Placed image is dull and off colour

[SBasler]

Hi,

I'm struggling with this issue where I take a screenshot from a site I'm pulling colours and when I place in Illustrator the colour changes slightly.. Its important that its exact. This first image is the correct colour (how it is on the site).

Then when I place it or open it in Illustrator this is how it looks:

I have been trying to find solutions on this forum, and have tried: Opening it in photoshop and resaving, then opening in illustrator (doesn't work). Checked and fiddled with colour management settings which are currently as follows (which to the best of my knowledge is how they should be) and haven't had any results:

Document colour mode is RGB, and in the name bar it says '(RGB/GPU Preview)'.

I can manually match the colour or at least get close in Illustrator, but its a nuisance to do it this way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[jdanek]

You have to match the original image RGB profile in Illustrator.  That will require opening the image in Photoshop ( which should tell you the .icc profile tag upon opening ).  For example, Photoshop asks you if you want to use the original tag or assign a tag to it?  Hypothetically the original tag is Adobe RGB, so you should choose Adobe RGB.  In Illustrator, set your ( Edit > Color ) working space to Adobe RGB.  Hopefully, the image will match.  There are other factors, but it could be that your Illustrator working spce does not match the image tag, that's one reason they will not match.

[SBasler]

Hi Jdanek,

When I open the screenshot in PS I don't get the prompt telling me the .icc profile tag. Where can I find this .icc profile tag once the document is open in PS?

In Illustrator, the only option similar is 'Adobe RGB(1998)' is this the one you are referring to?

Thank you for your quick response.

[jdanek]

In Photoshop > Edit > Color Settings > Color Maagement Policies > Ask When Opening.  When that is set, when you open the file, Ps will ask if you want to use the current profile or assign your working profile to the image.  You will find what profile, if any, has been assigned to the image.  Yes, I was referring to Adobe RGB 1998.

[federico platon]

Screenshots do not use sRGB. 

Open Illustrator Color Settings and choose as RGB working space your monitor profile.

Open a new RGB color mode file and paste now. If your monitor profile has some accuracy it will match your screenshot or what you see on the web.

The numbers for that red on your screenshot I have grabbed from your post here are (on my system) 211/60/37.

Save that .ai file.

But if you use those numbers in a new document in sRGB space, they will be dull again .

You need to convert those numbers to others that provide or render the same color in sRGB, using other numbers to achieve that.

Therefore, set back your Illustrator Color Settings back to sRGB as working space.

Open your saved file and when a warning window emerges: Embedded Profile Mismatch, choose Convert Colors to the working space.

In my case I get 252/31/31 rgb numbers for future use on files in sRGB mode.

(Offtopic) for CMYK working space,keep in mind U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) assumes printing is on web (paper roll) paper, as color magazines in newsstands. for printing brochures, posters,... on coated paper and traditional printers better use Fogra 39 or current  PSO Coated v3.

[SBasler]

Hi Federico,

Thanks for your response. I have opened a new file as an an RGB file and chose 'Monitor RGB - Display' under workspaces in 'Edit > Color settings'. I then place the image, and the issue persists.

I also tried saving the image to my system (it's an SVG) from its web source and it looks likes the same slightly dulled red before I have even placed it or opened it.
It is happening with other image files saved from the web, when placed in Illustrator too.

I suppose I will have to tweak it manually as you have suggested. I have achieved the same or very close colour by selecting a colour value manually.

Why does this change in colour profile occur once it is on the web? Because I know for a fact that the original design was generated in Illustrator.

Just for future reference is sRGB the most widely acceptable colour profile to use when designing for web?

Thank you for your response, and thanks for the tip on the CMYK work space colour profiles. Noted.

Very much appreciated.

[federico platon]

Screenshoot captures, (it is not the file uploaded to the web) do not use sRGB but colors to a calibrated (representing) monitor profile.

Thus in my case, it did work. (I use xrite calibration on a high end Dell 5k monitor). Your mileage will wary.

Yes use sRGB for web use. 

In Photoshop and in Illustrator, you can select the Eyedropper tool, click on your artwork while holding Shift and drag outside the application window and pick up colors from anywhere.

Changes in visuals are due to color unmatching, colors save in a RGB or another and getting an asigned profile (representation with different meaning) where the same color numbers display or represent a different color. Source and destination should be the same or use a profile to profile conversion, while the colors exist in their color range or gamut.

[chopshopstore.com · Accepted solution]

For me it was just GPU preview vs CPU. What the hell is GPU? That was the dull one. 

[davidf80463754 · Accepted solution]

THANK YOU..... (Go to top menu, View, View using (GPU/CPU) and there's a massive difference. 

[transparent bg]

OMG thank you!!!!