🚀 go-pugleaf

Ann,

      ...you only retain CMYK data if you are using a PostScript RIP (such as
      PressReady).




Technically, that is true. But consider this scenario:

When you distill to PDF for the purpose of making a screen proof (in which case you would use the "convert everything to sRGB" option within Distiller), you are, in effect, using a Postscript RIP. Distiller, in this case, behaves as a Postscript device and produces output (via Acrobat or Reader) that is viewed on an RGB raster device -- namely the computer monitor.

It was my hope that there was a sufficiently advanced CMYK-to-RGB space conversion engine built into Acrobat 6 so that we could, in effect, produce reasonably color-accurate output from our CMYK files using the ink jet printer's native driver.

In fact, my quick tests show Acrobat 6 to approach that capability -- just not well enough for prime time.

      It would seem from your experiments, that CMYK files from Acrobat 6 are
      still being given the Epson double-flip treatment?




Yes, but my point was that if the process were entirely under the control of profiles whenever space conversions took place... and if those conversions maintained sufficient gamut for proofing purposes... the results should at least be predictable and controllable.

I wasn't entirely discouraged by my experiments. If, in the future, I find myself having to retire PressReady -- whether because of OS upgrades, the last of my PR-compatible printers die, or whatever -- I would consider making some custom native driver profiles for use with Acrobat 6 (7, 8, ?).

As time passes, my admiration for the PressReady development team only grows.

=-= Harron =-=