too many colors.
6. Sharpening
The color management’s sharpening process balances enhancement features that soften colors and exaggerates the edges of digital images through the application of local contrast. However, individuals are advised to be mindful of overdoing the sharpening effect, as too much of this feature can ultimately ruin digital prints.
7. White Balance
This feature defines the temperature of color in the light source. Artists often utilize white balance to make black, white, and gray digital prints appear in neutral tones.
8. Luminance
Many digital photographers increase the luminance on prints to broaden the strength of light being reflected.
9. Hue
Individuals can change the appearance of a color without modifying its saturation or brightness. Professionals may manipulate the tone of their digital images by simply altering the hue which is measured on a scale between 0 and 360 degrees.
10. Contrast
Several artists describe digital images by their contrast, or difference of coloring from lightest point to darkest point. Images that reflect dark objects or overcast weather tend to be low in contrast whereas scenes with bright hues or setting are high in contrast.
For more details concerning color management techniques for digital prints, it’s crucial to take advantage of courses that focus on the craft of this form printmaking. Various locations offer classes that prepare individuals for lucrative, fulfilling careers in the industry. Art schools in Florida, for instance, are among the post-secondary institutions in the country that provide the necessary skill sets to enter a digital printmaking profession.
More Key Details
1. Besides digital imaging, color management is also utilized in offset presses, television screens, film printers, and corresponding media features. The different industries tend to make use of different approaches to color transformation systems, such as ICC profiles and 3D LUTs.
2. Several web browsers acknowledge color management profiles, such as Firefox Mozilla, Safari, and specified versions of Internet Explorer.
3. Color management is designed to be compressed into the work flow of digital imaging and effectively melded into artists’ work.
Guest Post: Quick History on Digital Cameras
Digital Cameras
Defining Digital Photography
Digital photography is a modern and popular form of digital imaging that involves the manipulation of digital photos. The process involves focusing a lens to capture an image brought on by a wide host of light sensitive sensors, rather than light sensitive film. The captured images, or digital prints, are then able to be altered with image enhancing software which performs cropping, sizing, and color correction. Afterward, photos may be viewed, stored into an archive until further notice, or printed for immediate use.
The photos that are generated from digital photography are produced by scanning an original image, capturing a video’s frame, or by using a digital camera. This process is ideal for individuals who desire on-demand, low-resolution images that will be uploaded on the web or downloaded quickly.
An Overview of the Digital Camera
Often referred to as a digicam, this device is the primary instrument used in digital photography. The camera records images with an electronic image sensor which enables it to take still photos or video pictures. Unlike film cameras, these instruments can show images on a screen immediately after they’re recorded, store numerous photos in its automated memory system, and remove unwanted pictures to provide extra storage space. There’s several additional features that are offered, depending on the type of digital camera that’s used.
Several attempts to build filmless cameras occurred in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s. However, the first digital camera was created and introduced by a Kodak engineer in 1975. The 8-pound device solely recorded black-and-white images onto a cassette tape, using specialized image sensor chips. Taking nearly 30 seconds to capture its initial image, the camera only possessed about 10,000 pixels and was only intended to be part of a temporary exercise within the company. Analog electronic handheld cameras were then invented in 1981 but didn’t appear on the market until 1986. Similar to then-new televisions, this instrument specialized in recording video-like images to video floppy disks. At this time, the use of digital cameras were still reserved for mostly media coverage and government use, producing images with low resolution and questionable quality.
After the emergence of several other analog electronic cameras throughout the mid-1980′s, the first contemporary digital camera arrived and was marketed in the United States in 1990. The original devices were similar to today’s products in that they were low resolution and stored images that were able to be downloaded onto computers. However, it wasn’t until 1997 that digital cameras possessed megapixels and were able to record video clips. Digital cameras are now available in PDAs, as well as cellular phones and automobiles.
Digital Camera Types
1. Compact
Commonly known as point-and-shoot cameras, these pocket-sized devices are mobile and come in various models, depending on each consumer’s preference. Some compact cameras, for instance, are waterproof and/or for outside use only. Most of them are also fairly easy to operate with retractable lens. Caps to cover the lens protect the instruments from being scratched or damaged by other objects. The majority of compact cameras have built-in flash systems, zoom lenses, motion picture functionality and other specialized features. Because of the simplicity and small size, they cost less and enables better focusing ability, as well as a larger degree of range.
2. Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens
Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras were developed in 2008. These machines aren’t as complex as DSLRs, but also aren’t as simple as compact cameras. The components inside are able to couple live-preview systems with large sensors and interchangeable lens.
3. Line-scan Camera Systems
This instrument possesses a line-scan image sensor chip and is typically utilized in industrial environments because of its ability to capture a series of simultaneous movement of equipment. Line-scan camera devices use single rows of pixel sensors, rather than a matrix of them that make up the video camera. Images are usually produced into two-dimensional forms on a computer for industrial use.
4. Bridge
Bridge cameras are complex instruments, emulating many advanced features on DSLRs. However, they’re also similar to compacts since they contain smaller sensors and live preview settings. The name ‘bridge’ was intended to represent how these devices helped create a bridge between traditional costly electronic cameras from earlier times and inexpensive, modernized compact cameras.
