Book Picture preview

kazred

Hi there,

I have noticed that my book preview colours looks very saturated - it looks different from my PDF file that i've up loaded, do i need to make changes to the preview image?

john_m_haines_books

If you mean the preview generated by Lulu as a taster for punters, then sadly they are very low res'. To get the idea of the true print quality, then you're best just sticking to the PDF generated in the process. Don't worry, it's the same for all of us.

kazred

Yes i mean the generated preview - the image looks very saturated and may put off buyers, not sure if its because its low res 

john_m_haines_books

My guess would still be it's to do with the res, but just in case, best open a ticket with support and let them have a shufti.

Just Kevin

The Previews are indeed very lo-res Flash images, and there's nothing we can do to make them look any better. But if you are using an ISBN, the Previews created by and on many other sites, such as Amazon, are much clearer.

kazred

Ah okay thanks 

Taylor_Lulu

Hi Kazred,

We can reach out to our development team to see if the preview can be fixed. I recommend to make a support case here.

Just Kevin

They never look as good as the original or the print Taylor, I am not sure what you can do about that other than not use Flash. Or can the res be changed?

http://www.lulu.com/shop/kevin-lomas/lilium-saffron-dewbell-part-one/paperback/product-23672188.html

kazred

hi, my print ready cover is fine - but the preview image as you see here have a bright green tinge

 

Taylor_Lulu

Hi Kevin,

I believe we can change the cover so it shows in RGB instead of CMYK on the listing which helps it look much better. I do not believe the resolution can be changed.

There has not been talk of how we are handling previews on the next iteration of Lulu but I know we will not be using Flash.

kazred

ok thanks - i've sent the help team a message 

Just Kevin

Hello Taylor, and thanks. One possibility is to reduce the physical default size of the Previews. As they are, it could be enlarging the actual res more than it can really stand.

Taylor_Lulu

Hi Kevin,

I will definitely mention the size of the previews and the resolution to our development team to keep in mind for the future!

kazred

Hi Taylor - it's all been fixed now looks perfect - thanks 

Just Kevin

So what has been done? And why did it have to be done?

Taylor_Lulu

Be default, our system will display the file in the color space that it was uploaded in.

In the case of print, this is usually CMYK. CMYK doesn't always display well on computer screens and we are usually able to swap it with the RGB files.

Just Kevin

Hrmm, I am not sure I understand that. CMYK (plus Black) is for colour separations when printing. POD printers do not use separations in the manner of individual plates. RGB was (and often still is) the colour separations generated by TVs and monitors. I think for computers that started off in 8bit when PCs only had 3 colours. (Some LEDs now break it in to CMYK lights though!) I, and I assume many others, upload jpgs for the covers, which are then turned in to PDFs. Are you saying within those files they are still coded as colour separation 'plates?'

kazred

Hi Taylor - i have just received my first proof - the front cover is a bit different as its in CMYK colour version -  i would prefer the RGB colour version if that is possible 

Just Kevin

Taylor was referring to the images as seen on line, not to actual prints. Read my posting above your last one. Bear in mind that the actual printed covers may not look the same as the original on your PC, because you may not have configured your monitor to show you exactly the same image as the printed one. If you have your own printer, then experiment until the print looks the same as it does on your monitor.

kazred

Oh okay thanks - i will see if i can change it

Just Kevin

Perhaps I should have said, experiment with your monitor settings until it looks the same as your print test (on your own printer.)

kazred

The preview image looks accurate now - i have an up dated proof coming soon