Image placed into illustrator file automatically converted to CMYK?

[DigitalChickster]

Hi all! I have an ad I designed in Illustrator. I've imported (placed) a photoshop image into the Illustrator file. The Illustrator file is CMYK, but the image was originally RGB. So when I import it... does it automatically get converted to CMYK? Or do I need to convert it before importing it? Just curious.

Thanks! 

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

When you link it, the image doesn't get converted. When you embed it, it gets converted to the document color space.

You don't need to convert the image before placing it in Illustrator. You can do this when saving the PDF for the printer. Or youcaneven save a PDF/X-4 that still has RGB images in it and let the printer convert it. This depends on their specifications.

[DigitalChickster]

Thanks! Good to know.