Tektronix PHASER 380 manual Deciding which color correction to use

4Printing: Beyond the Basics

Deciding which color correction to use

Color printers and computer display screens produce color differently. Printers use the subtractive primaries CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), and produce color when light is reßected off the paper. Computers use the additive primaries RGB (red, green, blue) with a light-emitting CRT screen. The printer and the computer screen each have a different range of possible colors they can produce, with some overlap between them.

Software application packages specify color in different ways, for example as CMYK or RGB, or they may give you a choice. Get to know your applications so you can work more effectively.

There are methods available offering a Þner degree of control over color. The TekColor color corrections, selectable from drivers, the printerÕs front panel, and downloadable utility Þles, provide the easiest method of adjusting printed colors. You can also use one of the following Color Management Systems (CMS) supported by printer proÞles:

■ColorSync on a Macintosh

■Windows 95 Image Color Matching (ICM).

Refer to the on-line manuals on the printerÕs CD-ROM for details on these color systems.

4-4 Phaser 380 Color Printer