Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
— I just bought Color Library profiles today but didn’t receive a download link?
The email with the downloadable link can take up to 20 min to arrive depending on server settings.
If you still can’t find it, check your spam Inbox ! If it’s not there, you might have linked your PayPal account with another email, and the link will be probably in the inbox of the account link with your Paypal. If you still don’t find the downloadable link, please contact our Support Team.
— I’m using a Risograph, but cannot find the colors that I need ?
The standard, NEON and METAL color profiles can also be used with a Risograph. The RISO profiles are made specially for the inks that doesn’t fit any other color system. In any case, it is also possible to change the colors after conversion (for exemple: Green to Kelly Green, or Blue to Aqua). You can have a look in the tutorial video (changing colors).
— Is it possible to create a custom Color Library profile?
Yes, it is possible to create custom Color Library profiles. Costs depend on the number of colors and the complexity of the inks, please find our range of prices and requirements, here. We are constantly developing new profiles, but we are happy to help you if you need a specific profile. If you need a custom profile, please contact our Service Team.
— Where do I install Color Library profiles?
The Color Library profiles are ICC Profiles. They can be installed on both Mac and Windows. If you have trouble installing the files, follow the Installation instructions or the step by step Video.
— I’m not able to convert my image in Adobe Photoshop, what should I do?
Make sure that your original image is in RGB, CMYK, Lab, or Greyscale mode and in 8 Bits/Channel (Image > Mode > 8 Bits/Channel). Please note that all instructions for converting, editing, saving, and exporting images are based on Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) 2015.
— Why does the image preview look different in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat Reader?
In multichannel mode, the screen preview in Adobe Photoshop is not very accurate, especially in the case of special colors such as neon and metallic inks. Adobe InDesign, with Display Performance set to High Quality, usually gives a more accurate preview of the ink overlap. When exporting PDF files, you can view all the channels in Acrobat Pro (View > Output > Color Separation). However, in almost all cases the on-screen preview will differ from the printed results. We recommend printing proofs with the correct paper and printer in order to obtain the best results.
— Why do some images give better results than others?
The Color Library files cannot do everything for you. Ensure that your original images have good luminosity and contrast before converting with the Color Library Profiles. Depending on the colors you choose and the quality of your images, adding more saturation and contrast can improve the results. JPEG compression of input files can significantly degrade the quality of converted images; high-quality input files will provide the best results. We recommend using images without JPEG compression at 300 dots per inch (DPI).
— Why do some images look very colorful and some look almost black and white?
The Color Library profile automatically represents all colors from the input image using the ink colors selected for the converted image, generating the best possible color mapping for the selected combination of inks. With only two spot colors, not all colors can be rendered. Colors that are away from the surface will be mapped to the surface. However, if the two spot colors are complementary to one another (hue angle difference of 180°), then they can also produce near neutral tones, and therefore can create neutral shadow areas of an image in addition to the two primaries. If the predominant colors of the original are mostly in a cluster that is perpendicular to the plane of the ink gamut, then the reproduced image will be predominantly gray. For example, if you choose to use red and black inks, and your image contains blue tones, your output will only be printed in black.
— What happens when you convert a black-and-white image with Color Library?
When converting a black-and-white image, Color Library will try to mix the different colors to be as close as possible to the original. If you want to add more color to the final image, you can modify the various color channels.
— Can I use different inks, or PANTONE colors, in addition to those named in Photoshop after the conversion?
Of course, you can use different variations of colors and inks. The PANTONE color named in Photoshop is a basic color that was used to generate the Color Library file. For more information, please read the Changing color names section in Converting an image.
— Can I print multichannel images with a laser or inkjet printer?
The multichannel images are not meant to be printed with standard laser or inkjet printers. However, you can create a PDF from your multichannel images and then print it on those printers, while keeping in mind the comments above regarding preview accuracy.
— Do I need a license to use a Color Library profile?
Yes, you need a license to use the profiles on a single computer. If you want to install the profiles on more than one computer, you need to buy a multi-user license during checkout. Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully.
— Do I need to pay Value-Added Tax (VAT/TVA/MwSt.)?
Please note that all prices are currently exclusive of Swiss value-added tax (VAT), because Color Library is a non-profit organization. However the Swiss registry number of Color Library is CHE-451.769.975.