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Participant
January 20, 2023
Answered

Color convertion

  • January 20, 2023
  • 5 replies
  • 635 views

Hi everyone,

 

I'm tring to figured it out why when i calculate a color conversion from RGB to CMYK by math the result is different than the color convertion that adobe gives in the software, any clue?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer D Fosse

Numbers are color space specific!

 

You need to specify which RGB color space to whick CMYK color space. If you don't specify, numbers are undefined and meaningless. sRGB and Adobe RGB won't produce the same numbers. US Web Coated (SWOP) and Coated FOGRA39 won't produce the same numbers. And so on.

 

The internet is full of these "conversion tables" and they are all completely useless, for this precise reason. They don't specify a color space.

 

In Photoshop, conversions assume whatever you happen to have set as working spaces. Those are the numbers given.

 

For RGB, you generally have the choice between some standard color spaces, sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto, DCI-P3. For CMYK it's a lot more complicated. A CMYK profile describes a certain print process - an offset press calibrated to a certain standard, using certain inks on certain paper stock. These standards vary in different regions. The only thing you can be fairly certain of, is that the Photoshop default, US Web Coated (SWOP), most likely doesn't apply.

 

In other words, there is no such thing as "RGB" or "CMYK". You need to know which one!

 

Photoshop's whole architecture revolves around using color spaces correctly. You can't ignore it, if you do, you'll get in trouble.

5 replies

Participant
August 19, 2023
DP_1692404432870_850636099157320347.jpg
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
January 21, 2023

With the same ICC profiles (one to define the RGB values, one for CMYK) and the same CMM, the 'math' used to convert will be identical with any and all products that support said profiles. Even with different CMMs, the difference would be tiny. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 20, 2023

We know that Photoshop uses ICC colour management. There is a source and destination ICC profile, CMM and rendering intents and BPC options.

 

We know nothing about your process.

 

Why calculate the conversion by math? Photoshop provides the info for before/after - prior to pressing OK on the convert to profile command.

Participant
January 20, 2023

Just because i what to understand, not just asume that it will work just becaus. All of the things happend in this software have his bases in math, and following the rules of color conversión mathematics it dosent make sence that pohotoshop giveyou another value that maths give you. math are the basis

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 20, 2023

Numbers are color space specific!

 

You need to specify which RGB color space to whick CMYK color space. If you don't specify, numbers are undefined and meaningless. sRGB and Adobe RGB won't produce the same numbers. US Web Coated (SWOP) and Coated FOGRA39 won't produce the same numbers. And so on.

 

The internet is full of these "conversion tables" and they are all completely useless, for this precise reason. They don't specify a color space.

 

In Photoshop, conversions assume whatever you happen to have set as working spaces. Those are the numbers given.

 

For RGB, you generally have the choice between some standard color spaces, sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto, DCI-P3. For CMYK it's a lot more complicated. A CMYK profile describes a certain print process - an offset press calibrated to a certain standard, using certain inks on certain paper stock. These standards vary in different regions. The only thing you can be fairly certain of, is that the Photoshop default, US Web Coated (SWOP), most likely doesn't apply.

 

In other words, there is no such thing as "RGB" or "CMYK". You need to know which one!

 

Photoshop's whole architecture revolves around using color spaces correctly. You can't ignore it, if you do, you'll get in trouble.

Participant
January 20, 2023

Great.

Than you.

Kevin Stohlmeyer
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 20, 2023

What profiles are you using for RGB and your target CMYK will make a difference in the conversion. Simple math does not apply without matching to the profiles.