Online art classes are offered by a wide range of schools for individuals with a keen interests in making digital prints for a living. Check out curriculum schedules for further details.
Digital Printing History
History of Digital Printing
Overview of Traditional Printing
The process of printing has deep historical roots and is an integral part of the publishing world. The traditional practice reconstructs text or images through a variety of processes, such as letterpress, phototypesetting, typography, screen printing and mimeographing. Some commonly used supplies include, paper, ink, marble, glass, and metal.
Ancient Chinese empires are credited for founding conventional forms of the practice, such as woodblock printing. Afterwards, Egyptian and European civilizations followed Asia’s lead and helped popularize printing in new regions. Printing presses eventually emerged in the 15th century, although more sophisticated versions weren’t invented until the 1800′s.
Today, the process of printing continues to expand with over 30,000 printing companies solely in the United States. Print positions make up a large percentage in the country’s job market. Offset printing and gravure printing, two of the most common printing processes in the industry are mainly used in the production of books, magazines, mail-order catalogues, newspapers, packaging, and wallpaper. Other goods include: business forms, financial documents, checks, maps, and company memo pads.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the printing business is prominent in many urban cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washing D.C., and Philadelphia. Though employment opportunities are expected to decrease as computerization continues to gain popularity.
Digital Printing 101
A contemporary type of printing process is known as digital printing. Also referred to as variable data printing, this practice is one of the newest and fastest growing segments in the printing field. It involves a reliance on digital sources, such as media-related material via inkjet prints, electrostatic printers, laser printers, scanners, and digital cameras. Copying, duplicating, and specialty printing are the primary purposes of professional use.
Digital printing mainly differs from traditional printing practices in that there’s no use of printing plates which helps to inexpensively speed up the process. While the cost per page is higher in digital printing, the process is advantageous in that other technical steps and supplies that are needed in offset printing are eliminated. Hence, pricing for digital printing is considered more cost-effective. In addition, this modernized process has a shorter turn-around rate, produces real-time images and allows for changes to be made more effectively.
How It All Began
Digital printing began in the early 1990′s and quickly rose to prominence because of its tendency to be less time-consuming and less costly. Much of its success and abrupt introduction to society is due to the rise of the information age also birthed computers, cell phones, and other complex, technical gadgets. Reputable companies in the printing industry, such as Xerox, helped the process to rapidly evolve into the mega-leader that it is today. Technological advancements make it possible to access digital images all over the world and continue to produce new features that enable users to preview products, such as layouts for books or magazines, before distribution.
How It Works
In digital printing, an image is produced by a process called digitizing. This calls for pixels, or a series of dots, to be captured and put into a pattern. Then, the pixels are digitally manipulated by ink and/or electromagnetic energies that duplicate the image.
Computers follow algorithms, or a distinct series of instructions, in order to finalize the digital prints. A sequence of mathematical formulas enable the consolidation of data. The colors of an image are also controlled by a specialized system to maintain the correct shade of an image regardless of where it’s viewed or printed. Afterward, the image can be transferred to a wide host of features, such as paper, photos, fabrics, or film.
More Key Facts
1. Digital printing jobs make up 4.1 percent of employment in the printing industry and possess about 5.8 percent of establishments in the field.
2. Although many professionals enter the printing industry after informal training, there are several online graphic design schools that prepare individuals for employment as digital printing operators, graphic designers, and desktop publishers. Others become familiar with digital printing and may use the process regularly in jobs as sales representatives, customer support associates, or administrative specialists at printing companies.
3. Salary.com reports that the annual income of desktop publishing operators ranges between $40,753 and $47,571 yearly. Document imaging operators typically earn about $28,117 yearly while graphic designers may make between $47,709 and $59,041 yearly.
4. Those who aspire to obtain supervisory and management roles typically need a bachelor’s degree unless they began as a helper and worked their way up the corporate ladder through time. There’s also the opportunity to earn diplomas, certificates, or associates degrees from notable career-specific institutions that offer computer repair training and/or digital imaging course.
5. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredits several art schools that offer an education in digital imaging.
6. A common result of digital printing is the generation of signage that’s displayed for large audiences and creates mass appeal. This often involves the use of print on billboards or large flyers.
7. Most printing degree programs provide a variety of courses that influences students’ understanding of the industry. Typical classes include, but aren’t limited to, desktop publishing, digital images, business management, cost estimate, production management, offset press, color management, and printing supervision.
8. Many professionals in digital printing are members of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), an organization that’s committed to advancing the design industry and providing a wealth of resources to craftsmen in the field.
9. A popular technique in digital printing is a process that involves creating giclee prints, the production of detailed prints via high-quality 8-color or 12-color inkjet printers. The process helps individuals transfer their images onto fragile or difficult surfaces, such as photo-base paper and canvas.
10. Professional terminology for workers in the digital printing field include the use of digital c-prints, direct-to-print (DTP), photobook, dots per inch (DPI), pixels per inch (PPI), black and white fiber printing, and full frame prints.
Additional Sources
A 15-Year History of Digital Printing Technology. (2006). Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc.
Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2011). US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Salary.com. (2011).
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). (2011).
