Steve Carlisle interviewed several top photographers and digital color experts in the early days of digital photography about how they work prepare images for printing with proper color. The camera produces an image composed of three colors (Red, Green & Blue • RGB), but printing presses use 4-color separations that involve a 4th plate, black, which helps expand contrast.

Each photograph has a bias that comes from the temperature of the light being used to illuminate the scene. Daylight is somewhat blue compared to morning & afternoon lighting, which has more red casts. Color management software, which gave photographers and pre-press technicians a framework where white balancing and color fidelity can have a reference. Color patches are captured and compared to known color values and a suggested conversion results in a shift to colors that people expect to see.

The article explores techniques used by pioneers of digital capture and reveals their secrets to converting RGB files to CMYK, suitable for the offset printing press.