Illustrator's colours are DULL on external monitors

[colind36145276]

This issue has been around for years for many users and I still haven't found a fix on these forums. If anyone has a new idea PLEASE HELP - this issue is driving me crazy.

Illustrator cannot render CMYK colours accurately on an external monitor. Every other program including Adobe programs with the same colour settings display an accurate colour, but Illustrator shows something that is way off. I have tried multiple computers and screens all calibrated with a Spyder. Prints from illustrator files come out correct but in order to proof them I have to check the file on my laptop.

Please if you have any ideas help! I have already gone through Adobe remote support and they gave up, as well as Nvidia (my graphics card) Remote support.

I have used both a Dell Ultrasharp and a Thinkvision p27u and the problem persists.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

What color profile are you using both PS and AI - not CMYK, the specific color profile found under Edit/Color settings?

Send a screen shot of both. Im curious what the registration icon shows in the top left - is it solid or does it appear that a piece is split out?

[colind36145276]

Hi Kevin thanks for the reply, I've attached screenshots of my colour settings. What registration icon are you speaking of? Not sure what I'm looking for!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

What are your monitor profiles set to?

Just to clarify, what are the actual monitor brands/models you are currently using?

[colind36145276]

Hi Thank you David,

Not sure how to check what data is in the monitor profile - I run the datacolour program with my SpyderX and let it set the monitor automatically. It is a Lenovo Thinkvision P27u-20, but this happens with all monitors.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Monitor profiles wont matter - the attached shot shows different colors. If it was monitor color related they would potentially match. His color profiles vary between apps.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Open Adobe Bridge and go to Edit Color settings - use that to apply the same setting to all your CC apps.

The registration icon (top left multicolored) is split apart meaning your apps are not in sync.

[Test Screen Name]

Another question that might help uncover issues... since the problem show up with a simple red and blue, please let us know the actual CMYK colour values you use for the red and the blue. 

Also, you say "external monitor". That suggests that internal monitors are ok. Yes? What internal monitor/ laptop model?

[colind36145276]

The red colour I used for this demo screenshot is the same on both PS and AI: R:255 G:0 B:0 which is C:0 M:95 Y:91 K:0%

The Blue is R:0 G:0 B:255/ C:93 M:75 Y:0 K:0

And yes the monitor screen shows AI colours correctly compared to all other programs. It is a Gigabyte Aero with the OLED screen

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

This isn't an issue with monitor calibration or profiles. 

If you look at the original attachment - it shows varied colors at the source.

The color profiles are mismatched as indicated by the second screenshots

AI is set to North American General Purpose and PS is set to SWOP.

Use Bridge to choose one and apply to all your CC apps so they will all be synced to the same color profile setting.

[colind36145276]

Hi Kevin, thanks again.

I've attached below the bridge dialog with a syncronized colour profile. In this new screenshot you can see that they still look very different.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

One is RGB the other is CMYK.

[colind36145276]

My appologies here is the CMYK

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Your PS file is also 16 bit not 8 bit.

[colind36145276]

Hi Kevin,

Revisiting this thread since you seem to have gotten the closest to matching colours! I am still experiencing this problem as I left it several months ago. See attached for side-by-side screenshot of PS and AI. PS document is 8-bit and colour settings are matched.

Thanks so much

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Apart from making sure your Color Settings are the same for both docuemnts, you need to make sure that a profile is actually ASSIGNED to the document. Check under Edit > Assign Profile.

 

[sarah_0731 · Accepted solution]

Hello!

I know this reply is years later, and you have probably solved your problem by now. But for anyone else who may come across this thread, I had the same issue and found a solution that worked for me! 

In Illustrator go to:
Settings > Performance > Uncheck "GPU Performance" > Click "OK" > Voila!!

I don't know why, but that fixed it! Hope that helps someone!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

deleted. Wrong program...

[Monika Gause]

Hello!

I know this reply is years later, and you have probably solved your problem by now. But for anyone else who may come across this thread, I had the same issue and found a solution that worked for me! 

In Illustrator go to:
Settings > Performance > Uncheck "GPU Performance" > Click "OK" > Voila!!

I don't know why, but that fixed it! Hope that helps someone!

By @sarah_0731

This will most probably slow down Illustrator.