Help requested converting RGB to CYMK

[Mark245245051gxu]

Why would only One element of an EPS file when converted to CYMK change color but the rest of the document doesn't? 

I purchased a EPS from Shutterstock. It is in RGB. I needed to remove a shadow layer that was not transparent. After doing so, I wanted to convert it to CYMK so that I can insert it into a CYMK project.

The EPS  file itself would not convert when I went into File- document color mode.  I would get a red explanation mark pop up just saying it couldn't be done. 

I tried creating a new document and Place the EPS

But this method changes all the grouping of the file and it's very hard to isolate the shadowing That leaves some white which won't work with this project.

Next I tried creating a new  document and placing the converted EPS to AI file after I removed the shadow.

I was able to convert  to cymk. But as you can see in picture two, the image of the hat gets washed out and is a cream color. At first I assumed this was because it wasn't CYMK colors, but yet none of the other colors changed.

Picture three shows that if I flatten the transparency and then try to convert to CYMK. It works in the colors are fine but now I have new artifacts and outlines. Interestingly, I am showing you a screenshot because when I try to save it as a JPEG to show you these defects in the telescope and parchment as well as on the hat is white dots or not present in the  saved JPEG.

There is a color change at the front of the telescope but minor  that it doesn't bother me whereas the hat is just not attractive color. But obviously I can't have the white outlines showing and  I'm not sure what to look for that will either eliminate those lines or what to look for on the original document that I can remove that could be causing the issue? 

That is if I'm able to switch to CYMK and not lose the colors of the hat.

What should I be looking for in the file that would cause the hat to turn cream color if I don't flatten transparency, but if I do flatten transparency, the color of the hat is fine? I'd rather try to fix that or we have a just to know how I could flatten the transparency and not have those lines showing up?

This was trans flatten with 100 % vector. I had tried different levels of raster to vector and it didn't seem to make a difference. I tried a couple of those check mark boxes to preserve alpha and then tried the other one. I tried them both unchecked as well.

I did notice that those lines changed when I rebooted the system and tried again.  There are less this time than the first time I tried. 

So I'm wondering if some of the defects is caused because of processing power?

My laptop is lenovo legion 5 pro 16arh7h  and Ryzen 7 6800h, 3201 Mhz, 8 cores, 16 logical processors, , 3070ti GPU ,16 GB ram , 28.2 GB Ttl Virtual memory.  Page file space 13 GB ,1 GB SSD with 701 GB Free

So picture 1 is of the RGB EPS with the shadow that when you move it to a different color, the shadow has white on the edges. 

Picture 2 is the RGB converted to AI without the shadow. 

Picture 3 is converted to CYMK  and then picture 4 is screenshot is of the outlines that are showing up/through in white on the telescope flecks of white in the hat and lines on the parchment map.

Thanks for the help. I'm not an artist and have limited knowledge. I pretty much composite images a couple times a year for backdrops for my show. So please understand that I'm not as proficient with lingo and techniques and need a little guidance with suggestions.

 

 

 

 

[Monika Gause]

Transparent vector clipart files, should better not be converted into CMYK color mode. The creators don't care about CMYK.

The only thing you can do: Export it as an RGB raster file format. Use Photoshop to convert it into the desired CMYK profile. Adjust the contrast.

[Mark245245051gxu]

Monika, thanks for the input, I figured out what to do without losing the vector  to raster land.  

Creators SHOULD care if the file will be converted as printers REQUIRE CYMK.  Some say  you can USE RGB but they still print in CYMK and  what you get depends on if they give you a proof or have a design team willing to convert in advance and show you. I have had a couple issues in the past using art I purchase and is does have allot to do with what program or version they used in creation compared to what I am using , compared to what the printer shop is using.   I have been disappointed more than a few times even when sticking with Adobe products, despite the Adobe tutorials saying they can talk to each other, how it can be hit or miss whether something will open seamlessly or require allot of work to figure out what is freaking out the app.

[Mark245245051gxu · Accepted solution]

I found a solution last night by studying the layers and turning layers on and off.  I noticed the hat had a mask over it to make it a little lighter in color I assume.   By delteting that layer and another around the front of the telescope I did not have to flatten the transparency .

Then I saved the eps file as coverted.ai.  Originally I  did the layer checking after PLACE in the new file below to find out what was the issue. Either way seems to work. 

In a new CYMK file I PLACED the  coverted .ai file into the new cymk file.  

Then I made sure the object group was in the EDIT>EDIT COLORSr> Convert to CYMK.

Just opening  the file was not allowing this, I have toFILE> PLACE  in a  file that was created in CYMK.

If I recall when placing it it already coverted because the hat color changed but I now cant remember if  that was just a preview.

Anyway.  I spent a while trying to figure this out .  It is a shame that they can not provide details when you are not allowed to do something. I am still not sure why the vector , even when coverted to .AI could not be coverted in that file and why it had to be placed.  

[Monika Gause]

Colors will always be in the document color mode.

The Edit > Edit colors > Convert to CMYK will convert spot colors. Process colors will be in CMYK anyway when the document is in CMYK