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J
JMcd
Participant
November 1, 2022
Answered

Export RGB PNG image to CMYK JPG in Photoshop 2022

  • November 1, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 29815 views

I am working on a print product so my images, whether used to create graphics in Illustrator or place in InDesign, need to have CMYK color profiles. To accomplish this, my steps are to open the RGB PNG image in Photoshop, go to Image/Mode and select CMYK color. I cannot Save As the image because I want a JPG (not a JPG 2000) so I chose File/Export/Export As. I select JPG and leave the rest of the screen as default (Color Space/Convert to sRGB unchecked and Color Space/Embed Color Profile checked).

I hit Export.

The problem is that my new JPG has lost its CMYK color profile and reverted back to RGB, which I do not want.

How to I make the new CMYK color profile stick with the JPG?

    Correct answer PECourtejoie

    Yes, there is a preference that allows you to have the (dangerous) old scheme. 

    (It is dangerous as you can think that you saved your file, but you might be losing layers, channels, paths, etc.)

     

    Go to Photoshop(Mac)/Edit(Win)>Preferences>File Handling and check "Enable Legacy Save As"

     

    Or CTRL(win)/CMD(Mac)+K; CTRL(win)/CMD(Mac)+6; and hit 8 times Tab; Spacebar to check; then 11 times Shift+Tab; Enter, if you really, really want to only use keyboard shortcuts. 😊

    3 replies

    S
    Sioco
    Participating Frequently
    October 27, 2023

    I am having the exact same problem. I have to "Save a Copy..." in the Save As... dialogue box to retain the CMYK. Probably too late to be helpful, but maybe useful to someone.

    Sioco
    PECourtejoie
    Community Expert
    PECourtejoieCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    October 27, 2023

    Yes, there is a preference that allows you to have the (dangerous) old scheme. 

    (It is dangerous as you can think that you saved your file, but you might be losing layers, channels, paths, etc.)

     

    Go to Photoshop(Mac)/Edit(Win)>Preferences>File Handling and check "Enable Legacy Save As"

     

    Or CTRL(win)/CMD(Mac)+K; CTRL(win)/CMD(Mac)+6; and hit 8 times Tab; Spacebar to check; then 11 times Shift+Tab; Enter, if you really, really want to only use keyboard shortcuts. 😊

      S
      Sioco
      Participating Frequently
      October 27, 2023

      Thanks! I gave up and wrote an action in Illustrator that worked well, but I did go in and check that box in Photoshop too. I never output before backing up original files, so I won't lose anything. This will help when I don't have to do 50 at a time—I can do it right out of Photoshop a little quicker. Appreciate the answer!

      Sioco
      NB, colourmanagement
      Community Expert
      NB, colourmanagementCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 1, 2022

      So, I would first "edit / convert to profile" then save a copy to get a CMYK JPEG. 

      If you just switch modes to CMYK then you get a conversion to the default CMYK selected in Color Settings. 

      Maybe its set to the default and that may not be right!

      Ad D.Fosse wrote: you definitely need to be using the "correct" CMYK for the print condition in hand. 

      Ask the people running the printing press.

      More about that here

       

      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

       

      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

        D Fosse
        Community Expert
        D FosseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        November 1, 2022

        Any file format that does not support all current file properties, is now under Save A Copy. That's where you'll find jpeg. You can still save CMYK jpeg there.

         

        Export is for web/screen/mobile devices, where CMYK makes no sense. So CMYK is not an option here.

         

        Do you know which specific CMYK profile to use? You should always ask the printer about this. The Photoshop default, US Web Coated (SWOP), is likely not what they want. There is no generic "CMYK", only a series of profiles that correspond to specific print processes, using certain inks on certain paper stock, on a press calibrated to a certain standard. These standards vary in different regions around the world.

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