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December 27, 2017
Question

Working with FM colors

  • December 27, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 990 views

1st Question (Meaning of 'Don't print')

  1. Create a new blank page.
  2. Add a new color: View > Color > Definitions, for example
    • Name: gold
    • Print As: 'Don't print'
    • Model: RGB
    • #: FFD700
  3. Assign the new color to a paragraph tag.
  4. Write some text in a paragraph.
  5. Assign the aforementioned paragraph tag to the paragraph. The text is formatted with the new color (gold).
  6. (optional): Write some more text in another paragraph using another paragraph tag.
  7. Print the document (Adobe PDF printer).

The text, formatted with the 'Don't print' color (gold), is still visible:

What did I do wrong? What's the meaning of 'Don't print'?

2nd Question (RGB or CMYK?)

Matt: All [16] default FrameMaker colors are RGB colors.

In InDesign, there is an icon showing the color model of a color (RGB or CMYK).

But in FrameMaker, how can I find out, wether a color is a RGB color or a CMYK color?

3rd Question (Conversion of the color models)

When exploring the FM color definitions (View > Color > Definitions), one can change the color model from RGB to CMYK and vice versa (FM converts the colors.). But how is the FM conversion done? Other tools (InDesign, LibreOffice, etc.) provide different color conversions from RGB to CMYK. Two examples:

Forest Green:

FrameMaker-RGB: (33, 138, 33)

FrameMaker-CMYK: (41%, 0%, 41%, 46%)

InDesign-CMYK: (83%, 19%, 100%, 6%)

LibreOffice-CMYK: (76%, 0%, 76%, 46%)

Olive:

FrameMaker-RGB: (102, 102, 0)

FrameMaker-CMYK: (0%, 0%, 40%, 60%)

InDesign-CMYK: (57%, 41%, 100%, 33%)

LibreOffice-CMYK: (0%, 0%, 100%, 60%)

Can someone please explain the different conversions? Many thanks.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    Matt-Tech Comm Tools
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 27, 2017

    Great questions! But these responses would change based on context that's not provided.

    What problems are prompting you to dive into the conversions?

    1st Question (Meaning of 'Don't print')

    As I started in commercial printing, this option seems as useful as a sixth toe. I always figured it would be used for printing color separations, which is mainly used for large run commercial printing of color documents.

    (Apologies to anyone with extra toes...I'm sure they're wonderful!)

    But what are you trying to accomplish? The View > Color > Views command will let you "hide" colors as needed.

    2nd Question (RGB or CMYK?)

    Use RGB for docs that will be primarily viewed on screens. Use CMYK for docs that will be primarily used in printed form.

    Use View > Color > Definitions to investigate details or convert from RGB to CMYK.

    3rd Question (Conversion of the color models)

    Although I'd trust InDesign more than others, don't rely on any software app to give you an acceptable conversion.

    You've asked a question that's confounded just about every producer of color documents since the start of desktop publishing...

    Accurate color is a complicated topic, but in general:

    • If you are choosing RGB colors from your screen, look into screen calibrators/calibration before choosing a color.
    • If you are choosing CMYK colors for print, use a swatch book printed on the stock you intend to print on.
    -Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant
    Known Participant
    June 13, 2019

    On the same topic, I would like to know why the FrameMaker 2019 UI is so hopelessly inaccurate at displaying CMYK-defined colors? Our company logo uses a muted dark blue, CMYK=100, 68, 0, 12. When working in Illustrator, the UI shows a nicely accurate representation on screen. However, in FrameMaker 2019, exactly the same color definition results in a strong bright blue, far away form the correct color. What is more concerning, if an AI file using this color is linked in a FrameMaker document, and appears alongside a FrameMaker drawing object using exactly the same color definition, when printed to PDF they appear as different blues when they should identical. Attempting to use Pantone definitions within FrameMaker is a similar world of pain! Clearly, the FrameMaker 2019 UI color engine is still as ancient and innaccurate as it's always been. Would it be possible for the FrameMaker developers to speak to the Illustrator developers, and ask them for some help?

    Adobe Employee
    June 13, 2019

    Could you please share the sample logo with us once so we can look into it. On the UI (FrameMaker authoring) it may appear different and that is an area we need to work on, however in PDF it should come as-is.

    Thanks

    Amitoj Singh

    Email: amitosin@adobe.com