Old illustrator files open in RGB mode instead of CMYK mode

Hello all,

With the most recent update, illustrator opens all my saved files in RGB mode instead of the previously saved CMYK mode.

Since I work with countless of different templates all meant for print, this is a huge pain to correct each time I open the files.

Will this be fixed or did the update change my settings?

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Correct answer Monika Gause

So you saved a CMYK file. With Black = 100K

And when you opened it, it was an RGB file?

Are you sure that not just the color panel was set to display RGB? And when you set it to CMYK, what happens?

Community Expert

Can you share one of those older Illustrator files?

Community Expert

Which system is it? Ventura?

Can you please define RGB mode? Does it just mean that your colors are very bright? Or did the color mode actually got converted?

Participating Frequently

I'm still on MacOS Monterey 12.5.1, but I'm upgrading as we speak, maybe it will help.

And not the actual color mode inluding colour got converted.

For example: my black swatch got converted from 100 % K to C 74,61 / M 67,58 / Y 66,8 / K 89,84

Correct answer

Community Expert

So you saved a CMYK file. With Black = 100K

And when you opened it, it was an RGB file?

Are you sure that not just the color panel was set to display RGB? And when you set it to CMYK, what happens?

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