Blog

What factors go into making a high quality digital image?

by Kim Christiansen, iocolor

When preparing a digital image for use in book production, there are three primary areas of concern that need to be addressed:

Image Resolution
Color Accuracy
Color Space

The number one concern is image resolution. Ideally the image scan/capture should be 400ppi (pixels per inch) at 100% of the final size it will be used in your book. This should be native resolution, since resampling your image in Photoshop to 400ppi won’t add the necessary quality.

The second concern is color accuracy. This hinges on a simple, yet crucial, question: “Does your studio/department employ good color management practices?” Without a color-managed system, your screen and printer will not accurately show what the files actually look like. If you are unfamiliar with the principles of color management, we highly recommend learning more about the process. There are many classes, books, and websites available to help you find more information.

Third, your final images should be in the Adobe RGB color space and not converted to CMYK. If you convert to a generic CMYK color space, it is likely that you will not be getting everything you can out of your images. Let us handle this process. We have the experience, tools, and information necessary to make an optimal CMYK conversion that will bring out the best in your images and, ultimately, your finished book

If you have transparencies or artworks that need to be captured, iocolor can provide scanning and digital image capture services. We can also color manage existing images and print color-accurate match prints for reference. With our many years of experience, we understand the image requirements for the book production process better than a prepress shop more oriented toward advertising. We employ state-of-the-art equipment and industry-leading processes, so your book images will more truly match the originals.