The (future) benefits of LAB color space Although almost no one uses LAB color as their basic operating environment for manipulation and management of color, there may come a time when it is quite common. Setting as a goal nondestructive color space conversion, LAB color would be a good starting point for the color managed work that might be done in the future. Imagine converting losslessly from Photo CD to LAB color, then displaying the image on an RGB monitor (through an RGB video look-up table) and then proofing to a dye-sublimation or ink jet printer, and finally, making a set of color separations from the same file. In this futuristic scenario, the LAB color image is untouched during all these operations, while the color space is temporarily transformed into the more restrictive color gamuts of proofing and color printing. The trends of dotless halftone printing, and the resulting ability to print on paper with more than four colors of ink, are driving us in this direction. CIELAB (or a similar color space) also offers the broad color gamut that can accommodate six- and seven-color process printing without difficulty. The restrictive gamuts of RGB and CMYK can be expanded to print rich reds, greens and blues not possible using conventional four-color process inks. All of this blue-sky printing, though, requires technology that is not widely available now. Printing presses with seven units, color separation utilities that convert easily from LAB color (or any other space) and the budgets to produce such exotic printing are all limited at present. But one only need to look back a few years to see the radical changes that have shaped the electronic graphic arts to have living proof that nothing is impossible. Next Colorite Home Page OPTIMIZING PHOTO CD -- MENU