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colind36145276
Known Participant
October 23, 2021
Question

Illustrator colors dull on external monitor

  • October 23, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 1466 views

I've been searching for a solution to this for months and have not made any progress  - please help! Using a Gigabyte Aero Intel laptop with a geforce GPU:

Colours on Illustrator are dulled out, but only when using an external monitor. This doesn't appear when I am in any other program (including PS), or on the laptop screen.

I have reset every setting I can think of but it seems like a software issue with Illustrator's monitor colour profile handling? It happens with every monitor I try usb-c or hdmi.

There seem to be a number of users going back a year who have posted this problem without a solution - is this just a known problem that will eventually be fixed?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    S
    samuelb98885907
    Participant
    February 6, 2022

    Any progress with this issue? Exactly the same for me. Only with Illustrator and only with external monitor. 

    C
    colind36145276Author
    Known Participant
    February 7, 2022

    Nothing. Adobe blames the graphics card and the graphics card support blames adobe. Extremely frustrating and I guess I'll have to either buy another new computer or gamble on buying another monitor.

    P
    Promiseo 02
    Participant
    February 7, 2022

    Great. Just bought a new macbook only to find out I can't work with external monitor. Guess I'll hope for the updates or something... I don't know. 

    Ashutosh_Mishra
    Ashutosh_Mishra
    Inspiring
    October 24, 2021

    Hi there,

     

    Sorry to hear about your experience. In addition to the information shared by Scott, Would you mind sharing the version of the OS & Illustrator? Have you tried resetting the preferences of the app? If not, please try doing that & let us know if it helps. Also, please share if you see this issue with some specific files.

    This information would help us assist you accordingly.

     

    Regards,

    Ashutosh

     

    C
    colind36145276Author
    Known Participant
    November 1, 2021

    Hello,

    OS Windows 10 Pro Version 10.0.19042 Build 19042
    Illustrator Version 26.0

    This issue is with all files - RGB and CMYK but ONLY on one external monitor and only on Illustrator (which is why I'm not immediately replacing my monitor).

    I can open the same file in photoshop and in illustrator and the colours are completely different. My color settings are synced via Bridge.

    Scott Falkner
    Community Expert
    Scott FalknerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 23, 2021

    Try toggling View Using GPU in the View menu. Also, is this happening only with RGB files, only with CMYK files, or both? Look in File > Document Color Mode to know which mode you are in. You might be using RGB values in the Color panel but for a CMYK document. Illustrator files can only use one colour mode. A CMYK file can only use CMYK for any colours in the file. An RGB file can only use RGB values. This means in you have a CMYK file and enter RGB values inthe Color panel you will see RGB numbers but the colours displayed will be converted to CMYK. It's a bit confusing and it’s not obvious this is what is happening.

    C
    colind36145276Author
    Known Participant
    November 1, 2021

    Thank you for your reply - This is happening with RGB and CMYK files. Can you explain what you mean by "using RGB values in the Color Panel"? When I select a color it gives me both the CMYK and the RGB values.

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