Editor › Learn
Where can I learn about colour management and print preparation?
These guides explain the concepts behind colour-managed print production — colour models, ICC profiles, rendering intents, resolution, bleed and file formats — without assuming prior knowledge. Most end with a short lab you can run in the editor on your own file.
Colour management
- What is an ICC Profile? Colour Management Explained — What is an ICC profile?
- Rendering Intents Explained — What is a rendering intent and which one should I use?
- Black Point Compensation — What is black point compensation?
- Soft Proofing in Practice — What is soft proofing and how accurate is it?
- Color Spaces — What is a colour space and which one should I work in?
- Gamut Explained — What is a colour gamut?
- Why CMYK Looks Dull — Why do my colours look dull after converting to CMYK?
- Assign vs Convert Profile — What is the difference between assigning a profile and converting to a profile?
Print and resolution
- RGB vs CMYK — What is the difference between RGB and CMYK?
- What is CMYK? A Practical Explanation for Print — What is CMYK?
- PPI vs DPI — What is the difference between PPI and DPI, and what resolution do I need for print?
- How to Prepare Artwork for Commercial Printing — How do I prepare artwork for commercial printing?
- Understanding Bleed — What is bleed and how much do I need?
- Total Ink Coverage (TAC) — What is total ink coverage and why does my printer care?
- Rich Black vs Plain Black vs Registration Black — What is the difference between rich black, plain black and registration black?
- How to Export a Print-Ready PDF — How do I export a print-ready PDF?
- Convert Image to CMYK Online — How do I convert an image to CMYK online without uploading it?
File formats
- Choosing the Right Image Format — Which image format should I use?
- The PSD Format Explained — What is a PSD file and what does it actually contain?
- TIFF vs JPEG — What is the difference between TIFF and JPEG?
- TIFF Editor in Your Browser — How can I edit a TIFF file online without losing quality?
- What Are Smart Objects? Non-Destructive Editing Explained — What are Smart Objects?
Checklists you can print
- Pre-Press Checklist — What should I check before sending artwork to a printer?
- CMYK Conversion Checklist — What is the correct order of steps for converting an image to CMYK?
- Export Checklist — What should I check when exporting a finished image?
Product and browser
- Colour Accuracy — How does PhotoAIA manage colour, and how accurate is it?
- Browser Support — Which browser should I use with PhotoAIA, and why?
- Known Limitations and Roadmap — What does PhotoAIA not do well yet?
- Why a Browser? PhotoAIA’s Architecture and Limits — Why does PhotoAIA run in a browser instead of as a desktop application?