When ColorFlow software generates the PCO profile of a discontinuous PCO, the source tags (A2B tags) of the profile reflect the discontinuous color response of the PCO. The resulting ICC device profile is called a discontinuous device profile. Each process ink channel of the source tags has a Mindot whose Tint In value equals the color response Mindot Tint In value.
The destination tags (B2A tags) of the PCO profile are continuous, despite the discontinuous PCO color response. ColorFlow software generates B2A tags that provide optimal color separations when
the discontinuous profile is used as a destination profile in a profile pair workflow for RGB image separation.
Separating and editing images with the PCO profile
You can use the PCO profile to separate RGB image and graphic content, or to reseparate CMYK content. If you use the Prinergy Refine process to separate or reseparate content, ColorFlow software
delivers the PCO profile to Prinergy for use as a destination profile.
You can also export the PCO profile to use in other applications that perform image separation, such as Adobe Photoshop.
When images are printed with flexography, the discontinuous color response may produce undesirable artifacts. For example, any separation with highlight tints that vary down to 0 percent will produce shade stepping equal to the magnitude of the Mindot color. The larger the flexo discontinuity, the more severe the artifacts generated by shade stepping.
It is common to use Adobe Photoshop (or another application that performs image editing) to edit images to avoid these problems. You can use the PCO profile in these applications to provide an accurate preview of how the image will appear when printed with flexographic printing.
Previewing images with the PCO profile in Adobe Photoshop
You can use the PCO profile from ColorFlow software to preview images in preparation for flexographic printing.
- Export the PCO profile from ColorFlow software.
- In Adobe Photoshop:
- Select Edit > Color Settings.
- Select Working Spaces - CMYK: Load CMYK.
- Browse to the exported PCO profile, and select it.