Colors don't match preview colors

[jons43124114]

When I preview my .ai file in macOS (by selecting the file's icon and pressing spacebar), I get a very different image compared to what I get when I export the file as a .png.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

I'm lost as to what the difference is. I want to achieve the color profile I have in the browser preview.

I'm also working in CMYK if that makes a difference.

[Michael Bullo]

This isn't a fix but a possible workaround. If your OS isn't correctly previewing your images, have you tried using a program like Bridge? This program is part of the Adobe family and may give you the more accurate preview you are looking for.

[jons43124114]

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. My goal is for my exported image to look like the previewed image in macOS. I'm sure I could fiddle with adding more blended layers to achieve the greater vibrancy, but my question was more to do with what's going on--why macOS is displaying the .ai preview in one way but my exports look nothing like that.

I'm guessing now that the answer is probably technical and nuanced.

[Michael Bullo]

Are you working with CMYK for a specific reason? This colour system is designed for print and produces far less vibrant colours than RGB. Could you not work with vibrant RGB colours in Illustrator?

[Monika Gause]

So the preview insde Illustrator is different from the PNG in the browser which is again different from the Preview on Mac OS?

Which of the three do you want to show up where? Where will you use the PNG? On the web? for printing?

Have you set up color management? (not: Mac OS preview ill probably not use color management and Illustrator doesn't export color profiles into PNGs)

[jons43124114]

I want to achieve the color profile in the macOS preview. I believe it will be both web and print.

[Monika Gause]

jons43124114  schrieb

I want to achieve the color profile in the macOS preview. I believe it will be both web and print.

There is no color management in Mac OS Preview.

Don't expect to be able to achieve that same result.

First you need to get information about the printing process and which colors can be achieved with it.

Then set up color management in your system. Calibrate your monitor so you can actually see what you will get.

[Test Screen Name]

I wouldn’t expect MacOS to show CMYK correctly. Also, your PNG has been converted, by Illustrator, to RGB. If you want to deliver CMYK you can’t use PNG.

[Test Screen Name]

It isn't hugely technical to say there is no such thing as a CMYK PNG.

Given that, it's a puzzle (at the moment) why you would be designing in CMYK, only to have the final product turned into RGB.