Printing out Visualisation and cmyk colour

[Ausmax]

Hello,

I have been asked to produce a visualisation where they need a very accurate

render (specific colours, materials etc). I also need to print this job out as

part of a brochure.

 

Is it possible to get close colour matching and also how do I choose the right

rgb values and then know that they will be anything like a cmyk colour for print?

 

Any information on this topic would be helpful -

 

Thanks

[luckyluc]

Hello Nigel,

 

It will be very difficult to match colours. You could choose a colour in CMYK, then convert that in photoshop to RGB. In general CMYK colours are less vibrant than RGB colours. but then you are going to light it.

So the colour will never be the same als the material you made.

 

Is is really needed to use the exact colours? What is the motivation of the client? Sometimes a client askes you something just because of lack of knowledge.

 

This sounds the same like a client that tells you that they need a 300dpi picture. And are not aware that a 72 dpi picture of 4000 by 3000 is big enough.

[Jeff Mottle]

You can get pretty close colors IF your system and workflow are fully color managed. That means Photoshop is color managed, you have ICC profiles for the printer you working on and your display is profiled and calibrated. I've been able to get 90%+ matches in my experience. Luc is right though about the potential for it to be difficult. It really depends upon the colors you are using in your image and the type of display you are using.

 

 

Unfortunately this entire process is not something I can explain in one post. I have written a chapter on color management in this book: http://shop.cgarchitect.com/books-and-magazines/3ds-max-2010-architectural-visualization-advanced-to-expert.html but there are a number of other books available too. It's not something you can set up overnight unless you've done it before.

 

There is a good post on matching colors in 3ds Max here. It's a long read. http://forums.cgarchitect.com/35358-suggestions-gamma-setting-max.html I would also recommend reading through some of the posts in the color management forum in general to help get you started: http://forums.cgarchitect.com/204-color-management/

 

If you have any specific questions just let me know.

[Ausmax]

Hey, thanks for the replies.

 

Jeff, I have been wanting to get the third book for sometime now (advanced to expert).

I didn't realise that the book had your colour management chapter in it.

 

much appreciated, thanks

[Jeff Mottle]

Hey, thanks for the replies.

 

Jeff, I have been wanting to get the third book for sometime now (advanced to expert).

I didn't realise that the book had your colour management chapter in it.

 

much appreciated, thanks

 

3DATS is running a promo right now too for 50% off every book using the promo code "summit2010". All profits for the next few weeks are going to support Soldiers to the Summit. More details here: http://shop.cgarchitect.com/hero.html