And best of all, it's free. Understanding Color is a 24-page booklet packed with information about what color is, how it's perceived by the eye, how it's reproduced, and, most important, how to use color to create a piece that looks great not only on your computer but also when it's printed. The booklet is especially helpful in explaining variables that can affect the final quality of a color photograph. Another reason the final product may not match your desktop specs is that color can be absorbed by the paper it's printed on. And color can actually change in hue once it's printed.
Paper stock varies in color, gloss, brightness, texture, and absorbency.
The effect of the paper base is so important to the appearance of a printed sheet, the booklet says, that paper itself can be considered a fifth color. The booklet points out that an image viewed under fluorescent light will look considerably different when viewed in natural or incandescent light. Although not everyone can meet those ideal conditions, when we're reviewing a color proof or deciding whether to accept a final printed piece we should consider the light source under which the piece normally will be viewed. Finally, the booklet explains how printers measure color and keep it consistent on a print run by using instruments such as spectrophotometers and densitometers. Gayle Dahlman is an EEI project manager.