Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Printing, PDF,
16
and Specialized
File Types
At some point, you'll need to send your images
to an output device. Several different devices
are available, including paper and film print-
ers, plates, or a digital printing press. Whether
you are printing on a desktop inkjet printer or
sending your images to prepress, there are some
essentials you should know. In the digital age,
preparing a photo for web or video has become
just as important with many devices like tablets
and digital signage growing in popularity.
Understanding the core technology will ensure
that your jobs go smoothly and that your images
turn out as desired. The material in this chapter
serves as a primer on printing and PDF technol-
ogy. Additionally, you'll explore screen delivery
techniques.
Options
Depending on the type of image you've pro-
cessed, you'll need to determine the right type
of printer for output. This will be a balance of
budget and availability. The simplest images, such as line art, use
only one color. An illustration may use several colors, and those
can be printed using CMYK inks to create the different colors
or spot inks that exactly match. The most complex images are
photographs because they use varying colors and tones to simu-
late the image. These types of images are generally referred to as
continuous-tone images
.
Professional printing is a trade that requires a lot of
experience and specialized knowledge.
