Adobe Illustrator - Printing Gray Colors?

Author

Printing Gray Colors?

Craig

2003-12-06, 4:42 pm

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to print the color gray with a smooth,
solid appearance. I've tried three different printers (color laser, inkjet,
and solid ink), but each one prints gray colors in a grainy looking texture.
I've tried both RGB and CMYK modes and each gives the same results.

Waldo

2003-12-08, 11:47 am

For color laser printers: use a fine raster instead of a course raster, or
raster yourself in Photoshop.

I am surprised the inkjet is looking grainy? What is the resolution of your
image? Newer inkjet printers also tend to add cyan and magenta to create
gray (less contrast between those colors and paperwhite).

Waldo

"Craig" <c.owen@fuse.net> wrote in message
news:3fd16ba0$0$62219$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net...

quote:

> Can anyone tell me if it's possible to print the color gray with a smooth,
> solid appearance. I've tried three different printers (color laser,

inkjet,

quote:

> and solid ink), but each one prints gray colors in a grainy looking

texture.

quote:

> I've tried both RGB and CMYK modes and each gives the same results.
>
>

Craig

2003-12-09, 9:52 am

The image hasn't been rasterized. However, I'm having the problem with solid
gray colors on any type of image file. I can get other colors like blue,
red, and yellow to print solid but gray always looks grainy. The resolution
on one of the images is 200dpi but I'm experimenting with simple shapes that
have solid fills until I get the result I want.
"Waldo" <graaf@vno-ncw.nl> wrote in message
news:1070877625.687878@news-ext.oce.nl...

quote:

> For color laser printers: use a fine raster instead of a course raster, or
> raster yourself in Photoshop.
>
> I am surprised the inkjet is looking grainy? What is the resolution of

your

quote:

> image? Newer inkjet printers also tend to add cyan and magenta to create
> gray (less contrast between those colors and paperwhite).
>
> Waldo
>
> "Craig" <c.owen@fuse.net> wrote in message
> news:3fd16ba0$0$62219$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net...
smooth,[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> inkjet,
> texture.
>
>

WharfRat

2003-12-09, 9:52 am

quote:

> The image hasn't been rasterized. However, I'm having the problem with solid
> gray colors on any type of image file. I can get other colors like blue,
> red, and yellow to print solid but gray always looks grainy. The resolution
> on one of the images is 200dpi but I'm experimenting with simple shapes that
> have solid fills until I get the result I want.

---
Have you tried - only a tint of Black, instead of a build?

MSD

Craig

2003-12-09, 9:52 am

I guess I should have mentioned from the start that I'm very much a novice
when it comes to Illustrator and Photoshop but I haven't had any problems up
until this gray color situation. I've been working with TIFF images and just
recently started working with vector graphics. Up until now I haven't had
any major color problems that I couldn't fix but the gray color has finally
"stumped" me. It just seems strange when I can draw a box and fill it with
blue color and have it print out solid and smooth, yet if I do the same box
with a gray fill, the results are grainy.
"WharfRat" <wharfrat@footprintsphotographics.com> wrote in message
news:BBFA640B.10246%wharfrat@footprintsphotographics.com...

quote:

> :
>
solid[QUOTE][color=darkred]
resolution[QUOTE][color=darkred]
that[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> ---
> Have you tried - only a tint of Black, instead of a build?
>
> MSD
>

Rusty Wright

2003-12-09, 9:31 pm

Does your printer have black ink or is it mixing red, green, and blue
to make black? If the latter then you're not likely to ever get a
good gray or black. Some printers allow you to install a black ink
cartridge in addition to the rgb cartridge.

"Craig" <c.owen@fuse.net> writes:
[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> I guess I should have mentioned from the start that I'm very much a novice
> when it comes to Illustrator and Photoshop but I haven't had any problems up
> until this gray color situation. I've been working with TIFF images and just
> recently started working with vector graphics. Up until now I haven't had
> any major color problems that I couldn't fix but the gray color has finally
> "stumped" me. It just seems strange when I can draw a box and fill it with
> blue color and have it print out solid and smooth, yet if I do the same box
> with a gray fill, the results are grainy.
> "WharfRat" <wharfrat@footprintsphotographics.com> wrote in message
> news:BBFA640B.10246%wharfrat@footprintsphotographics.com...
> solid
> resolution
> that

Craig

2003-12-10, 12:21 pm

All three printers I've tried have black ink or toner. I'm currently using a
Xerox Phaser 8200 solid ink printer which does great with all other colors.
It just seems odd that gray is the only color that will not print with a
smooth appearance like the others. Guess I'll just have to keep trying
different methods.
"Rusty Wright" <rusty@socrates.Berkeley.EDU> wrote in message
news:uiead61agov.fsf@socrates.Berkeley.EDU...[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> Does your printer have black ink or is it mixing red, green, and blue
> to make black? If the latter then you're not likely to ever get a
> good gray or black. Some printers allow you to install a black ink
> cartridge in addition to the rgb cartridge.
>
> "Craig" <c.owen@fuse.net> writes:
>
novice[QUOTE][color=darkred]
problems up[QUOTE][color=darkred]
just[QUOTE][color=darkred]
had[QUOTE][color=darkred]
finally[QUOTE][color=darkred]
with[QUOTE][color=darkred]
box[QUOTE][color=darkred]
with[QUOTE][color=darkred]
blue,[QUOTE][color=darkred]
shapes[QUOTE][color=darkred]

2003-12-10, 12:21 pm

Craig wrote:

quote:

>
> All three printers I've tried have black ink or toner. I'm currently using a
> Xerox Phaser 8200 solid ink printer which does great with all other colors.
> It just seems odd that gray is the only color that will not print with a
> smooth appearance like the others. Guess I'll just have to keep trying
> different methods.

