File saved as a CMYK shows as an RGB at printer

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
December 8, 2019
3 replies
3007 views

Hi, I am creating a brochure in Illustrator. It shows in the Document Mode as a CMYK file. It keeps coming back from the printer as a RGB. Anyone know why or how to fix? Thank you.

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Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

If you save the file (save a copy) as PDF without Illustrator Editing Capabilities, and open that file in Illustrator, does it become RGB document mode?

M

michellew74081718Author

Participating Frequently

So I just tried it. It is CMYK, but it also gave me a message that the brochure is using CMYK and RGB elements and it will be converted to whichever color mode I select. I pulled some small icons off the web, so those would be the culprit. I thought they would be converted automatically to CMYK mode when put it the document. Maybe I need to convert first and replace them.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

The default save as PDF does not convert linked images.

That may be the reason your printer sees RGB elements in the PDF.

You could use the Press quality preset, that will do the conversion.

silk-m

Community Expert

Hi,

I don't understand the meaning of "coming back from the printer as a RGB", but general household printers are classified as RGB printers even if they use CMYK ink.

--Susumu Iwasaki

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

What do you mean by "It keeps coming back from the printer as a RGB." ?

M

michellew74081718Author

Participating Frequently

Sorry, I should have been clearer. This is not being printed from my personal printer. I uploaded my Illustrator file as a PDF to the company printing the brochure. (I have used them many times before although I usually provide the PDF files designed in PhotoShop not Illustrator.) The company sent me an email saying before it goes to production it needs to be converted to a CMYK file. It already shows as CMYK in Document Mode.

Larry G. Schneider

Community Expert

What PDF preset did you use to generate the file you sent? A few presets will generate a RGB PDF.

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