Inspiring

Answered

CMYK to RGB

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
August 9, 2022
4 replies
1082 views

One of my clients needs the RGB equivalent of the CMYK palette that was created for their corporate brand. I used an online converter for, eg, grey colour. This is C65, M60, Y55, K39 and converts to R54, G62, B70 yet when swapped the same RGB value becomes C23, M11, Y0, K73. So in InDesign Swatch Options the RGB is R76, G71 and B72.

I get it's to do with gamut and different conversion tables but cannot grasp why the conversions are so contradictory. Perhaps, investing in the more accurate Pantone color matching system would be a good idea?

Any help will be apprieciated.

macOS

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Test Screen Name

To convert CMYK to RGB you need to know WHICH CMYK and WHICH RGB. if you choose different CMYK or RGB spaces you'll get different answers. And if you don't choose, it's going to be wildly random. Finally, if you use an online converter, or Pantone book, you will get useless made up numbers. Really, these sites are made by people with no clue.

NB, colourmanagement

Community Expert

You can convert colours from CMYK to RGB in Photoshop, BUT you DEFINITELY need to know the colour space (ICC profile) for each, CMYK AND RGB

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer:: co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

rob day

Community Expert

@Michael5ED9 reposted the same question here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/my-client-wants-rgb-values-for-word/td-p/13124266

T

Test Screen NameCorrect answer

Legend

To convert CMYK to RGB you need to know WHICH CMYK and WHICH RGB. if you choose different CMYK or RGB spaces you'll get different answers. And if you don't choose, it's going to be wildly random. Finally, if you use an online converter, or Pantone book, you will get useless made up numbers. Really, these sites are made by people with no clue.

M

Michael5ED9Author

Inspiring

Thanks. Yes always about their accuracy.

davescm

Community Expert

It's not accuracy of conversion so much as unspecified references. Without a specified color space, colour values in RGB or CMYK mean nothing at all. You might as well say 'orange-ish.' Very few of those online sites specify a color space to reference and give specific meaning to their values.

That is why you were being asked which CMYK and which RGB colour space.

Dave

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

You omitted to mention the Color Spaces so instead of concerning yourself with Pantone Spot Colors (which would likely increase printing costs) you may want to read up on Color Management.

M

Michael5ED9Author

Inspiring

Thanks for getting back. I'll do that but this was meant to have been in InDesign discussions. My apologies.

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