RGB to CMYK Device Link technology

Repro companies have built reputations for creating CMYK files that maintain as much colour and detail as it is possible to get from the original RGB.

Unfortunately this usually entails a lot of time-consuming effort in Photoshop, converting the images using different rendering intents and then creating a single image from the best bits of multiple separations.

But NOW there is a better and faster way of getting the best possible CMYK conversion from an RGB original.

Device Link Profiles - RGB to CMYK and Multicolour without going through LAB

When you carry out a conventional colour separation in Photoshop your image is first converted from RGB to the L*a*b colour space using the embedded profile to determine the L*a*b colour values (or your working space profile if you are crazy enough to work with un-profiled RGB images).

The L*a*b values are then converted to CMYK using the destination ICC profile and your chosen conversion intent (perceptual, relative etc) to determine the final colour values.

The problem with this approach is that the Profile Connection Space -- the L*a*b values that sit between the original and final images -- dislocates the colour values and causes them to be recalculated from scratch when retaining some of this information might be useful.

This is apparent if you find yourself converting from one CMYK profile to another. If you've spent ages retouching the original image to set specific colour values you'll see them get changed during the conversion -- especially pure primaries.

A Device Link Profile is a special class of ICC profile. Unlike other ICC profiles, it doesn't describe a specific device but a conversion formula to transform an image from one specific profile to another.

Steering clear of conversion to the L*a*b Profile Connection Space means that you not only get the best result but also avoid common problems like banding in gradients, contouring in colour transitions and impure primaries.

The only problem with Device Link Profiles (DLP's) is that you need specialist software to create them. You also need specialist software to apply them because Photoshop can't use them :-(

That is where Targetcolour can help!

We have a range of Device link building tools:

• DLP building
• DLP analysis
• DLP Colour Server technology (MPX 360)
• Last but not least a special plugin for Photoshop, so you can use Photoshop and get the benefits from DLP technology

Interested?  Call us today for your free demo or fill in the information on our contact list