Participant

Answered

"Your current color settings discard CMYK profiles in linked content" error message

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
March 8, 2009
10 replies
100324 views

I keep getting the following error message:

"Your current color settings discard CMYK profiles in linked content but profiles were set to be honored when this document was created."

every time I open an Illustrator document. I have no idea how this setting was set and no idea how to turn it off. I am just using the standard N America Prepress color setting in Bridge.

I have tried opening new documents using the supplied Ai CS4 new document profiles, no luck. So I am assuming it's a pref that is set in the app itself, yet I have no idea how to change this setting? I don't even see anything referring to a setting like this.

I found this archived discussion: http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?128@@.59b58d84 which had no resolution. Thought I would throw it out there again and see if anyone has been able to fix this. It drives me insane having to deal with that error every time I open a saved document.

Correct answer Monika Gause

I'm glad someone asked this. This fix seems to just cover up the problem. I would like to understand exactly what it's seeing and how to fix incoming art or what my workspace management policies should be and why. I can design stuff but I don't understand all the technical coloring stuff that my presses need.

If you receive files from other people then the only way to get rid of the error is to set up your environment just as they did.

This warning is just a notification that different settings have been used. The setting the warning is reminding you of, concerns how CMYK profiles are handled. Will a profile mismatch cause Illustrator to convert color according to the different profiles? Or will Illustrator keep the numbers and discard the different profile.

In CMYK most of the time you want to keep the numbers, because you don't want 100 K black to be converted into something dirty and you don't want a 100% yellow converted to something that has some percent of dark ink in it.

trofinaf49962364

Participant

To give the most correct and apt solution to the problem i've come from the other side of the world. NP, the solution is:

Close all adobe apps.
Open Adobe Bridge. Go to edit > Color Setting > Apply.
You are done.
No more color profile message. Enjoy!

Bye Bye Guys!

Monika Gause

Community Expert

@trofinaf49962364 schrieb:

No more color profile message. Enjoy!

That will not solve it for everyone.

N

Nitteina

Participant

So I think I figured it out.
Edit > Color Settings > Color Managment Policies > CMYK drop down to "Preserve Embedded Profiles"

Not sure why that's not the default.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

So I think I figured it out.
Edit > Color Settings > Color Managment Policies > CMYK drop down to "Preserve Embedded Profiles"

Not sure why that's not the default.

By @Nitteina

It's not the default, because it can lead to muddy black when exporting to PDF into a different profile.

The message about that "your current color settings ..." is not an error. If you change your color management setup in order to not receive messages about other peoples' files, then you're doing it wrong. Your color settings should match your workflow.

R

Rechelle23383886ponl

Participant

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzelT5fozFo&ab_channel=JuxxCreative this is how I fixed it on mine

Monika Gause

Community Expert

this is how I fixed it on mine

By @Rechelle23383886ponl

The "error" discussed in this thread actually is not an error. It's just a warning. It doesn't need to be "fixed" - unless after analyzing the situation and your color workflow you come to the conclusion that you want to handle the situation differently than your current settings do.

You have to fully understand color management when using any modern publishing software ("modern" in this case being anything newer than 20 years and it is not just Adobe applications).

Cheryllion

Known Participant

I think the problem with that is, it's hard to "fully understand color management". What I do in illustrator is completely different from what my printer does in illustrator. And if I'm never going to work with the files the way that they do, I'll never understand if that one warning is affecting them in a way that it's not affecting me. I don't even know how to learn what all that stuff means unless I work in a print shop for a while. And that's not going to happen anytime soon. 😆

I think what I would love is more of an explanation on Illustrator's end. Instead of just telling me something isn't jiving, maybe give me an explanatory option or two that helps me fix it. Otherwise I'm just going to always ignore this, hoping that my stuff comes out okay on the other end, or hoping that my press person understands it and will get back to me if there's a problem.

A

Anonymous

A solution that may work (seems to work for me):

- Go to "Edit > Color Settings".

- Set "CMYK" to "Preserve Embedded Profiles".

- Open your document (the one that provoke the warning).

- The warning will appear ("WARNING: Your current color settings honor CMYK profiles in linked content but profiles were set to be ignored when this document was created.").

- Click "Continue".

- Add a modification to the document (like adding and then removing a shape).

- Save the document (using either "File > Save as > Illustrator file" or "File > Save").

- Reopen the document.

- The warning (may) have disappeared.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

- Set "CMYK" to "Preserve Embedded Profiles".

By @6159229

That setting may lead to CMYK to CMYK conversions turning 100K to muddy black, which is something you might or might not want.

It's very risky to change to this setting for the sole purpose of getting rid of a warning that doesn't do any harm to your file.

A

Anonymous

Monika Gause added some feedback on this post:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/error-message/m-p/13074753#M328595

I paste them below.

