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HOW DO I CHECK FOR EXCESSIVE TAC? 2 options we recommend involve viewing from a PDF.


1. If you have Acrobat Professional it’s always a good idea for you to use its inbuilt preflight software to check your pdf is correct for all aspects, as well as ink coverage. There are many pre-set profiles and fixes already within the preflight panel but if you would like us to send you ours, please ask.


2. Also within Acrobat and its ‘Output Preview’ pallet, is the option to include the correct simulation profile (Coated Fogra 39) and the ability to highlight areas of excessive T.A.C.


Set the percentage to 330%, check the box and your pdf will glow green where the elements of excessive ink appears.


Another option is to open an image within Photoshop and get your ‘Info’ pallet to view. From the menu at the side there is a ‘Panel option’. In here you can set the second column to show ‘Total Ink’. Move your cursor over any part of the image and it will display both the CMYK values and the T.A.C. This is a manual process though, Photoshop will not automatically check for you.


I’VE CHECKED AND MY IMAGE CONTAINS EXCESSIVE T.A.C. - WHAT DO I DO?


The next step is to see whether the ink levels within the image CAN be reduced without compromising reproduction. For this you need to open the image within Photoshop. The easiest way to do this is to re-apply the Coated Fogra 39 profile as this will apply the GCR specifications within the profile and will try to choke the T.A.C. to a manageable 330%. GCR is a means of reducing the C, M and Y channels in the shadow areas without affecting the hue. It also increases the Black channel to enhance the depth.


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