About Separation Profiles
Requires an extra license.
In GMG OpenColor, you can create separation profiles for conventional and digital printing techniques.
Separation profiles created in GMG OpenColor can be used in GMG applications such as GMG ColorPlugin and GMG ColorServer and the third party application PACKZ to separate documents into the target color space. The following movie shows a practical example.
This video shows how you can define your spot colors in GMG OpenColor using Separation Rules. See how easily you can control the used color separations and other options. It also shows how you can apply the defined separations to your printing PDF, using GMG ColorServer, GMG ColorPlugin, or Hybrid PACKZ.
To do so, you will need to characterize both the input color spaces (from the document) and the target color space in GMG OpenColor. You will then need to publish the separation profiles to make the project available to the GMG ColorPlugin. You may, but you do not need to, precalculate separation profiles in GMG OpenColor. You also do not need to export the profiles. GMG ColorPlugin and PACKZ connect to GMG OpenColor and request the needed profiles on-the-fly.
Input color spaces
You will most likely need multiple input color spaces per project. For example, a PDF object might be an RGB image, another a CMYK image, and there might be additional multicolor objects within the same PDF. Depending on the color space type, you can characterize the input color space by importing an ICC file or by using an existing GMG OpenColor project.
- Define a CMYK input color space by an ICC profile or by an GMG OpenColor project.
- Define RGB input color spaces only by ICC.
- Define multicolor input color spaces only by an GMG OpenColor project. (This ensures the required quality of the input profile.)
Target color space / Output inks
The output color space is defined by the target printing process (as characterized in GMG OpenColor and defined in the simulation space of the proof profile).
The output color space can be CMYK or multicolor (n c). As there is a physical limitation of the number of the channels that can be screened—generally 3 or 4—you will need to split the PDF or Photoshop document up into multiple objects or areas/layers. You can then select up to 4 output channels for each object or area/layer. The document will then be separated into the final n, for example 7, channel output color space. The final document can use any number of output channels.
If you are using a conventional printing process with additional Red or Orange, Green, and Blue or Violet inks to extend the color space of your printing system, you can create separation profiles that will get the most out of the color space, resulting in brilliant and colorful images.
Multicolor printing
The application supports the following methods for multicolor printing:
- Custom ink setup / spot color printing: In this more traditional method, formulated spot colors are added as job specific inks to the print run.
- Fixed ink setup / ECG: Any spot color from the original design will be reproduced by a standardized ink set. This method allows for a virtually unlimited number of colors in the design and also for nesting print jobs with different color channels, without changing the ink configuration of the printing machine.
Supported color spaces and applications
The following table provides an overview which color spaces are supported and in which application.
| Input color space | Output color space | Input | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMYK | CMYK | ICC, OC | GMG ColorPlugin, GMG ColorServer |
| RGB | CMYK | ICC | GMG ColorPlugin, GMG ColorServer |
| Multicolor | CMYK | OC | GMG ColorPlugin, PACKZ |
| Multicolor | Multicolor | OC | GMG ColorPlugin, GMG ColorServer, PACKZ |
| CMYK | Multicolor | ICC, OC | GMG ColorPlugin, GMG ColorServer |
| RGB | Extended Color Gamut (ECG) | ICC | GMG ColorPlugin, PACKZ |
Export profiles in MX4 format for use in GMG ColorServer 4.x and MX4x for GMG ColorPlugin or GMG ColorServer 5.x.