Anyway, choosing "Preserve Embedded Profiles" or "Preserve Numbers (Ignore Linked Profiles)" should get rid of the "Warning" in either case, if you follow my solution.
--- --- ---
JYBE’S REPLY :

Thank you for your feedback, Monika. Do you think choose one of the 3 others option whould be better? (because I need to choose one anyway)
1) Off
2) Preserve Numbers (Ignore Linked Profiles)

3) Convert to Working Space

--- --- ---

MONIKA'S REPLY:

For vector content "Preserve numbers" is the best choice, because CMYK vector content most of the time cannot be handled by the ICC based conversion workflows. Converting colors based on ICC profiles will make a mess of your colors most of the time.

For raster artwork (and this also affects raster images placed into your vector files) you sometimes need to do profile based CMYK to CMYK conversions.

I have mine set to Preserve numbers. YMMV.
--- --- ---

A

ajmugshop

Participant

I went to menu edit > color settings > color management policies and changed the default setting of "preserve numbers" to "preserve embedded profiles" and saved it as a custom setting for me. I don't get the error message any more. I do work in multiple color spaces that need to be retained. I believe the message pops up when the applications wants to convert to a new color profile, but an embedded profile in the document you are opening wants to be retained.

btod27906334

Known Participant

Sorry for making alive an older post.

I have the very same problem.

- I am pretty sure my color management done right.

- I did delete color preference,

- I have all setting to Convert to Color Space

- i have my images as RGB,

- Questions unchecked

- my document color mode is RGB and

still getting the very annoying "Your current color settings discard CMYK profiles in linked content but profiles were set to be honored when this document was created."

My Color Settings (RGB for web / CMYK for Newspaper)

what am i doing wrong?

By the way how can i install a script in Illustrator?

Thanks again ;-)

Monika Gause

Community Expert

You need to set the "Normas de gestion de color" to keep the embedded profile.

To install scripts, please read the documentation:

Automation with scripts in Illustrator

Scripts go into the Scripts folder inside the Presets folder inside the Illustrator application folder.

btod27906334

Known Participant

Thanks for the fast reply Monica

You need to set the "Normas de gestion de color" to keep the embedded profile.

I thought i already did that by selecting "Convert to workspace" on. Am i doing it wrong?

A

Anonymous

For everyone who has searched this annually since early 2000s, I have chased this for over a decade since Adobe introduced this in some CS4 or CS5 Illustrator version. I have spent many go arounds with Adobe over the years on support getting no resolution until March 2017. After spending two nights debating with tech support while they remotely tested my MacBook Pro they found a resolution that has evaded everyone for many years.

In Adobe Illustrator CC2017 under Edit > Color Settings > Color Management Policies set RGB to Preserve Embedded Profiles and CMYK to Preserve Numbers (Ignore Linked Profiles). Then after experiencing the annoying window once Save As your file to replace the older file and the window will no longer warn you.

So here is the logic according to Adobe Support after I debated them for two nights. We run a high end RIP and color manage everything for proofing for an ad agency and photography studio and have done so since around 2004. We were told how critical color management was then and so therefore Converted and Saved ALL profiles to our Working Profiles of Adobe RGB 1998 and US Sheetfed Coated v2 since they first became an option in software. All other software worked fine and proofs have been precise for years but the "Your current color settings discard CMYK profiles in linked content but profiles were set to be honored when this document was created," warning windows have plagued us for every file opened since these early days of CS Illustrator versions.

When Adobe Support worked on case 0188718247 he saw what was happening and gave several other attempts at solutions only for me top prove it did not work and he saw the Warning Window eventually. On the second night he came back from a long hold and said he thought he found the answer. Contrary to the logic of the English words in what the Warning Window states, "Your current color settings discard CMYK profiles in linked content but profiles were set to be honored when this document was created," Adobe refers to anything that may have changed from the first time the file is saved. Readers assume it was something the reader did that made it say this. It is actually the engineering process Adobe used that when saved creates it.

This is complicated so follow me as best that I understood it. Adobe created Color Profiles as they are engineered for Pantone Colors for Photoshop and Illustrator in differing ways because of transparency with vector differing from the same ways in which bitmaps work in Photoshop. Even if one saves a new file today with new working profiles then the warning will appear since this hidden "Pantone Engineered process" creates a trigger for this endless warning. Although Adobe created this trigger and users/readers of the Warning feel like they created the disruption, it is actually referring to the "HIDDEN" Adobe Pantone Engineering process that makes the warning pop up. Support reset my Color Management Policies for RGB to Preserve Embedded Profiles and CMYK to Preserve Numbers (Ignore Linked Profiles) and then tested. At first the Warning appeared until the files were resaved to overwrite previous files and then the window no longer activates. Does all this make total sense? Not really as I questioned why Adobe keeps allowing a warning window to be triggered by Adobe's own engineering process? This sounds more like a stubborn logistics issue than a software glitch. It makes Users think they messed something up and Adobe seems clueless that this warning existed for many years.

