Expert: Nick Putthoff - 1/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: I just sent my client a jpg of and .ai file. Can that file become distorted and or lose color quality.

He is saying that the skin tone has changed since my last file and that the image is distorted.

ANSWER: Laurie,

Many things can change the way that a file will view. If the last file that your customer viewed was a jpeg that was exported from Illustrator using the same jpeg export options/settings then you could assume that the viewing difference is on your customer's end.
If the previous file was a different format - a PDF for instance - it will view differently than the same file exported as a jpeg. Any jpeg options that were changed to reduce the file size will change the appearance of the image.
So many things are out of your control once you release the file that it would be impossible to address every possible scenario.

Files will view differently on different computers.

Ambient light can affect the way a file will view - If the monitor has easily accessible controls then brightness, contrast or color balance could be changed accidentally or adjustments could have been made to adjust for sunlight coming through a window.

Soft proofing for copy/content is great for accommodating tight schedules but nothing beats a hard proof for color. Sometimes the very things that makes emailing proofs desirable make the process unreliable unless a customer understands the limitations and liabilities.

Good Luck


Nick

Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Nick, I did pass on what you told me and for my client that was not good enough. because it did not fix his problem, but I do appreciate your helping me. I did find the problem. When I sent the image to the printers, it was saved as a CMYK color as specified. That made sense!  But when I sent the file to my client as a CMYK color it changed the coloring to become very contrast-y. So with the help of a problem solving IT husband. He checked each file preference and my clients PC needed a sRGB file vs. CMYK file to print from. Can you tell my what the difference is for desktop printing and why his little printing from home was changed by the file I sent vs. the file he needed.

Answer
Laurie,
I hope my previous response helps. But for what it is worth: I work preparing artwork that is supplied from designers and artists like yourself. The company that I work for employs what I consider to be modern day "mad scientists" that control color and monitor and calibrate each device so that it produce consistent and predictable results.

On desktop printers the same file printed on different printers can look quite different. When each print is examined on its own the results are often considered to be excellent. But when the prints are viewed side by side with prints from other devices of the same or different manufacturers they will appear quite different from one another even though they are the result of the exact same file. Most under $100 dollar printers would fall into this category of desktop printers.
Unfortunately customers like yours will require a great deal of patience and education. Hopefully it will all work out.


Good Luck

Nick