Cover color changes

[aliribelli]

Hi everyone, I have uploaded a cover ( .pdf  file, simple upload), but it looks way darker in the preview. When I download the cover from the Revision page, it looks fine.

I have ordered a proof copy of the book to make sure that the cover won't be printed with a darker shade than originally intended, but I wanted to know why the preview of the book differs from the original color of the cover? Can this defect be fixed?

Thanks for your help!!

[culicidaepress · Accepted solution]

There are really two things here:

1.The cover preview is rather low res on your computer (anybody's computer) because it's a thumbnail, and it tends to be different than the actual print version. This has always been the case (at least since 2005 when I became a Lulu customer).

2. Now, your printout of the cover (in book form) will also tend to be darker than your uploaded file. So, normally you have to adjust your monitor AFTER you get the first copy of your book to make sure that what you see on the screen matches the printout. That way you know that next time it's going to be close. But, in reality there will always be some difference between your computer screen and your printout, even after monitor adjustment, because there is no 100% consistency of color printing anywhere in the world....

Cheers!

[kevinlomas]

Take no notice of the Previews here on the Stores, they are rubbish! (The inner text is OK though.)
No, do not adjust your monitor because that adjusts it for everything on your PC and will not adjust the image! If the printed cover is not as you expect it to be, then just adjust the cover PDF to be brighter or whatever, and re-upload to the Wizard, then delete the older file, and so on.

[seadust]

This doesn't answer your question, but be prepared, it is possible the print copy of the finished book may be slightly darker than your pdf.

Even from the same printing company, subsequent print runs can result in slightly different tones.

Out of interest, my Lulu books are printed in Melbourne.

Marg M

[aliribelli]

The problem in my particular case is that the preview shows a much darker shade in respect to the original cover... I hope it is just the preview, and not the actual book presenting this darker shade. I will notify the community as soon as I receive the proof copy.

[kevinlomas]

If again you mean as seen on your monitor, then it will possibly look different on many monitors! The true test is in the physical printing.

[casperd]

What's the difference come or seen in your monitor when you change your back gorund?

[kevinlomas]

Pardon?

[runner16]

It seems strange. I made my previous books at blurb.com and cover previews were always the same as my PDF on computer/ Printed book had precisely the same tone and colours as PDF. They use Adobe Flash for preview too. I just slightly afraid to buy printed copy...

[kevinlomas]

it seem stranger that someone is posting in a thread that is so old ...