Tech Tip 06

Syncing Adobe Creative Suite to the GRACoL® Specification

The acceptance of the G7® Process for printing to the GRACoL® specification has grown in the last two years. Both print buyers and printers are enjoying the quality and productivity it brings to the pressroom, especially the proof to match accuracy it provides. Since printing to the GRACoL® specification is a process, all parts of the color imaging path need to be examined and optimized. Usually this involves press and proofer finger printing, adjusting their performance to the spec. This process also involves checks on platesetter, plate processors, press components such as blankets and rollers. Paper and ink are also check for conformance.

However one part of the color imaging path often overlooked by printers and print buyers is the settings of design and pre-press software. This tech note will show how to synchronize the Adobe Creative Suite to the GRACoL® specification. This will insure that color is properly prepared for sending to a GRACoL® spec press.

For professional GRACoL® services, including full profiling and certification of your press or proofing system, please contact Fusion Systems.

First download the GRACoL® ICC profile from the page http://www.idealliance.org/industry_resources/branding_media_and_color/g7. Inside the zip file you will find the ICC profile GRACoL2006_Coated1v2.icc. install this profile:

Mac OS X:

1. •Storing profiles in /Library/ColorSync/Profiles allows all users to use them. An alternative area, for users without Admin privileges, is /Users/<username>/Library/ColorSync/Profiles — any profiles stored here are available only to the current user. The ColorSync Utility gives access to the details of individual profiles, shows gamut plots, can rename profiles, validates profile structure, among other useful tasks.
   

Windows Vista and XP:

1. •\Windows\system32\spool\drivers\color
   

2. •Microsoft has a Control Panel Applet that emulates some of the functionality of Apple's ColorSync utility. It allows easy installation and removal of profiles, editing of internal and external names, viewing 3-D gamut plots, comparing two different profiles, and much more.
   

3. •If you do not use the Color Applet, the easiest way to install a profile in Windows XP is to right click on the profile in Windows Explorer and select "install profile". Windows copies the profile to the correct directory automatically.
   

Launch Photoshop and select Edit>Color Settings

The Color Settings dialog opens with with default color spaces:

Change the RGB space  to Adobe RGB (1998), then click on the CYMK space popup and select Load CMYK....

Navigate to the ICC profile folder and select the GRACoL® profile:

Click on the Gray popup and load the GRACoL® Profile again:

Your setting should look like this before you click save:

Give the settings a unique name and then dismiss the Color Setting dialog by clicking OK.

Open Adobe Bridge

• To open Bridge from a Creative Suite application, choose File > Browse.

 

To open Bridge directly, either choose Adobe Bridge from the Start menu (Windows) or double-click the Adobe Bridge icon (Mac OS).

• Choose Edit > Creative Suite Color Settings.

• Select a color setting from the list, and click Apply.

Thats it! All of the Creative Suite applications will now print to the GRACoL® Spec every time.

For professional GRACoL® services, including full profiling and certification of your press or proofing system, please contact Fusion Systems.

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