I've been using Inkscape for a long time, but only recently needed to get things professionally printed. When I did, results were not what I expected. I naively sent them the results of a "Save As..." PDF, and the dark green in my logo came out black, and what was meant to be a golden yellow was nearly fluorescent. It was the same the next time, when I sent a large-scale PNG. Same with EPS.

After a lot of reading I'm still just as confused about what to do to avoid such problems in the future. Most threads I've found just trail off into some technical explanation of color space with no solution. There's extensions that separate an image into CMYK layers, but I have no idea what for. I haven't seen a single printer's website that mentions color profiles, separated CMYK, or any other kind of technicalities, but they must get it right for most of their customers... so presumably there's some shared knowledge that I'm missing. What?

More pragmatically, can anyone tell me how THEY get Inkscape to output work that prints properly? Or how to post-process it? (I like command line tools myself, but anything that works will make me happy.)

(Right now I use Inkscape 0.48.2 from the PPA on Launchpad, under Ubuntu 11.10.)

It`s a huge subject to be elaborated shortly, but I`ll suggest some steps which would hopefully lead you to the better printed results.

First of all, you`ll need a calibrated monitor. Somehow I believe you already have or will find a way with this one, but it is a step one for anything related with colors and computers.

Almost all printshops are relaying on CMYK, therefor it would be nice if you could get your self a Pantone or similar tone/color chart. Real one, not on screen (which is the Plan B). If you manage to find appropriate/desired color on that chart, you are so close to entering the colors code (the one you prefer) and that should be it.

Also, Inkscape supports color profiles which would help in accurate presentation of colors on the screen, and make things even more easier. I haven`t experimented much with it, but as a third step, it would make your future working hours at least a bit more pleasant. Why do you need color profiles? In short, on screen you are in fact looking into "numbers" presented as "colors". Sort of illusion, but in printshop and on paper or whatever material - there are no illusions, if not wanted ,) If you don`t prefer your eyes to be tricked by "translators" (from numbers to colors) you`ll need to make them understand each other. Be sure that people in printshops have already done that, cause that way they can tell whose error is that awful color down there on the paper ,)

*translators
- operating systems: quite enough types
- graphic cards : so many types
- color profiles: so many types
- graphical standards (counting personal preferences also): way to many
- monitors and their settings: so many types
- desired colors: endless possibilities
(*edit)
- graphic applications: raster or vector?

In case you find this as another explanation with no pragmatic solution... exported files would also need that part of understanding with translators. Depending on the size in which your files would be printed, you`ll need to take care of appropriate resolution also (billboards of 5x10 meters would have around 20dpi, but framed photography on your desk would look nice on 300dpi ... and so on). I think there is no universal solution, and if you plan to do things professionally, you`ll need to dive a bit deeper into color space(s).

Maestral wrote:Almost all printshops are relaying on CMYK, therefor it would be nice if you could get your self a Pantone or similar tone/color chart. Real one, not on screen (which is the Plan B). If you manage to find appropriate/desired color on that chart, you are so close to entering the colors code (the one you prefer) and that should be it.

I actually already know the Pantone colors for the logo in question. But... what do I do with those numbers? Is there somewhere to enter them in Inkscape?

Also, Inkscape supports color profiles which would help in accurate presentation of colors on the screen, and make things even more easier.

How do I know what the appropriate color profile to use is, though? I've never seen a printer offering color profile info on their website, so what does everyone else use?

I think there is no universal solution, and if you plan to do things professionally, you`ll need to dive a bit deeper into color space(s).

I can learn about color space in more detail, sure. But what I'm asking here is: how do I use whatever I learn in relation to Inkscape?

- Oh, I forgot to add graphic applications to the list of translators. Thanks for reminding me.
Perhaps you didn`t know about this one... http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.html
Also useful one... http://codewideopen.blogspot.com/2010/1 ... -cmyk.html

- Since you`ve never seen that on their websites, asking them could solve the thing. Or try with ICC in google search.

- Hope that reminder from the first line does explains the third one. Not to be misunderstood, related to this subject, Inkscape is not different from any other graphical application, so your knowledge about color spaces would be universal and applicable in any other app.