Images Desaturated When Imported to Illustrator

[GASTY.Art]

Hi there,

I hope someone can give me a hand with this.

I'm using Illustrator, and when importing images, whether they are screenshots from my MacBook or JPEGs from Procreate, they always look desaturated in comparison with the original.

• Illustrator file is set to RGB
• Preserve Embedded Color Profile is enabled
• sRGB working color profile is selected
• Images are either screenshots on Mac (RGB) or Procreate JPEGs (RGB)
• There’s no CMYK involved (clarifying this because it seems like an RGB to CMYK issue, but it’s not)

Screenshot attached, left is illustrator, right is Chrome browser window.

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you check the document color profile in Illustrator, at the bottom of your window where it now says "Selection"?

[GASTY.Art]

Hi Ton, yes its srgb.  Screenshot attached.

• Illustrator file is set to RGB
• Preserve Embedded Color Profile is enabled
• sRGB working color profile is selected
• Images are either screenshots on Mac (RGB) or Procreate JPEGs (RGB)
• There’s no CMYK involved (clarifying this because it seems like an RGB to CMYK issue, but it’s not)

[Ton Frederiks]

Gaston, you may also check if something happens when you place the images.

In your Color Settings, check the warnings for mismatch/missing profiles. They will give you more control when placing images.

[GASTY.Art]

Hi Ton, nothing happens when I place the images. Im using "preserve embedded color profile". Screeenshot attached of colour settings. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you check the Profile Mismatches and Missing Profiles checkboxes?

[GASTY.Art]

Sure! Ive checked the boxes, and then placed a photoshop file in a new Illustrator file. No window pop up when placing the psd. Both colour profiles are srgb. The same file is open in Photoshop for your reference.

Image attached.

[GASTY.Art]

Hey @Ton Frederiks im not sure how, but I closed and opened illustrator, then opened the same file and it told me that some images were colour mode DISPLAY and what I wanted to do, options were:
- embed working color profile (srgb)

- dont colour manage

I opted for embed working color and looks like all linked files were embedded onto the file.

Now the linked photoshop file looks fine and the other ones too. Not sure why it changed if the photoshop file is still linked ??