Skip to main content
Known Participant
September 18, 2023
Question

Colours in document became muddy/muggy

  • September 18, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 1175 views

I created a new file in Illustrator and pulled in different layers (shape and pattern layers) from two previous documents. I closed all other tabs and left that new file open for a few hours while I worked on another file in Photoshop. When I went back to the Illustrator file I had created a few hours, all the shape and pattern layers' colours had turned muddy. When I compared the colours to the original layers from the two previous documents, there is a noticeable difference. To my knowledge, I didn't change any settings after placing these layers into the new Illustrator file or while the file sat open for those few hours. Basically, everything was fine before I left the file open for a few hours while I worked in Photoshop and then everything changed went back to the file after those few hours. All the colours were different. They looked muggier/muddy. Does anyone know why this happened?

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 20, 2023

If it is possible for you to repeat that behaviour, you may want to contact Adobe support, they can have a look into your system.

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

 

jhannelAuthor
Known Participant
September 20, 2023

Ok, I'll try to repeat exactly what I did.

 

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 18, 2023

Which system is that? Mac OS?

Do you have multiple monitors attached?

What's with the file you are copying from: is that the same document color mode? What did you copy and paste?

jhannelAuthor
Known Participant
September 18, 2023

It's is Mac OS version 11.7.10. Big Sur. My Mac is up to date for the model that I have (Retina 5K 27-inch, Late 2014).

 

I have only one monitor. 

The files that I took layers from both have the same document colour settings/mode. I dragged the layers rather than copy and paste. 

These two files are 2 years old and 3 years old, respectively. They are sort of a 'master file' of design templates/layers that I tend to re-use so I drag pattern and shape layers from these two files whenever I am working on something new and want to reuse some of those layers. 

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 19, 2023

I don't get a warning when opening either of the old files. 

To be honest I didn't do much. I just created a new file and dragged and dropped a few layers from two older files. Left that new file open and then came back to it. I know there must be a cause as things don't just happen by themselves. I was thinking maybe I accidentally pressed something but idk. 

I don't have 'Proof Colors' selected. Is that what you mean by soft proof? When I click on the 'Proof Setup' menu Working CMYK: Coated FOGRA39 is pre-selected.

 

My monitor/display colour profile says:

SPACE - RGB

 

I appreciate your suggestions so far. I'll take a look at the link you provided. 

Thanks 

 

 

 


The View  > Color proof menu is what I was referring to. And the Proof colors is not turned on?

 

WHen nothing is selected, then pressing anything does not change the file. And the softproof doesn't have a shortcut by default. If there were 2 monitors attached then moving the file from one to the other might indeed change the look of stuff. But with one monitor, this can't happen. 

 

Do the color numbers also change? Or just the look of the file?

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 18, 2023

What color mode is the document? And the others?

How is your color management set up?

 

Nothing does just change in a document. THere must have happened something.

jhannelAuthor
Known Participant
September 18, 2023

Document Colour Profile: sRGB IEC61966-2.1

 

Color Profile: Working RGB: sRGB IEC61966-2.1

 

Colour Setting: Custom

working Spaces - sRGB IEC61966-2.1

Color Management Policies - Preserve Embedded Profiles 

Conversion Options - Adobe (ACE)

 

I hope I've listed this correctly. 

Mike_Gondek10189183
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 18, 2023

Maybe you are working on a digital design. In that case:

File >> Document Color Mode >> RGB

You will need to re-enter all you colors in RGB mode