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DanRooms73
Participant
February 25, 2021
Question

Colors not importing correctly from CC libraries

  • February 25, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 2044 views

I've set up a library with colors in it but when I bring them into InDesign (or illustrator) is converts the RGB to a CMYK spot color (so the wrong RGB/HEX value), why is this? The whole point was to keep the colors consistent across apps and devices.

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2 replies

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 25, 2021

When you add a color to your Library from InDesign via + Fill Color, the color’s Mode and Type get save to the Library. If you are getting a CMYK Spot color, the color must have been a CMYK Spot when you added it to the Library. If you hover over a Library Color you’ll get the color specs when the color was added. 

 

A process RGB named swatch:

 

 

 

A CMYK defined Spot color named ProcessM:

 

 

The appearance of an RGB or CMYK swatch depends on the document’s assigned profiles (Edit>Assign Profiles...).

 

The same HEX RGB value can have a very different appearance in a document with ProPhoto assigned vs. one with sRGB assigned. You could use Library Colors to keep color values consistent, but a matching appearance still depends on matching color profiles and proper color management.

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Steve WernerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 25, 2021

    We need some information to help you better:  Please tell us what operating system (exactly) you're running. Please tell us (exactly) what InDesign version you're using.

     

    What application is the source of the library color. Can you show us what the exact color you're copying to the library is (screen capture, please). Then show us the result of copying the color in InDesign (screen capture, please).

     

    D
    DanRooms73Author
    Participant
    February 26, 2021

    Hi, I'm on Catalina v10.15.7. I'm using InDesign v16.1, Illustrator 25.2, and Creative Cloud 5.3.1.470. I was building the library in the CC app, I brought the colours into the library from a .ase I had previously set up in Illustrator.

     

    Image 1 is where I've imported the colour to Indesign using the .ase, is stays faithful to Lenovo's specification (on the right of the image). Image 2 is using it from the library I created in the CC app, and all the RGB values have changed

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2021

    Can you share the .ase file via Dropbox or your CC account?

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