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samuelo47516557
Participant
May 26, 2022
Answered

JPEG shows as RGB despite being made in CMYK mode

  • May 26, 2022
  • 5 replies
  • 11225 views

Hi,

I'm preparing some artwork for print, and selected CMYK when I started the document in Ps. 

When I save my artwork as a JPEG, and inspect the file in Finder (Get info) to double check it says 'Colour space - RGB' and 'colour profile - sRGB'.

Should I disregard this, or is the file not actually in CMYK ?

 

I checked the Document mode is CMYK and I checked the channels panel. I'm very confused. 

 

 

Correct answer Stephen Marsh

Export As is not the same thing as Save As (Save a Copy).

5 replies

M
Marko34383513pwue
Participant
December 20, 2023

If you want it to stay in CMYK (if you're printing), then instead of export, click Save a Copy and then select JPEG as the file type. If you do Export, it will always change it to RGB for some reason. 

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 20, 2023
    quote

    If you do Export, it will always change it to RGB for some reason. 


    By @Marko34383513pwue


    The reason is that Export As is for screens and devices, similar to the Export > Save for Web (Legacy) feature, by design it removes metadata and converts to RGB to produce optimised data for displays.

      c.pfaffenbichler
      Community Expert
      c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 27, 2022

      Please set the Status Bar to »Document Profile« and post meaningful screenshots. 

      How exactly did you create the jpg (Save As, Export, …)? 

        Stephen Marsh
        Community Expert
        Stephen MarshCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        May 27, 2022

        Export As is not the same thing as Save As (Save a Copy).

          D Fosse
          Community Expert
          D FosseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 26, 2022

          Keep this notification set to show "document profile". It's infinitely more useful than whatever it shows by default. I'd feel blindfolded without this:

            TheDigitalDog
            TheDigitalDog
            Inspiring
            May 26, 2022

            Unless you're going to a specific and defined printing condition, NEVER start or work in CMYK. 

            You probably exported the CMYK doc which converted it to sRGB. But you don't want to be dealing with CMYK in the first place. 

            Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
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