2013

Color Handling 165
Percentages are used by default, but Page & Layout Designer allows you to change
which format is used. To do this:
1. Display the UNITS tab of the OPTIONS dialog box (UTILITIES -> OPTIONS).
2. Click the appropriate radio button in the COLOR UNITS section.
3. Click OK to close the dialog box.
The color models
Color models let you define a color in terms of different color components. RGB and
HSV are typically used for screen use. If you know your document is going to be
printed and require very specific CMYK color values, then you can use CMYK colors.
Unlike some graphics software, MAGIX Page & Layout Designer 2013 allows you to
mix RGB, HSV and CMYK colors in the same document.
Models provided by Page & Layout Designer are:
• RGB (Red–Green–Blue),
• CMYK (Cyan–Magenta–Yellow–Key),
• HSV (Hue–Saturation–Value),
• Grayscale.
RGB and HSV colors are stored within Page & Layout Designer in 24-bit format. This
gives you 16.7 million possible colors.
CMYK colors are stored in 32-bit format. When printed or output as EPS or PDF they
are output in CMYK format.
Colors on the screen and on the printer
One problem with computer screens is that their colors do not match the available
colors on a printer. Screens emit combinations of red, green, and blue. The brightness
control has a dramatic effect on displayed colors. Printed images reflect combinations
of cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Tip: To get bright blue on a printer, select a color on screen that is almost pure cyan
(printer’s cyan is much more blue than screen cyan).
As an example, pure green on computer screen is a fluorescent bright color that is
impossible to reproduce accurately on any printer. Similarly pure blue on a computer
screen will often print as a much darker purple-blue. Technically, the range of colors
on a computer screen (known as the "color gamut") is far greater than that on a
printer. So there will always be differences between screen and print colors.