User manual

10 • Scanning to CMYK

ColorQuartet 5.0 Pro

Modifying images directly in CMYK

What it means

If you are used to working directly in CMYK, you may want to adjust gradation and gray balance

by manipulating the CMYK Curves.

• The CMYK Curves operate directly on the image’s CMYK values, rather than on the device-

independent Lab

values like the other color tools.

• Changes you make to the CMYK Curves are, in effect, added “on top of” the CMYK profile that

is being applied to the scan.

How to do it

1 • First check that the desired CMYK Proﬁle has been chosen in the Scan Setup window.

2 • Set the feedback windo

w to display CMYK Feedback. This will display a simulation of the

final CMYK values for the image, taking into account the limitations of the printing process.

3 • From the Color menu or the tool bar, open the CMYK Curves window.

4 • To change a curve, first click on the cyan, magenta, yellow or black stripe. Then change the

curve by dragging its “handles” until the desired effect is observed in the feedback window.

>>> Related topics:

• The bottom scale of the CMYK curves refers to the CMYK values of the scan

(which is considered the “input” image).

• The left-hand scale refers to the CMYK values of the reproduction (the “out-

put” image).

• To produce additional handles, click anywhere on the curve.

• If you raise a curve, the image will become darker, but the gray balance will

also change. Similarly, if you lower a curve, the image will become lighter,

but its gray balance will change.

• Therefore, to change the gradation without changing the gray balance, all

the curves must be raised or lowered equally.

• If you do want to change the gray balance, move the curves individually

until the desired effect is observed.

• Remember that any changes you make to the CMYK curves are added to the

image after the effect of the CMYK profile.