Print file has both color modes. how to solve this?

[Justas27813533okb0]

Recently, I received print files with both color modes. When opening on illustrator, a table pops out to choose one. My question would be: how that is possible? and how to explain to client that his files should be in one mode?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

That is possible eg. in a PDF. There can be artworks embedded in both color modes.

When you import such a PDF in Illustrator, those embedded artworks needs to be converted to the document color mode.

[Justas27813533okb0]

thank you, that was helpful.

[Monika Gause]

Glad that this helped solve your issue.

[Met1]

>My question would be: how that is possible?

Some apps like InDesign do not have a required color mode, so you can have both cmyk and rgb color in the same file.

>and how to explain to client that his files should be in one mode?

Tell him he can either print with an rgb or cmyk printer.

You can still print rgb on a cmyk printer (and vice versa), but there may be color changes as the cmyk color gamut is smaller than the rgb one, so better to design for the output method as your colors will look closer to your design.

When you save your pdf you should make sure the color profile you are choosing matches your print method.

[Monika Gause]

>and how to explain to client that his files should be in one mode?

They need not be in one color mode. They need to be prepared in the way the printing vender specfies. Which might be RGB or CMYK or even both, since that is possible when the vendor uses the APPE and allows PDF/X-4 to be sent to print. Vector parts such as small type and thin lines can be in CMYK for precise color values. Images or photorealistic vector art or stuff with blend modes can be in RGB for better conversion and brighter colors using the RIP.

You can still print rgb on a cmyk printer (and vice versa), but there may be color changes as the cmyk color gamut is smaller than the rgb one, so better to design for the output method as your colors will look closer to your design.

Completely depends on the printer and the RIP. Using device link profiles you could even convert RGB 000 to 100 K.

a 12 color inkjet printer will deliver far better results when you feed it RGB input.

When you save your pdf you should make sure the color profile you are choosing matches your print method.

The PDF should match what the print vendor specifies.

[Met1]

>They need not be in one color mode.

If he's opening the file in Illustrator, they will be.

[Monika Gause]

>They need not be in one color mode.

If he's opening the file in Illustrator, they will be.

By @Met1

As has already been stated in this thread. You might have noticesd my first answer (but maybe not).

But it looks like the files have been generated with some other software (InDesign or whatever). But when sending to the printer they generally need not be in one color mode. We're living in the 21st century after all.