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16
Understanding color models
You can define colors in several different color models, most commonly RGB, CMYK, and
a spot color matching system (such as PANTONE). Depending on the application you use,
you may or may not have a choice of the color model.
RGB
colors are used when you take output from an RGB device such as a digital camera
or scanner. Another use of the RGB color model is for displaying colors on a monitor.
CMYK
colors are what most printers use.
spot colors
, such as PANTONE, are special inks manufactured to run on an offset printing
press. Spot colors can be simulated using CMYK toners (also known as
process colors
). With
the Spot Color Matching print option, you can determine how spot colors are printed at the
Color Server:
•
Spot Color Matching On
uses color tables built into the Color Server to simulate the spot
color with the closest equivalent available using the CMYK toners of the copier/printer
connected to the Color Server.
If your Color Server supports the Spot-On application in Command WorkStation, you
can customize the spot color definitions used by ColorWise.
•
Spot Color Matching Off
instructs the Color Server to simulate the spot color using CMYK
equivalents defined by the spot color manufacturer. These are the same CMYK values used
by applications that include spot color libraries. This CMYK combination is then printed
with the CMYK/Grayscale Source setting that you choose, such as SWOP or DIC.
The color model used by your application determines the methods available for choosing
colors, as well as the way color data is transmitted to the Color Server:
• Office applications, such as word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation graphics
applications, use the RGB color model. They typically transmit only RGB data to the
Color Server.
• Illustration applications use both the RGB and CMYK color models, but typically
transmit only CMYK data to the Color Server.
• Pixel-editing applications use both the RGB and CMYK color models. They transmit
RGB or CMYK data to the Color Server.