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Participant
February 26, 2018
Answered

RGB color mode but swatch is in CMYK

  • February 26, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 9109 views

I've created a new document and selected RGB as my color mode. But when I look at my swatch it is CMYK. I am 100% sure my document is RGB. What am I missing?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Monika Gause

    Sorry, I'm a bit of a newbie. I've always set up my documents the same way RGB color mode and the swatch is RGB. For some reason in the last couple days it's giving me CMYK when I hover over a swatch. I don't switch to any other color modes so I'm not sure why it's been doing this just recently. I'm thinking it's something I must have done but I just don't know what?


    It looks like you used a CMYK document profile and just changed the color mode in the menu.

    That is wrong.

    If you want an RGB document, select an RGB document profile (from the "Web" section for example)

    Your swatches are RGB though. Process swatches are always in the document color mode. Only their values will be not desirable. Especially the black one.

    Do this:

    Don't do this:

    2 replies

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2018

    If you are looking at a swatch in one of the Pantone Color Bridge Library Panels then it will show a CMYK icon until the color is clicked on and shows up in the Swatches Panel tab which time it will have an RGB icon. Spot colors such as in the PANTONE coated panels will have a Lab color icon which will remain so when seen in the Swatches Panel.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2018

    Please show a screenshot.

    b1791Author
    Participant
    February 26, 2018

    So it shows me the CMYK colors when I hover over a swatch. But if I actually click on the color it's RGB.

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2018

    If you look at your Swatches Panel in the Small List View you will see that despite what they are called these colors will all have an RGB icon next to them. What you're seeing is simply the name given to the colors not how they are to be broken down.