Blurb Photo Book: What Are Best Practices for Color Management?

[BWColor]

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I’ve recently posted some ‘novice only’ posts regarding setting up color managed monitors.  So, here is my current project, which so far seems to exceed my knowledge, or abilities.  I’ve been using Lightroom Classic for some time, but have only used Photoshop for resizing and sharpening images…  Anyway… here is my question.. I hope that it is of interest to others.

I spent a fortune on my camera equipment and ticket/hotel expenses. I’ve been away from printing any sort for a long time. I just picked up a 99.5% Adobe 1998 monitor to help out my old LG monitor of similar specification. All images have been edited in Lightroom Classic using the default ProFoto color space. I’ve noticed that most Blurb discussions don’t mention color management, but allude to the need to brighten images, or that they got ok results. I want to color manage throughout the production of the book, but I’m beginning to discover that the learning curve is pretty steep. So, here is my workflow to this point:

Developed images using D65/120 lumens and a gamma of 2.2. Exported edited files as a ProFoto Tiff. My camera is the Hasselblad X2D and images were imported into Phocus and then exported/imported into Lightroom Classic. Adjustments were made to taste and to set standards for image compatibility..colors, brightness..etc. All exported to ProFoto Tiff. Image imported to Photoshop because Lightroom doesn’t do CMYK. Converted to Blurb ICC and there goes the “Hasselblad Colors”. Many images can be partially repaired without exceeding gamut, but not so for skin tones. Anyway, I adjust best possible while using Blurb proofing. Lastly, I export sRGB and the Blurb CMYK color space.

I’m an old man and I’ll be a dead one before I process 160 images and this is just one of two books. The other is from a Monochrom camera. So, a couple of questions..

1. Is there a way to speed up this process?
2. Should I be sizing the image in Photoshop before exporting?

Thank you.. and I do understand why many/most don’t try to color manage Blurb books.. some of you must manage your colors and for that I appreciate your expertise.

Thanks,

Gary

[Pieter12]

Have you gone to the Blurb site? I believe there are instructions for preparing images, including PhotoShop profiles to download and install.

https://support.blurb.com/hc/en-us/sections/360004243331-Color-Management-Guide

[thighslapper]

I think you are making a simple process far too complicated ......

I have had several books produced by Saal .... but I suspect the processes are the same with all the better photo book producers like Blurb (most reviews suggest little difference between the better printers).

I've found the colours very true to a calibrated monitor if you soft proof with the supplied ICC profile (in fact the difference compared to my original LR files was minimal). 

The only changes I have found needed (based on books printed) is increasing exposure/vibrance/contrast a touch and sharpening a fair bit (printing knocks it back a lot) and using full size/res JPG's at 450 dpi. 

I found matt paper too too flat and low contrast, but the low lustre Fuji paper Saal use produces super results. 

Might be best to get something small and cheap printed as a trial and it will give you some idea of the comparison to your originals and take it from there. 

 

[rogxwhit]

6 hours ago, BWColor said:

I export sRGB and the Blurb CMYK color space.

That sounds confusing.  Both at once for the same file?  Impossible!

I appreciate your drive for perfectionism, but you could soft proof your RGB tiff using the Blurb profile, adjust as necessary, then save out as sRGB - Blurb will then automatically perform the CMYK conversion in-house, and all other things being equal, the result to my mind will be pretty good. 

Unless you're making a book-ready PDF, where CMYK images are de rigeur.  Especially in which case, read the link given above.

 

[BWColor]

39 minutes ago, rogxwhit said:

That sounds confusing.  Both at once for the same file?  Impossible!

Sorry.. I meant jpeg using Blurb CMYK.

Yes, as long as proofed with Blurb color space, no need to embed the color space.