PDF prints flat unless opened in Photoshop — how to tag DeviceRGB?

[Jroberts]

I’m on Windows 10, running two BenQ SW321C monitors (both calibrated) and an Epson ET-8550. I’ve run into a color issue with PDFs that were created on a Mac.

• If I open the PDF in Acrobat or Foxit and print directly, the print looks flat/washed out.

• On screen, if I switch my monitor into sRGB mode, it matches that “flat” look.

• If I pull an image out of the PDF and into Photoshop, Photoshop warns me there’s no embedded RGB profile. If I assign AdobeRGB (my working space), the print looks right.

• If I export the whole PDF as a JPEG with AdobeRGB embedded, that prints correctly too.

So my guess is the PDF images are DeviceRGB with no ICC profile. Acrobat/Foxit fall back to sRGB, while Photoshop lets me assign AdobeRGB and get a good print.

Here’s what I’ve tried in Acrobat:

• In Preflight, Convert Colors seems to work. Converting to AdobeRGB goes through a process and the colors on screen look identical. Converting to sRGB and they look flat. But the “embed on output” option is greyed out, and the prints are still flat.

• I created a custom fixup to assign AdobeRGB to DeviceRGB objects, but the new PDF still prints flat.

• I tried converting to PDF/X-4, but I can’t find a way to actually tag those untagged objects with AdobeRGB.

So my question is: what’s the right way in Acrobat to force AdobeRGB onto untagged RGB objects, so the PDF prints the same as it does out of Photoshop? Appreciate any help. I’d like to land on a reliable workflow so I’m not exporting these PDFs to Photoshop just to print them.

[Jroberts]

Should clarify, 

• If I export the whole PDF as a JPEG out of Photoshop with AdobeRGB embedded, that prints correctly too, using QImage or printing directly from Photoshop.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi Jroberts,

Thank you for reaching out.

Please refer to the information shared in the following help document and try the steps suggested: https://adobe.ly/3URu56V. Check if that helps.

If you still experience the issue, please share the sample PDF and the application version numbers in use. Also, let us know how the PDF was created. We will check this behavior.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

[Jroberts]

Thank you.  As I mentioned in my I did use "Correct Colors"  in "Print Production"  and as I mentioned in my post, nothing happens after conversion.  And "Convert Colors to output Intent" is greyed out.
I am running the version included in All Apps, I assume that is DC.  25.1.20360.0.

[Jroberts]

I have created a test PDF for you.  I stripped this image of its ICC and loaded it into Acrobat.  As you can see, the image lacks an ICC profile.  I have no way to tag it with an AdobeRGB.  As expected, the PDF displays fine on my monitor, but prints "flat".  A print from Photoshop, with conversion to AdobeRGP, prints fine.

[Tariq Ahmad]

Hi @Jroberts

Thank you for raising this. I completely understand how frustrating it is when colors look fine in Photoshop but appear flat or washed out when opened or printed through Acrobat. Let me clarify what’s happening and how you can fix it.

Here is what I think is happening: 

The issue comes from the way the PDF was created:

• Your images are in DeviceRGB without an embedded ICC color profile.

• Acrobat (and most PDF viewers) will then assume sRGB by default, which explains the washed-out look.

• Photoshop lets you assign AdobeRGB manually, which is why it looks correct when you export to JPEG.

When you tried Preflight → Convert Colors, Acrobat didn’t change the appearance because there was no ICC profile to convert from. The greyed-out “Convert Colors to Output Intent” is expected in this case — Acrobat will only let you either convert to a chosen profile or to the output intent, not both at the same time.

What you can do instead:

1. Open Preflight (Fixups) in Acrobat.
2. Create or use an existing fixup called “Assign ICC profile” and apply AdobeRGB to all DeviceRGB objects.
3. (Optional) If you need a different final color space (e.g., CMYK for printing), you can then run Convert Colors after step 2.

This way, your PDF objects will have AdobeRGB embedded, and printing should match what you saw in Photoshop.

Let me know how this works for you.

How to Assign AdobeRGB ICC Profile in Acrobat Preflight

1. Open Preflight

• Go to Tools > Print Production > Preflight.

2. Switch to Fixups

• In the Preflight dialog, click the wrench icon (top left) to open Fixups.

3. Search for “Assign ICC profile”

• In the search box, type: assign icc

• You should see something like “Assign ICC profile” under Color spaces, spot colors, inks.

4. Edit (if needed)

• Select it, then click the spanner/pencil icon to edit.

• In the dropdown, choose AdobeRGB (1998) as the profile.

5. Run the Fixup

• Click Fix (bottom right).

• Acrobat will process the PDF and embed AdobeRGB into all DeviceRGB objects.

6. Verify

• Go to Print Production > Output Preview.

• Hover over objects in your PDF — they should now display AdobeRGB (1998) instead of DeviceRGB.

After this, your colors should look closer to Photoshop and print as expected.

If you later need CMYK, you can then safely use Convert Colors because Acrobat now knows the correct source profile.

Best regards,
Tariq | Adobe Community Team | Meet Acrobat Studio

[Jroberts]

Thank you.

Please see screenshots.  I don't see an option to "assign ICC profile". 

If your next suggestion is  to create a custom fixup, please note my original post: 

• I created a custom fixup to assign AdobeRGB to DeviceRGB objects, but the new PDF still prints flat.

But perhaps I did it wrong.

[Tariq Ahmad]

Let's try the following steps:

1. Open the file in Acrobat. 

2. All Tools > Print Production > Flattener Preview > Color Space - choose option "Change" and apply.

If the above suggestion doesn't help. 

- Please share the file with us.

Is the issue visible on your machine when you preview a file in Foxit or Acrobat? If yes, could you share a screen recording? Also, when did this issue start to happen?

Best regards,
Tariq | Adobe Community Team | Meet Acrobat Studio

[Jroberts]

I applied flattener.  The change took hold, as evident in the first screenshot.  However, the print is still flat.  To further test, I saved the file, reopened the PDF.  The change, whatever it was,  persisted.  However,  Photoshop sees no embedded color in the image/file, as is evident in the second image.

I have already posted the original test PDF in my first reply on September 1st.

I suggest you escalate to your tech team and have them try solutions on this test PDF themselves before making a suggestion.  It may save us both some time. 

One easy test would be for you or your tech team to save the modified PDF, from whatever fix you suggest.  Then extract the image in this modified PDF with Photoshop.  It should have an embedded color profile.  I assume your tech team has access to Photoshop.  You likely have access to other tools that can make this test process even easier.