Still not sure what gray you use. You realize that gray is
nothing more than a percentage of black? Black spots on a
white background. Even Pantone does that on the computer as
far as I know, not when printing with real PMS ink like in offset.

If you use a solid blue it will be a solid blue, if you use
a "solid" gray it will be a percentage of black, with the
white shining through.
Unless I am missing something.

Are you printing composite or separated colors?
--
Peter

Waldo

2003-12-10, 12:21 pm

Can you post a link to an example (or a small part of it)? Then we can give
it a go...

Waldo

"Craig" <c.owen@fuse.net> wrote in message
news:3fd69500$0$20892$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net...

quote:

> All three printers I've tried have black ink or toner. I'm currently using

quote:

> Xerox Phaser 8200 solid ink printer which does great with all other

colors.

quote:

> It just seems odd that gray is the only color that will not print with a
> smooth appearance like the others. Guess I'll just have to keep trying
> different methods.

Stuart

2003-12-10, 12:21 pm

I use the same printer and do get a similar effect, I just print on the
high resolution setting and it seems to do much better. Also have you
tried black & white under colour correction in the printer settings.

Stuart

Craig wrote:

quote:

> All three printers I've tried have black ink or toner. I'm currently using a
> Xerox Phaser 8200 solid ink printer which does great with all other colors.
> It just seems odd that gray is the only color that will not print with a
> smooth appearance like the others. Guess I'll just have to keep trying
> different methods.
> "Rusty Wright" <rusty@socrates.Berkeley.EDU> wrote in message
> news:uiead61agov.fsf@socrates.Berkeley.EDU...
>
> novice
>
> problems up
>
> just
>
> had
>
> finally
>
> with
>
> box
>
> with
>
> blue,
>
> shapes
>
>
>

Craig

2003-12-10, 12:21 pm

I'm printing composite colors.
"Ph" <PeterH@cox.net> wrote in message news:3FD6B920.31757196@cox.net...

quote:

> Craig wrote:
using a[QUOTE][color=darkred]
colors.[QUOTE][color=darkred]
>
>
> Still not sure what gray you use. You realize that gray is
> nothing more than a percentage of black? Black spots on a
> white background. Even Pantone does that on the computer as
> far as I know, not when printing with real PMS ink like in offset.
>
> If you use a solid blue it will be a solid blue, if you use
> a "solid" gray it will be a percentage of black, with the
> white shining through.
> Unless I am missing something.
>
> Are you printing composite or separated colors?
> --
> Peter

Craig

2003-12-10, 12:21 pm

No, I don't have any links.
"Waldo" <graaf@vno-ncw.nl> wrote in message
news:1071059028.87440@news-ext.oce.nl...

quote:

> Can you post a link to an example (or a small part of it)? Then we can

give

quote:

> it a go...
>
> Waldo
>
> "Craig" <c.owen@fuse.net> wrote in message
> news:3fd69500$0$20892$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net...
using[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> a
> colors.
>
>

Craig

2003-12-10, 12:21 pm

I've tried the higher resolution setting and it didn't seem to help much, if
any at all. I'll try the black & white under color correction and see what
happens.

"Stuart" <stuart@nospam.uk> wrote in message
news:3FD71F41.4000007@nospam.uk...

quote:

> I use the same printer and do get a similar effect, I just print on the
> high resolution setting and it seems to do much better. Also have you
> tried black & white under colour correction in the printer settings.
>
> Stuart
>
> Craig wrote:
>
using a[QUOTE][color=darkred]
colors.[QUOTE][color=darkred]
>

Waldo

2003-12-10, 9:19 pm

quote:

> Can anyone tell me if it's possible to print the color gray with a smooth,
> solid appearance. I've tried three different printers (color laser,

inkjet,

quote:

> and solid ink), but each one prints gray colors in a grainy looking

texture.

quote:

> I've tried both RGB and CMYK modes and each gives the same results.
>
>

Craig

2003-12-11, 8:09 pm

quote:

> For color laser printers: use a fine raster instead of a course raster, or
> raster yourself in Photoshop.
>
> I am surprised the inkjet is looking grainy? What is the resolution of

your

quote:

> image? Newer inkjet printers also tend to add cyan and magenta to create
> gray (less contrast between those colors and paperwhite).
>
> Waldo
>
> "Craig" <c.owen@fuse.net> wrote in message
> news:3fd16ba0$0$62219$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net...
smooth,[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> inkjet,
> texture.
>
>

WharfRat

2003-12-11, 8:09 pm

quote:

> The image hasn't been rasterized. However, I'm having the problem with solid
> gray colors on any type of image file. I can get other colors like blue,
> red, and yellow to print solid but gray always looks grainy. The resolution
> on one of the images is 200dpi but I'm experimenting with simple shapes that
> have solid fills until I get the result I want.

---
Have you tried - only a tint of Black, instead of a build?

MSD

Craig

2003-12-11, 8:09 pm

quote:

> :
>
solid[QUOTE][color=darkred]
resolution[QUOTE][color=darkred]
that[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> ---
> Have you tried - only a tint of Black, instead of a build?
>
> MSD
>