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K
Kaoru Yamaoka
Inspiring
January 27, 2026
Answered

Illustrator does not show imported PSD's color correctly

  • January 27, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 161 views

Illustrator 2026 displays the colors of a placed PSD file differently than Photoshop.

I checked the software settings in the screenshots below: both files use the Adobe RGB (1998) color profile, and the color management settings have been synchronized via Adobe Bridge. I’ve also attached a minimal reproduction file. I hope this bug can be fixed soon.

Correct answer Kaoru Yamaoka

Seems like the bug is related to main display setting. I’ve got my home setup with EIZO EV2785 + LG 27UQ850V-W, lid closed and tested newest version:

  • When main display is set to EV2785 (color profile EV2785), it works fine for EV2785. Color is off for LG.
  • When main display is set to LG (likely wider gamut compared to EIZO) it almost works (+/- 1 color difference). Color is off for EIZO.

So, maybe yes, it has to do something with display color profile and/or main display settings.

3 replies

Anubhav M
Community Manager
Anubhav MCommunity Manager
Community Manager
March 4, 2026

Hello ​@Kaoru Yamaoka 

 

Sorry for the delayed response. Could you try using it now and checking if it behaves correctly?

Anubhav

K
Kaoru YamaokaAuthor
Inspiring
March 12, 2026

No, it’s still showing slightly different value. Works on My M1 MBP’s main display now but not for external display.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 12, 2026

Can you check the color profile of your external display? There were problems mentioned when the external display had another profile than sRGB. Can you try sRGB?

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 27, 2026

​@Kaoru Yamaoka there is a difference between linked files and embedded files.

When files are placed linked, the color picker uses the image preview for the color values.

When files are embedded, the real values from the image are used.

This is a problem that was solved last year, but has come back unfortunately.

 

    K
    Kaoru YamaokaAuthor
    Inspiring
    January 28, 2026

    Thank you for pointing it out, it solved my question about the Illustrator Eyedropper bug. However, I’m still seeing incorrect color values even when the PSD is embedded in the Illustrator file: Illustrator displays the colors differently from Photoshop. (The Eyedropper shown in the screenshots is the macOS Digital Color Meter, not the Illustrator Eyedropper.)

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 28, 2026

    Good to hear that helped. The eyedropper from MacOS shows the screen preview values and not the real Photoshop numbers. If you want the correct values, embed the files and use the Illustrator eyedropper.

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