New RGB Workflow for MCP (beginning January 1, 2006)

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1 New RGB Wrkflw fr MCP (beginning January 1, 2006) Beginning January 1, 2006, all clr art submitted t MCP must be in RGB frmat. Jurnals tday are published in tw primary frms: the traditinal printed jurnal and the nline jurnal. As the readership f the jurnal shifts t the nline media, the prcesses underlying the prductin f the jurnal must als be adjusted t meet the requirements f that media. Thse f yu wh have submitted digital images fr publicatin in jurnals may be accustmed t the requirement fr CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellw, black) clr gamut. CMYK is the cmbinatin f clrs (in fact, inks run n press) that is used t reprduce the full range f clr in a printed jurnal. It is the clr mde n which printing technlgy and equipment are based. In cntrast, the nline jurnal and mst f the digital devices used t capture images are based n the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) clr gamut. RGB is an additive clr mde (i.e., full use f each f the cnstituent clrs results in the clr white), whereas CMYK is a subtractive clr mde (i.e., full use f each f the cnstituent clrs results in the clr black). The inherent differences in these tw clr mdes cause differences in the intensity and hue f clrs, especially flurescent clrs. Histrically, MCP has slicited clr in CMYK mde, t ensure that clr is ptimized fr the printed jurnal. Fr thse f yu wh built and submitted clr images in RGB frm, yur images were cnverted t CMYK in the prductin prcess. The result was ften a lss f intensity and verall quality that affected bth the printed and nline versin (as the nline versin was prduced as an utcme f the print prductin prcess). As the usage f the jurnal tday is cncentrated in the nline frm, the jurnal is nw changing its apprach t clr reprductin. Frm January 1, 2006, authrs are requested t submit clr images in RGB clr mde. These images will be preserved as RGB up until the time f printing (fr print they will be cnverted t CMYK thrugh an autmated clr cnversin prcess), and will be psted nline in their riginal RGB frm. What des this mean fr authrs? Images submitted in RGB frm will retain the vivid reds, greens, and blues f yur riginal digital files fr nline publicatin Yur prfs will reflect nline quality, rather than print quality. There will be sme clr shift evident in the final printed image. Any clr adjustments yu request at prf stage will require that yur images be cnverted t CMYK by ur prductin staff. This may affect the quality f clr nline, as frm this pint frward yur prfs will reflect print display rather than nline display. 1

2 Belw are examples f specific clrs in RGB mde and their clsest equivalents in CMYK: RGB: CMYK: Images can be created in RGB clr mde in almst all majr image editing applicatins. Screen shts shwing hw t select this clr mde in the tw mst cmmn applicatins, Phtshp and Illustratr, are shwn belw. 2

3 Phtshp: Illustratr: 3

4 The quality f images nline and in print frm is f tremendus imprtance t MCP and its readers. In additin t switching t RGB clr mde, there are several ther steps authrs can take t ensure the quality f their digital images. First, images supplied in EPS frmat shuld have all fnts cnverted t utlines/paths. If fnts are nt cnverted t paths r utlines, there is a pssibility f character substitutins r that yur graphic may have t be cnverted t a bitmap, which can affect nline image quality. The fllwing screensht demnstrates hw t cnvert fnts t utlines/paths in Adbe Illustratr: Secnd, images cntaining bth grayscale and bitmap areas must be supplied at a minimum reslutin f 600 dpi. If pssible, it is best t prepare such images as vectr files fr the line art areas, with embedded TIFF images fr the grayscale prtins. 4

5 Third, we cannt accept figure files in certain applicatins such as Micrsft Office (PwerPint, Wrd, Excel, Access), Crel Perfect Office (WrdPerfect, Quattr Pr, Presentatins), r Ltus SmartSuite (Freelance Graphics, 1-2-3, Apprach, and WrdPr). They are nt intended fr high reslutin imaging necessary fr publicatin. Fr example, prblems with PwerPint that impact bth the visual quality and accuracy f print reprductin include: Pr Clr Reprductin - PwerPint files are intended fr screen display (RGB clr mdel) and must be clr separated fr creatin f printing plates invlving transfrmatin t CMYK clr (cmmercial printing). Clrs that are represented in a PwerPint presentatin may nt be pssible t reprduce n printing. Lack f Reslutin Cntrl - Because PwerPint is intended fr screen displays rather than print prductin, it des nt ffer full cntrl ver reslutin. Lettering and ther figure parts may appear jagged. Pr Fnt Management - If a cmputer des nt have a fnt in a PwerPint presentatin created n anther cmputer, it will substitute the fnt (usually with nnsense) withut warning. T learn hw t cnvert PwerPint images t an acceptable frmat fr publicatin, please see 5