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joem11364421
joem11364421
Participant
September 15, 2021
Answered

Colors change in external monitor

  • September 15, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 5030 views

No, this is not an issue with my monitor not being calibrated. 

 

The colors inside of AI dull when I move the AI window from my MacBook pro to my external monitor. If I move an image opened in preview of the same exact colors from my MacBook to my external monitor, they look correct. In fact, everything looks the same on both monitors, except for AI. Therefore it seems like it is something in AI?

 

Mac screen:

External monitor:

 

Another interesting detail here - When I move my AI window from my macs display over to the external display, at first the colors look correct on the external monitor, but when my cursor enters the AI window the colors flicker from correct to dull as I move my curosr around, making it un-useable.  When I change the AI window size, it goes to the dull color and stays there. The same is true for when I move the AI window from external to mac display, it looks super dull on the mac display, does the flicker dance with cursor movement, until I resize the display at which point it stays on nice vibrant color. 

 

I'm including a screen recording of the external display, and dragging the AI window into it.

https://youtu.be/hp-QqPR6wk8

 

MacBook Pro 15” 2017

Sceptre 27” 4K Monitor

Connected with USB-C to HDMI cable. I’ve tried USB-C to DP and its the same exact issue. 

 

All software is up to date.

 

Thanks!

Correct answer Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Does it do the same thing whether GPU is being used or not?

 

Just a thought: I have seen a similar issue when moving a window from one monitor to the other when the ICC profiles are different for each monitor (not a matter of calibration)... the window being moved starts off in one ICC space, then when it's moved, retains the first monitor's setting so it looks "off" on the portion now starting to appear on the second screen, and when it's completely onto the second monitor, it changes to assume the display profile of that monitor.

 

 

3 replies

C
Cesar35642498yxdk
Participant
September 26, 2024

For everyone having this issue with color, I figured out that it's a problem related with the GPU performance.
You can go to Illustrator>Settings>Performance and turn off the GPU performance checkbox. 🙌

    G
    Gedas M.
    Participant
    December 11, 2024

    December 2024, and the same issue persists.

    MacBook Pro M4 Pro connected to the DELL3421WE monitor – colors in Adobe Illustrator keep changing.

    Turning off GPU performance and switching to CPU mode works, but that's not a solution. Paying such a premium for technology, yet the same issue as five years ago?

      Anubhav M
      Community Manager
      Anubhav MCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      December 13, 2024

      Hello @Gedas M.,

      I'm sorry to hear about the trouble you are having with colors in Illustrator. Would you mind recalibrating your monitor(s) for sRGB (https://adobe.ly/3BiB7LQ), restarting your computer, and then relaunching Illustrator to see if it helps?

       

      Also, kindly synchronize color settings across Adobe applications by following the steps here (https://adobe.ly/41tH0jX) and share your observations.

      Looking forward to hearing from you.

       

      Anubhav

      L
      Laser Bones
      Participant
      April 28, 2022

      Found the solution below on another webste and it worked for me.

      "Go to "Edit"->"Color Settings" and change the Settings to "Monitor Color". For me it was set to "North America General Purpose 2". After changing it to "Monitor Color", I then had the same colors on both my monitors finally."

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        April 29, 2022
        quote

        Found the solution below on another webste and it worked for me.

        "Go to "Edit"->"Color Settings" and change the Settings to "Monitor Color". For me it was set to "North America General Purpose 2". After changing it to "Monitor Color", I then had the same colors on both my monitors finally."


        By @Laser Bones

         

        Please don't post this into every available thread. Changing the working RGB color space to "Monitor Color" is just very bad advice.

          Brad @ Roaring Mouse
          Community Expert
          Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
          Community Expert
          September 15, 2021

          Does it do the same thing whether GPU is being used or not?

           

          Just a thought: I have seen a similar issue when moving a window from one monitor to the other when the ICC profiles are different for each monitor (not a matter of calibration)... the window being moved starts off in one ICC space, then when it's moved, retains the first monitor's setting so it looks "off" on the portion now starting to appear on the second screen, and when it's completely onto the second monitor, it changes to assume the display profile of that monitor.

           

           

            joem11364421
            joem11364421Author
            Participant
            September 17, 2021

            That was it! Thank you so much!! Such an easy fix

            mk34890555
            mk34890555
            Participant
            August 18, 2023

            Hi! what was the solution? i am having exactly the same problem but only with AI in my external monitor. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH OTHER APPS LIKE PS. Only with AI.

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