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maliniraopc
Participating Frequently
May 7, 2021
Answered

RGB colors look the same as CMYK

  • May 7, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 4048 views

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm facing a weird issue in Adobe Illustrator.
I converted my RGB logo design files into CMYK and then back to RGB.

Somehow the old RGB colors can't be seen and all I see are CMYK colors, never faced this before.

Am I missing something here? I have not changed any other settings.
Thank you!

Malini

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jacob Bugge

    Ah I see!

    So what's the best way to package print files for clients? I tried "managing" CMYK colors as close to RGB colors but I guess it's still different.


    Malini,

     

    "I tried "managing" CMYK colors as close to RGB colors but I guess it's still different."

     

    It is inevitably different, but it is the best you can do.

     

    Unless you choose to do what is/was done at least by some, namely to start out in CMYK if that is the main/most important delivery, and then create an RGB version for screen/web use that is as close as possible to the CMYK version for consistent appearance.

     

    2 replies

    marliton
    Community Expert
    marlitonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 15, 2021

    Hi. That's normal. When you convert from RGB to CMYK some colors will be changed (because of gamut differences) and that colors will not be recovered when you convert again from RGB to CMYK.

     

    Marlon Ceballos
      M
      maliniraopcAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      May 17, 2021

      Thank you Marlon, really helpful.

      Jacob Bugge
      Community Expert
      Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 7, 2021

      Malini,

       

      As I (mis)understand it, this is what happens: you get new RGB values.

       

      You start out with the brightness and large gamut of RGB. Then you convert the RGB to CMYK which can only give you a duller appearance within the smaller gamut of CMYK, and this is a real change. Then you convert that duller appearance within the smaller gamut to RGB, but such a conversion can never go beyond the new limited version so you are stuck with the part of the RGB gamut that corresponds to (that part of) the CMYK gamut.

       

      In other words: there is no real way back to RGB from CMYK.

       

      Apart from that, RGB and CMYK are fundamentally different.

       

        M
        maliniraopcAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        May 15, 2021

        Thank you Jacob!

        I did notice the two RGB versions were different but didn't know why!

        Appreciate your help, cheers!

        M
        maliniraopcAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        May 17, 2021

        Malini,

         

        "I tried "managing" CMYK colors as close to RGB colors but I guess it's still different."

         

        It is inevitably different, but it is the best you can do.

         

        Unless you choose to do what is/was done at least by some, namely to start out in CMYK if that is the main/most important delivery, and then create an RGB version for screen/web use that is as close as possible to the CMYK version for consistent appearance.

         


        Thanks Jacob, sounds like a sensible thing to do for assets that need to be printed.

        Maybe I will check with a local printer to understand how they approach this issue for clients.

        Cheers!

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