Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand [Electronic resources]

Using the Sponge Tool for Out-Of-Gamut Colors

The Sponge tool method is a bit more work intensive; however, it gives you precise control over each out-of-gamut area of the image. Since the Sponge tool removes saturation values from the image based on the speed the tool is dragged across the image, the key to successfully using the Sponge tool to restore out-of-gamut colors is to choose a soft-edged brush, and smooth, even strokes. Practice is the key to good image restoration, and using a drawing tablet as opposed to the mouse will help in the control of the tool.

Use the Sponge Tool Method

Open an RGB image.

Click the

View menu, and then click

Gamut Warning .

Photoshop displays any color outside the CMYK gamut with a predefined color mask.

Select the

Sponge tool.

Click the

Brush list arrow, and then select a soft, round brush tip with a small diameter from the brush tip options.

Click the

Mode list arrow, and then click

Desaturate .

Enter a Flow value of 60 percent.

Click the

Select menu, and then click

Color Range .

Click the

Select list arrow, and then click

Out-Of-Gamut .

Click

OK .

The out-of-gamut areas of the image are now selected, and isolated from the rest of the image.

Click the

Select menu, and then click

Feather .

Enter a Feather value of .5.

This softens the desaturation of the out-of-gamut areas of the image.

Click

OK .

Slowly drag the

Sponge tool over an out-of-gamut area until the color mask disappears.

Continue through the document until all the areas have been corrected.

Press Ctrl+D (Win) or (Mac) to deselect the image areas.

The image is now ready for conversion to CMYK.

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