Hopefully this will end the windows. Does it mess with colors? Nope. We still run the same colors as before off every file to our RIP proofing. It's only a word game being played onscreen so if you prefer to end it, these settings so far have appeared to resolve the warning popups.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

moreheadmarketing schrieb
it is actually referring to the "HIDDEN" Adobe Pantone Engineering process that makes the warning pop up. Support reset my Color Management Policies for RGB to Preserve Embedded Profiles and CMYK to Preserve Numbers (Ignore Linked Profiles) and then tested.

Any setting will do as long as you stick to it and don't open files created by people who use a different setup. You need to setup these options so that they match your workflow. That's the whole point about color management.

Maybe you and support were not talking about the same thing, because the warning actually makes perfect sense.

A

Anonymous

We have understood and practiced color management since early 2000s when this became a critical part of Adobe software and required being synched. We have used the same settings between our employees since back in 2004 or 2005 and we have not opened files created by others more than a handful of times in those years. As I told Adobe Support we have as stable and consistent a color management setup as anywhere could since there are few of us and settings have been synced and never have changed since setup in that early era.

We could even create a new Adobe Illustrator file here, as Adobe Support did several times and saved, only to reopen for the second time and get a warning window. It was relentless and we had not changed any settings at any point. The Warning phrase should make sense with the software but even Adobe Support opted to setup to ignore and ensure they saved the ignored options to the files to stop the warnings. I am still not overly convinced this has ended as I await more Warnings to start at random when we change nothing.

As you stated creating any setting and being consistent should work but that is not the case as Adobe Support also experienced over and over when they assumed Warnings should not pop up saying settings do not match. We have been under the same color management profile settings since 2004 or 2005 when this started and have deviated none. Thus Adobe Support spent about 5 hours total over two days trying to make sense of what they were seeing working on our system remotely. Respectfully, if this was a simple fix, Adobe would have resolved this in minutes for me rather than setup Ignore options. Also there would not have been years of posts accumulating under these threads giving advice but still being an unresolved issue. Although we once were Official Adobe Service Providers in the day they had those programs, we don't profess to being Adobe insider experts to the secrets and failings of logic in their warnings. We have just reported what may be a resolution to recurring problems that others have encountered for more than a decade.

S

syed_ifthequer

Participant

Hai every one....!

just do the following:

menu edit > color settings > settings > emulate adobe illustrator( 1st option )

I hope every one problem get solve.

Thank you & Happy to help you all.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

syed ifthequer schrieb:
Hai every one....!
just do the following:
menu edit > color settings > settings > emulate adobe illustrator( 1st option )
I hope every one problem get solve.

No. Just no. Don't.

Learn about color management instead of pretending to turn it off.

A

Anonymous

Well, i am not expert and i dont know if i make something wrong, but i have the same problem with the error alert about the color settings in CS5, and what i did work for me just fine.

menu edit > color settings > color management policies

change the settings to 'convert to working spaces'

Close the program,

I went to Library - Preferences - Adobe illustrator CS5 Settings - en_US and delete the Ai color settings file....i re-open the program and it automatically generate a new ai color setting file and thats it...

I think it can work also for the cs4.

Hope it works for anybody having the same problem.

A

Arty Greg

Known Participant

olemexico - thank you so much ... it worked! I'm using CS3 - have been for many years without this issue but just recently it started up.. every single time I open any file no matter how I created it.. linked files or not ' error message 'your current settings honour cmyk profiles in linked content... yadda yadda' - driving me nuts! but your solution has fixed it.

Not sure if the glitch started from recently trying out creative cloud or a job I've been working on that required using live-trace on RGB jpgs, editing, then saving as CMYK... hmm?

Anyways - thought I'd report it works on CS3 as well - made my day as I have an aweful lot of files to work on!

A

Anonymous

just do the following:

menu edit > color settings > color management policies

change the settings to 'convert to working spaces'

unchek the three boxes 'ask blah-blah-blah...'

you`re done.

note that all color profiles wil be substitude by your own profile (standard N America Prepress color setting)

bye.

S

skvilhaug

Participant

I get the same error message. I tried to follow the advice of Unchecking the three "ask..." boxes, and it did not fix the issue.

This has ONLY been an issue since my company upgraded to CS4.

Please help!

W

Wade_Zimmerman1

Inspiring

You guys probably are using linked images and therefore the message which is unavoidable unless your profiles match and you probably want them to match, so the way to avoid this would be to sync your color settings in all your Adobe applications and use the same color space for the document and the placed images.

More than likely you have CMYK document with RGB images?

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