Very Computer

I have a flyer I need to reproduce at a local copy shop and the photos in it
come out "goo..."

Are there half-tone settings in Photoshop that will produce decent looking
photos from a copy machine. Complete armature here so would need the shape,
angel etc. Can print the master on either a HP 1120c or Alps 2300.

Thank you

Go to a shop that will accept your computer file (on disk). They may charge
a little extra than just being able to copy from the glass but you will get
better results. Be sure your resolution on text & scans is at a decent
number for reproduction - 200 dpi should be OK just for copies. Do not give
them 72 dpi (screen resolution). This will result in your output being
pixilated (jaggies).
Keith

Being a veteran of small-press publishing, this is an area where I've had a lot
of practice. :)

For good quality photocopiers, you should use an 85-line halftone screen for
your images. A tighter screen will reduce the number of shades of gray your
image will have, especially on a 600 dpi printer, and will not photocopy as
clearly.

Very, very important to photocopy reproduction is the quality of the image
going in to the process. Photocopying introduces significant "dot gain" into
your images; what that means is that photocopied images become much darker.

To get good results when reproducing an image on a photocopier, you must get
familiar with Photoshop's Curves command. This command is found under
Image->Adjust->Curves. You also must have your Info palette open and be
familiar with how to read the numbers in it.

Start with a grayscale image. Set your Info palette so that one of the two
readouts displays "actual color." Open the Curves window
(Image->Adjust->Curves).

Since photocopying darkens an image, you are going to lighten it. It should
look too light and slightly washed-out on your screen. If it looks perfect on
your screen, it will look muddy and dark when you photocopy it.

First, position the mouse pointer over the darkest part of the image which
still contains detail. This part of the image should not be 100% printing
according to the Info palette. Instead, it should be no more than about 85%
printing; the shadows in your image will darken dramatically on the
photocopier.

If the darkest shadow detail in your image is darker than 85%, pull down the
shadow end of your curve (the right-hand part of the curve in the Curves
dialog) until your Info palette shows it to be about 85%.

Now look at the lightest part of the image which still contains detail (not the
part which should print pure white; the lightest part that shows detail). It
should be 5-6% in your Info window. If it is lighter than this, that part of
the image will be pure white (no detail) on the photocopier. If it is darker,
lighten it by moving the left-hand point on the curve to the right until the
Info palette shows you it is about 5-6% printing.

Now pull the middle of the curve down slightly.

The image will look much lighter on your screen. This is what you want.

Click OK in the Curves dialog. Now print the image to your laser printer, using
an 85-line halftone screen. Your results when you photocopy should be much
better.

Note that ink-jet printers DO NOT use halftone screens! They reproduce images
using a process called a "diffusion dither." Ink-jet output does not photocopy
well.

Hope that helps.

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