Print safe palatte/swatches for Photoshop?

[cosmicfx]

Hi all

Can anyone tell me what is the best way to create an artwork in Photoshop, but using a palette/swatches that are print safe (cmyk), so that the end result , when printing it out for magazines/comics etc ... , they are still as close as possible to the original?

I have previously worked on artwork, and because I worked in RGB color mode ( which is the monitors and web color method), the colors looked completely different when printed out on a cmyk printer. I have read up on the web, and understand alot about the difference, that cmyk cannot do alot of the rgb color range, but I was wondering if anyone here could give me some good advice on how to approach this.

Thanks very much.
Razor

[Elwell]

Make sure your monitor is calibrated.
Work in CMYK, or in RGB but with CMYK preview.
Hope for the best.

[cosmicfx]

Thanks Elwell.

calibrating the monitor sounds like some tricky stuff, from what I've read on the web. It seems that graphic companies would hire specialist every few months to do just that.
Is there any simpler , cheaper , but effective way/method of doing this?

And could you please explain how to do cmyk preview ... can you do this while working in rgb, or should I just work in cmyk to be safe? I think it is when one selects ... " Image > Mode > cmyk " ... is this the "preview"?

Oh, and lastly do I select the "Pantone color bridge cmyk pc" from the swatch drop down menu , is this the pallete to work form for cmyk safe.

I've also read that "Trumatch" palette/swatches are cmyk, as well as the "Focoltone" palette. I'm not sure what is best to use.

Sorry for Sooo many questions, it's been quite abit of a transformation from traditional media to digital.

Thanks again.
PS. Some specs ... I'm using a PC, Winxp SP2 ... and Photoshop CS3.

[Elwell]

Thanks Elwell.

calibrating the monitor sounds like some tricky stuff, from what I've read on the web. It seems that graphic companies would hire specialist every few months to do just that.
Is there any simpler , cheaper , but effective way/method of doing this?

On on a mac, so "eyeball" calibration is built into the OS. I'm not sure how to do it in Windows, does PS still come with the Adobe Gamma program?

And could you please explain how to do cmyk preview ... can you do this while working in rgb, or should I just work in cmyk to be safe? I think it is when one selects ... " Image > Mode > cmyk " ... is this the "preview"?

No, that's how you convert it. For the preview, go to View> Proof Setup> Working CMYK. This changes the way the colors are displayed without altering the actual file. Working that way allows you to use adjustments, filters, etc the way you are used to, without nasty surprises when you convert to CMYK. Or you can work in CMYK to begin with and convert to RGB for web use etc. Either way, don't worry about palettes or swatches, a CMYK file by definition only has colors within the CMYK gamut. Whether or not it will print true is a whole other matter, mostly out of your control.

[H.Evans]

This is probably only part of greater overall solutions but...
Try going View>Gamut Warning and check it. The areas that are too saturated for printing, or "out of gamut" will turn gray. These areas need to be desaturated until the gray goes away. I'd probably keep at least an original file and a separate altered one(s).
You'll also want to look up prepress/preflight information.
...one of probably many ways of doing it...

[K-bot]

If you are even slightly serious about printing, get a spyder and let it calibrate your monitor for you.

$50-100 Check amazon

[cosmicfx]

Thanks All! You guys have been very helpful. I'll probably be using all the tips and advice, including checking out the Spyder when I have the cash.

This probably isn't the right section, but I would have the same questions about Painter.
Should I paste the exact question there, at least when it comes to using cmyk friendly colors?
I've read that Painter Only works with rgb, so I'm wondering if there is a way to work in it, but using printing safe colors.

Thanks again
Cosmic