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scottsbluffs26678226
Participant
May 28, 2020
Answered

Illustrator Changing CMYK Values

  • May 28, 2020
  • 13 replies
  • 26674 views

So I'm setting up artwork for t-shirt separations. I have to use absolute CMYK values to print the separartions accurately, i.e. 100% Black, 50% Yellow, 25% Cyan to match the halftones and color combinations I need to make out spot ink colors.

The issue I'm having is converting an object to my CMYK tones. It is a complex object, made with several layers and a gradient mesh. I set one color to 100% Cyan, and it changes to 69% Cyan and 14% Yellow the next time I check it. From 100%Magenta and 100% Black, it goes to 57, 75, 68, 82.

I am using the "Recolor Artwork" tool.

I have changed my Document Set Up to CMYK and have tried copying it into a completely new document already set to CMYK. Typing in the values or selecting them from the swatches has no effect.

    Correct answer SundayGladiator

    Wish I could upload here the 'THANK YOU!' gif of Steve Carell from The Office.

    This finally worked. The key for me was to create a Spot Color of the CMYK values I needed. 

    The kludgyness and layers of AI's color profiles, workspaces, headspaces, et al was giving me a spatial headache. 

    13 replies

    Show previous replies
    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 29, 2020

    So the file's color mode is CMYK?

    I don't understand why you need to convert objects to CMYK.

     

    S
    scottsbluffs26678226Author
    Participant
    May 29, 2020

    The artwork was created in full color to send proofs to the customer. Once it is done and I have to print separations for the screenprinter, I have to convert the full color into absolute CMYK values like this:

    Dark Brown-100% Cyan

    White- 100% Magenta

    Light Brown- 100% Yellow

    My screen printer uses spot ink colors instead of Process Colors when he prints.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 29, 2020

    I wonder why you did not use spot colors to start with?

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 28, 2020

    You can check at the bottom of your file if the color profile of your document is the same as in your Color Settings.

    And try to turn on warnings for Profile Mismatches.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 28, 2020

    How is your color management setup?

    Illustrator only changes CMYK values when you convert between differen color profiles, RGB > CMYK, but also CMYK > CMYK.

    S
    scottsbluffs26678226Author
    Participant
    May 28, 2020

    Here are my color settings. I don't ever change them and rarely have this problem. Most times I can fix it by creating a new file or restarting illustrator, but this file is being stubborn.

     

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