unsharp mask settings for newsprint

Using the unsharp mask filter in Photoshop is the quickest way to employ this necessary step to ensure images are reproduced sharply in newsprint. Sure, smart sharpen gives you more control over the image, however when working within a fast-paced studio environment, time is not always on your side.

Newsprint is produced at a substantially lower quality to that of offset printing and will result in images looking blurred, especially when registration issues (moiré pattern) has occurred.

Before applying unsharp mask to an image; you must ensure that it is placed in InDesign at 100%.This enables the user to apply the correct amount of sharpening to the image.

Select the image, copy the ‘W’ (width) measurement from the control toolbar; open the image in Photoshop and resize the width from the image size menu.

Import the new image and the percentage will now be at 100%.

Open the image in Photoshop and select unsharp mask from the filters menu.

Enter the above settings. Make sure you are previewing the image at 100% to see the final result accurately. When applying the Unsharp Mask Filter the onscreen result should look excessive – but it is necessary in order to reproduce correctly.

+ the original

+ unsharp mask applied

Over the years I have found these settings to work effectively with the majority of shots – and have developed automated workflows which use this as the basis for apply sharpness to images.

PDF Distiller Workflow

Creating an effective PDF workflow is relatively simple and a straightforward process. Implementing a distiller workflow is very useful within a production studio utilising multiple operators.

There are only three components which form the workflow:
• Distiller Settings (ie. newsprint, and offset)
• Watched Folders (which may sit locally or on a server)
• Print Settings (within InDesign for exporting postscript files)

All these take little time to set up and once in place, you will not need to think to much about weather a PDF has been created using the appropriate settings.

Firstly, ensure your Distiller Settings are correct and named appropriately for easy identification. Create different settings for different applications, for example, settings for offset print work and another for newspaper advertising.

 

Secondly, setup a ‘Watched Folder’ within Distiller from the settings menu. However, identify a location where the folder will be easily accessible, either locally on your hard drive for personal use or on a network server for multiple operators to access.

Load the appropriate settings for the desired watched folder, and select your post processing options. Add additional watched folders as required.

 

Thirdly, setup Print Presets within InDesign to ensure your postscript files are created with identical print settings each and every time.

 

Once all three systems are in place, you are ready to print your postscript file into the appropriate ‘in’ folder, which is then processed and placed in the ‘out’ folder of your chosen watched folder. There is no need to change to the required distiller setting in the distiller application as the postscript file will be automatically processed using the predefined setting of that folder.

TIP: Setup shortcuts on you local machine or on the network to quickly print your postscript files to the appropriate ‘watched folder'.

Filename Principals for Images

In a studio environment when working with many designers and operators it can be very difficult to maintain a recognised workflow for images that have been modified for various print media.

Personally, adding certain abbreviations to the end of an image filename can save much time, confusion and headaches.

For example; a professional photographer supplied high resolution RGB 300dpi image for a new advertisement campaign. Obviously the image will need to be optimised for various scenarios including press, magazine and large format printing. However before preparation for these formats the client has as requested some Photoshop work to enhance the image. 

Firstly, the original image must be archived to an ImageServer in its original format. Secondly, Photoshop enhancements are applied and saved as a duplicate copy.

Lastly, various preparations for the desired output scenario are applied and again re-saved as another duplicate.

Applying simple abbreviations to the end of the original filename, images will be easily identifiable to all operators within the studio. The final filename may look something like: originalimage_psd_cmyk_gcr_usm_sm.tif  which would explain the various processes that the image has been through – saving time and frustration.

A general list of abbreviations may include the following:

_cmyk (converted to CMYK)
_gcr (grey component removal applied)
_usm (unsharp mask applied)
_adj (Photoshop work has been done)
_sm (image have been resized smaller)
_lge (image has been resized larger)

This approach will benefit the next operator to easily identify weather a retrieved image will be suitable for another medium.